LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge has ordered Nas to pay Kelis nearly $44,000 in monthly support for the near future, a day after the "Milkshake" singer gave birth to the divorcing couple's baby boy.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Louis Meisinger issued the order at a Thursday hearing. Kelis gave birth to the boy, named Knight, at a New York hospital Wednesday.

The 29-year-old, whose full name is Kelis Rogers, filed for divorce from the rapper in April.

The two have been sparring over support payments for several months, with Kelis contending that Nas hasn't paid many of the costs of her pregnancy and her expenses. Nas' attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told the judge that the rapper has paid some expenses and the former couple's health insurance has been maintained.

Kaplan proposed paying Kelis a one-time payment of $20,000 until the judge could settle on an appropriate spousal and child support amount at a later hearing.

Meisinger rejected that offer, saying more money per month would be needed to accommodate Kelis' lifestyle and was warranted based on income declarations filed with the court.

Neither Nas, whose full name is Nasir Jones, nor Kelis attended Thursday's hearing.



See more photos of Nas here!

Image © Robin Wong / PR Photos

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

ANTHONY McCARTNEY,AP Entertainment Writer



Click here to follow @Starpulse on Twitter!