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This article is about the rapper. For other uses, see Nelly (disambiguation).

Nelly

Cornell Haynes, Jr. (born November 2, 1974), better known by his stage name Nelly, is an American rapper and singer.

He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album Country Grammar, the title track of which was a top ten hit. The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 and went on to peak at #1. Country Grammar is Nelly's best-selling album to date, selling over 8.4 million copies in the United States.[2] His following album, Nellyville, produced the number-one hits "Hot in Herre" and "Dilemma" featuring Kelly Rowland. Other singles included "Work It" featuring Justin Timberlake, "Air Force Ones" featuring Murphy Lee and the St. Lunatics, "Pimp Juice", and "#1".

With the same-day dual release Sweat and Suit (2004) and the compilation Sweatsuit (2006), Nelly continued to generate many chart-topping hits. Sweat debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 342,000 copies in its first week. On the same week of release, Suit debuted at number one selling around 396,000 copies in its first week on the same chart. Nelly's fifth studio album, Brass Knuckles, was released on September 16, 2008 after several delays. It produced the singles "Party People", featuring Fergie, "Stepped on My J'z" and "Body On Me", featuring Akon and Ashanti.

In 2010, Nelly released the album 5.0. The lead single, "Just a Dream", has appeared in the top ten of several singles charts and were certified platinum in the United States. The second single is "Move That Body" featuring T-Pain and Akon. "Gone" is the sequel to Nelly's 2002 worldwide number one single "Dilemma", also with Rowland, and serves as third single from Nelly's album.

He won Grammy Awards in 2003 and 2004 and had a supporting role in the 2005 remake film The Longest Yard with Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. He has two clothing lines, Vokal and Apple Bottoms. He has been referred to by Peter Shapiro as "one of the biggest stars of the new millennium",[3] and the RIAA ranks Nelly as one of the best-selling male artists in American music history,[4] with 21 million albums sold in the United States.On December 11, 2009, Billboard ranked Nelly the #3 Top Artist of the Decade.[5]

Biography

1974–2000: Early life and career beginnings

Nelly was born in Austin, Texas, where his father was serving in the military. When he was seven, his parents divorced.[6] Nelly moved with his mother from inner city St. Louis to suburban University City, Missouri as a teenager. While still in high school, Nelly formed the St. Lunatics, who enjoyed local popularity with their single "Gimme What Ya Got". When a major record deal failed to appear, Nelly decided to go solo.[7] He was soon signed to Universal Music Group, which released his major label debut Country Grammar in 2000. The success of its title track as a single (#7 on the Hot 100 and #1 Hot Rap Tracks) led to the album debuting at number three in the Billboard 200 in the U.S. Other singles from the album included "E.I.", "Ride Wit Me", and "Batter Up".[7] The album was certified 9× platinum by the RIAA on April 27, 2004.[8]

2002–03: Nellyville

In 2002, Nelly's second album Nellyville was released, debuting at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Music Albums;[9] its lead single "Hot in Herre" was a number-one hit. Other singles included "Dilemma" featuring Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child, "Work It" featuring Justin Timberlake, "Air Force Ones" featuring Murphy Lee and the St. Lunatics, "Pimp Juice", and "#1".[7] This album was highly successful and was certified 6x multi-platinum on June 27, 2003.[10] "Hot in Herre" won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance in 2003.[11] In 2003 Nelly released Da Derrty Versions: The Reinvention. It featured the hit single "Iz U" from the soundtrack to Walt Disney's The Haunted Mansion. The music video of a Tip Drill Remix became a source of controversy due to perceptions of misogynistic depictions of women. The controversy forced Nelly to cancel an appearance at a bone marrow drive at Spelman College, an historically black college in Atlanta, Georgia.[12] Similar claims of misogyny also surrounded Nelly's single "Pimp Juice".[13] RIAA have certified the album Platinum. For the Bad Boys II soundtrack album, Nelly contributed the single "Shake Ya Tailfeather" featuring P. Diddy and Murphy Lee. Another number-one hit, "Shake Ya Tailfeather" won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.[11]

2004–05: Sweat and Suit

On September 14, 2004, Nelly released two albums, Sweat and Suit. Suit, an R&B-oriented album, debuted at number one on the Billboard albums chart, and Sweat, a rap-oriented album, debuted at number two. From Suit, the slow ballad "Over and Over", an unlikely duet with country music star Tim McGraw, became a crossover hit.[14] On the 2004 NBC television concert special Tim McGraw: Here and Now, McGraw and Nelly performed the song.[15] A feud with another St. Louis-based rapper, Chingy, came up near the end of the year.[16] Tsunami Aid: A Concert for Hope, a 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake benefit concert special produced by NBC, featured Nelly.[17] In the winter of 2005 came Sweatsuit, a compilation of tracks from Sweat and Suit with three new tracks. "Grillz", produced by Jermaine Dupri, was a number-one hit. To date both albums have sold over 5 million units in the United States.

