Rapper Nelly has compared the problems of British singer Amy Winehouse, whose drug addiction has taken a toll on her health and who is suffering from emphysema, to those of Michael Jackson and guitar legend Jimi Hendrix who died when he was just 27.

"Music is what it is, because she goes through what she goes through. You look at Jimi Hendrix, you look at Michael Jackson, these are the greats, this is what happens," Nelly was quoted as saying by ananova.com.

His new album Brass Knuckles will be out in September.