US rapper Nelly has compared the struggles of Amy Winehouse to the public battles of other legendary musicians, including Jimi Hendrix.

The rapper, who said he wished the singer the best, said people don't understand that Winehouse “has to go through what she's going through”.

“Music is what it is because she goes through what she goes through,” the rapper told Myspace.

Nelly went on to say that every musician has a “weak link”.

“You look at Jimi Hendrix, you look at Michael Jackson, these are the greats, this is what happens,” he said.

“Marvin Gaye had, you know they covered it up a little bit for Marvin but Marvin had his battles. You think he sung the national anthem with those sunglasses on because it was a fashion statement? You know what I'm saying, like no, he was gone.”

(by Jason Gregory)