2008: Brass Knuckles

Brass Knuckles was released on September 16, 2008, after several delays,[18] Initial release dates for the album targeted October 16[19] and November 13.[20] Its original lead single was "Wadsyaname", a ballad-oriented track produced by Ron "NEFF-U" Feemstar and sampling the piano riff from "All My Life" by K-Ci & JoJo.[19][20] Nelly later confirmed that "Wadsyaname" was never going to be on 'Brass Knuckles'. Nelly recorded Party People",[19] featuring Fergie and produced by Polow da Don, which turned out to be his first official single off the album."[18] Stepped On My J'z" was the next single, produced by Jermaine Dupri and featuring Dupri and Ciara; following that was "Body On Me", produced by Akon and featuring Akon and Ashanti. Nelly appeared on Rick Ross's third single "Here I Am" also featuring label mate Avery Storm.

2009–present: 5.0

In the summer of 2009, Nelly made a public announcement in Las Vegas about the yet-to-be-titled album.[21] In October 2009, Nelly did an interview with SOHH.com and said that the album was going to be released sometime in 2010.[21] In a interview with Semtex TV, Nelly told reporters that he planned to release the album under the name Nelly.[22] In April 2010, Nelly's cousin Michael Johnson was murdered in Missouri, Nelly said that he delayed releasing the album because of this.[23] Guests featured on the album were, T-Pain, Chris Brown, Akon, Plies, T.I., Kelly Rowland, Birdman, DJ Khaled, Avery Storm and Diddy-Dirty Money.[24] In May 2010, Nelly confirmed that the title of the album was 5.0.[25] The album is scheduled to be released on November 16, 2010.[26] The album's lead single "Just a Dream" was released on August 17, 2010, through iTunes[27] along with the promotional single "Tippin' In da Club".[28] The two songs were released to Mainstream and Rhythm/Crossover radio on August 10, 2010.[29] "Just a Dream" made its first chart appearance debuting on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number twelve and peaking at number 3 in its fourth week. The song also debuted at number 3 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart, selling 888,000 downloads in its first week.[30][31] "Just a Dream" is Nelly's highest-charting song since his 2005 single "Grillz" and debuted at number 7 on the Billboard Rap Songs. The song entered the Canadian Hot 100 in August 2010, at number thirty-two[32] It debuted in Australia (ARIA Charts) on the Singles Chart at number 3,[33] in New Zealand Singles Charts at number twenty-nine, and in Switzerland (Media Control AG) at number fifty-two. The second single "Move That Body", which features T-Pain and Akon, was released on October 12, 2010.[34] The song made its first chart appearance debuting on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number fifty-four and has reached a current peak at number twenty-nine in Australia.[35][36] Nelly is featured on the second single by singer Mohombi titled "Miss Me", produced by RedOne. On November 13, 2010 Nelly appeared on the Pacquiao vs. Margarito pay-per-view, at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.[37] "Gone" is the sequel to Nelly's 2002 worldwide number one single "Dilemma", also with Rowland, and serves as third single from Nelly's album. Now Nelly is working on a new album. He hopes to release the album in the end of the year.[38]

Artistry

Rapping technique

Nelly’s rapping style has been described by Peter Shapiro as using "unforgettable hooks based on schoolyard songs, double-dutch chants, and nonsense rhymes"[3] and has a "Missouri twang".[39] Allmusic suggests Nelly's style is based largely on where he comes from - "Nelly's locale certainly informs his rapping style, which is as much country as urban, and his dialect as well, which is as much Southern drawl as Midwestern twang".[7] Nelly explains his method of writing in the book How to Rap, describing how he freestyles most of the lyrics before going back over them to "make it a little tighter",[40] he generally writes in the studio rather than at home,[41] he normally comes up with a chorus for a song before writing the verses,[42] and he likes to write to the music he will be rapping over.[43] Allmusic also notes his "tongue-twisting" hooks, which are also often sung rather than rapped.[44] Nelly began listening to artists like Rakim, LL Cool J, Run–D.M.C., Outkast, Goodie Mob and Jay-Z. He became convinced that his gift for rap could be parlayed into a career. He has his own style of rap which he likes to describe as a jazz form of hip hop.

