AceShowbiz - Nas has begged a judge to reduce the amount of cash he has been ordered to hand over to estranged wife Kelis in child and spousal support - because he can't afford the payment. Kelis filed for divorce from the "I Can" hitmaker, real name Nasir Jones, last year, just months before the birth of their first son, Knight.

The couple has been caught up in a bitter legal battle for custody ever since and last month, Nas was ordered to pay more than $87,000 in late spousal and child support and told to cover the "Milkshake" singer's legal and accounting bills. The judge also set the rapper's monthly spousal support payments at $10,000, based on figures suggesting he earns $152,031 every month.

But, in a new court filing, obtained by TMZ.com, Nas admits he pulls in "substantially less than that amount", and he has requested that officials take another look at his finances and recalculate his support payments.