Tracy Morgan Discovered He Was Related to Longtime Friend Nas After DNA Test: ‘He Started Crying, I Started Crying’

Tracy Morgan, Nas.

Tracy Morgan and Nas may already be friends, but a new revelation during a DNA test led them to discover an even deeper connection.

During a conversation on the Connect the Dots podcast, Morgan detailed his upcoming appearance on PBS’ genealogy show Finding Your Roots, where a DNA test revealed that the rap legend is actually his third cousin.

“I turn the last page, and guess who’s sitting there? Nas. Me and Nas is third cousins on my mom’s side,” Morgan, 55, revealed during the podcast appearance.

“But me and Esco was always tight before that,” he added. “I did a show years ago on Comedy Central called One Mic, that was for Nas’ mom that just passed away. So me and Esco always been tight.”

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Morgan — who is scheduled to appear on the eighth episode of the PBS series’ upcoming tenth season, titled “Mean Streets” — revealed that he later called up his longtime pal to share the surprising news.

“When I found out on the West Side Highway, after the show, I called him up and I say, ‘Yo Esco,’ he said ‘What up Trey?’ I said, ‘Guess what?’ He said, ‘What?’ And I said, ‘I just did Finding Your Roots, me and you related,'” Morgan remembered telling Nas, 50.

“He started crying, I started crying. And I said to him, ‘If you ever need me, I’m there, cuz.’ He said, ‘Cuz, if you ever need me I’m there.'”

Tracy Morgan and Nas attend the 2004 VH1 Hip Hop Honors.

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As Morgan noted, the episode is scheduled to air in February, and he learned a few other facts about his familial history in the process.

“They went back 400 years on my father’s side and 400 years on my mother’s side,” he said. “I thought I was big in my life till I found out what my great, great, great grandmother did. My great, great, great, great, great grandfather’s name was Abraham Mack. I know the name of the slave masters who owned us — I got it right here on my phone — and the slave ship.”

He continued, “You need to know who you come from before you leave this earth. Know who you are and where you come from. Knowledge itself. I did a lot of crying. And no matter who you are, you’re gonna break down.”

Several other celebrities have appeared on Finding Your Roots, including Maya Rudolph, Neil Patrick Harris and Julia Roberts. And Morgan and Nas aren’t the only two famous faces to find a DNA connection through the show.

Back in May, Terry Crews and Billy Crudup met up for the first time as family after discovering they were relatives. Months before that, Bill Hader detailed an email he received from Carol Burnett where she told him that they were also cousins.

The next season of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. will run 10 episodes. It premieres Jan. 2 on PBS.

Source: people.com