Other ventures

Nelly and Allen Iverson.

Endorsements, business ventures and philanthropy

Nike and Nelly agreed on a one-year deal in 2003 to release a limited-edition sneaker called the "Air Derrty" which was a retro remake of Charles Barkley's signature sneaker.[45] Nelly later signed a shoe deal with Reebok.[46] Nelly has done ads for Got Milk and the Ford Motor Company. His energy drink Pimp Juice sold one million cans during the first two months after its introduction in August 2003, and was criticized for its name by black consumer activists.[47] Nelly owns Apple Bottoms, a female clothing line, and Vokal, which caters to men. He was one of the owners of the Charlotte Bobcats, along with Robert L. Johnson and Michael Jordan until Jordan became the new owner in March 2010.[48]

Nelly has played the Main Event at the 2007 World Series of Poker.[49] He has also played The PokerStars European Poker Tour and PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.[50] In August, 2010, Nelly started a temporary stint as the afternoon host on WHHL HOT 104.1 in St. Louis. He is taking the place of regular PM drive personality, Stacy Static, who is on pregnancy leave.

According STLtoday, the initial ratings for the show are very high. This gig garnered national attention in the Huffington Post and other websites. On September 28, 2010, Nelly is releasing a fitness DVD entitled Celebrity Sweat, walking viewers through various exercises and weight training techniques.[51]

Nelly runs the non-profit organization "4Sho4Kids Foundation." The "Jes Us 4 Jackie" campaign began in March 2003 by Nelly and his sister Jackie Donahue after Donahue was diagnosed with leukemia. The campaign attempts to educate African-Americans and other minorities about the need for bone marrow transplants, and to register more donors. Donahue lost her battle with leukemia on March 24, 2005, almost two years after the campaign began.[52]

St. Lunatics

The group St. Lunatics, was formed in 1993 and came out with their hit, "Gimmie What U Got" and "Thug Luv for the Homiez". Nelly joined rappers Ali, Murphy Lee, City Spud and Kyjuan to form the group. Their debut album Free City, followed in 2001 with the single "Midwest Swing". The album has sold more than a million units in the United States.

In 2009, the Lunatics were reportedly working on a new album City Free to be released in the summer of 2009 however the album has been pushed back to 2011. The first track called "St. Lunatics", was already leaked in early March 2009,[53] other track leaked is "Get Low 2 Da Flo", produced by Play-N-Skillz.[54] The first official single released from the album is "Money Talks" featuring rapper Birdman. The second official single released from the album is "Polo". The album is set to be released on summer 2011.

Film and television career

Nelly's film debut came in 2001 in the independent film Snipes playing a famous rapper named Prolifik.[55] His big movie role came in the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock.[56] The soundtrack of the latter includes Nelly's song "Boom". In a June 2008 interview with Kiwibox.com, Nelly revealed that he is reluctant to continue his acting career, noting that he does not want to "take away from the culture of acting."[57] In 2008 and 2009, Nelly appeared in episodes of the CBS crime drama CSI: NY.[58] In 2011, he played himself in 90210.

Discography

Main article: Nelly discography

See also

References

  1. ^ MTV Biography
  2. ^ Chart Watch Extra: The Top 20 New Acts Of The 2000s Chart Watch by Paul Grein
  3. ^ a b Shapiro, Peter, 2005, The Rough Guide To Hip-Hop, 2nd Edition, Penguin, p. 274
  4. ^ "Gold & Platinum - November 15, 2010". RIAA. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  5. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/charts-decade-end/artists-of-the-decade?year=2009
  6. ^ Townsel, Lisa Jones (September 2002), "Heating Up 'Nellyville'", Ebony, vol. 57, no. 11, p. 144
  7. ^ a b c d Birchmeier, Jason (2006). "Nelly - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  8. ^ "Gold & Platinum - Country Grammar (album)". RIAA. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  9. ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts / Billboard.com". Billboard.com. 2002-07-13. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  10. ^ "Gold & Platinum - Nellyville". RIAA. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  11. ^ a b "Nelly - Grammy Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  12. ^ Arce, Rose (2005-03-03). "Hip-hop portrayal of women protested". CNN. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  13. ^ D'Angelo, Joe (2003-09-10). "Nelly's Pimp Juice Threatened By Anti-Pimp Campaign". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  14. ^ Reid, Shaheem (2004-12-06). "Tim McGraw On Nelly Duet: 'Nothin' Country About The Song, But It Was Fun'". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  15. ^ Barrett, Annie (2004-11-26). "Television Commentary - Wednesday". Entertainment Weekly. No. 794.
  16. ^ Reid, Shaheem (2005-01-07). "Chingy Fires Back At Nelly And Luda, Drops New Dis Track". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  17. ^ Rashbaum, Alyssa (2005-01-11). "Nelly, Maroon 5, Madonna, Mary J. Blige Join Tsunami Benefit Show". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  18. ^ a b Rodriguez, Jayson (2008-04-02). "Nelly Lines up Usher, Fergie and Akon for Brass Knuckles – but No Bruce Springsteen". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
  19. ^ a b c Reid, Shaheem (2007-08-22). "T.I., Akon, Snoop, Pimp C Get Behind Nelly's Brass Knuckles". MTV News. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  20. ^ a b Bowles, Scott; Jones, Steve; Johnson, Pete and Pete Johnson (2007-09-06). "Coming attractions: Nelly's ready to crack his 'Knuckles'". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  21. ^ a b Langhorne, Cyrus (2009-07-08). "Nelly Plots Comeback & Premieres New Album, "This Is My First Time Being Able To Rock This Sh*t"". Sohh.Com. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  22. ^ "Nelly Annouces New Self Titled Album | Nelly". Rap Basement. 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  23. ^ [1][dead link]
  24. ^ "NEW MUSIC: NELLY - “SHE GOT ME”". November 10, 2009. Concrete Loop.
  25. ^ Please log in to comment (2010-05-10). "Q&A: Nelly | Metromix Tampa Bay". Tampabay.metromix.com. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  26. ^ "Nelly Revs Up for Fall Album Release". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  27. ^ "Just a Dream - Single by Nelly". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  28. ^ "Tippin' In da Club - Single by Nelly". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  29. ^ "Available For Airplay". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  30. ^ "Digital Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  31. ^ Nelly's Just a Dream Makes Debut on Charts. Rap-Up. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  32. ^ "Nelly Artist History". Billboard. Billboard charts. 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  33. ^ Steffen Hung. "Nelly - Just A Dream". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  34. ^ "Move That Body - Single - United States". iTunes.com. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  35. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. November 15, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  36. ^ Chartifacts - Week Commencing: 8th November 2010. webcitation.org. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
  37. ^ "Nelly To Perform "Just a Dream" on Pacquiao-Margarito". BoxingScene.com. November 9, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  38. ^ http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2011/05/20/22770472.aspx
  39. ^ Shapiro, Peter, 2005, The Rough Guide To Hip-Hop, 2nd Edition, Penguin, p. 275
  40. ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 151-152.
  41. ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 153.
  42. ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 190.
  43. ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 169.
  44. ^ Birchmeier, Jason (2000-06-06). "Country Grammar - Nelly". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  45. ^ "For The Record: Quick News On Deftones, Kimberly Caldwell, 50 Cent, Michelle Branch, Hanson, The Roots & More". MTV News. 2003-05-02. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  46. ^ "Nelly's New Sneaker & Apparel Deal With Reebok". NobodySmiling.com. 2005-07-20. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  47. ^ Howard, Theresa (2003-10-27). "Energy drinks get their hip-hop on". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  48. ^ "Robert L. Johnson Adds Nelly To Bobcats Ownership Team" (Press release). NBA. 2004-07-19. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
  49. ^ "Day 3 of the main event of the World Series of Poker". USA Today. 2007-07-08. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
  50. ^ http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2010/2010-pca-amfar-tournament-round-one-062976.html
  51. ^ "Nelly's Priceless Princess! Fitness, Genetic Bliss, Career and More!". UrbLife.com. September 20, 2010.
  52. ^ "Rapper Nelly's sister dies of leukemia". USA Today. Associated Press. 2005-03-24. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  53. ^ "City Free St Lunatics Album". 1VIBE.NET. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  54. ^ “” (2009-04-30). "St.Lunatics- Get Low To Da Flo". YouTube. Retrieved 2010-11-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  55. ^ Snipes. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  56. ^ Tyrangiel, Josh (2004-09-27). "The Rapper Who Likes Bowling". Time. Vol. 164, no. 13.
  57. ^ Horowitz, Steven. "Exclusive Nelly Interview". [dead link]
  58. ^ Nelly (III). Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  59. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2011/05/18/nelly-plans-new-album-for-this-year/
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