Nelly
Nelly | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. |
Born | Austin, Texas, United States | November 2, 1974
Origin | St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
Genres | Hip hop, pop, R&B |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, investor, actor |
Years active | 1993-present |
Labels | Derrty Ent., Universal Motown, Universal Republic, Republic[1] |
Website | www |
Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. (born November 2, 1974), better known by his stage name, Nelly, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, investor and occasional actor from St. Louis, Missouri. Nelly embarked on his music career with Southern hip hop group St. Lunatics, in 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in the year 2000, with his debut album Country Grammar, of which the title-track was a top ten hit. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and went on to peak at number one. 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 St. Lunatics), "Pimp Juice" and "#1".
With the same-day dual release of Sweat, 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" (featuring Jermaine Dupri and Ciara) and "Body on Me" (featuring Akon and Ashanti). In 2010, Nelly released the album 5.0. The lead single, "Just a Dream", was certified triple platinum in the United States. It also included the singles "Move That Body" (featuring T-Pain and Akon) and "Gone" (a sequel to the 2002 single "Dilemma" in collaboration with Kelly Rowland).
Nelly 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 the fourth best-selling rap artist in American music history,[4] with 21 million albums sold in the United States. On December 11, 2009, Billboard ranked Nelly the number three Top Artist of the Decade.[5]
Life and career
1974–00: 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 signed to Universal Music Group by A&R Kevin Law.[8] Law told HitQuarters that very few people at the record company liked Nelly when he was first signed, with the feedback he received from his colleagues on the rapper's music being "extraordinarily negative".[8] Nelly was unusual for being a rapper from the Midwest at a time when the hip-hop scenes were centered around the East Coast, West Coast and the South. The label used this to their advantage by branding Nelly as a star of the Midwest, hoping to inspire pride in the people of St Louis and the surrounding region.[8] Nelly was signed together with St. Lunatics.[8] Kevin Law and Country from Fo'Reel Entertainment decided to do a solo record with Nelly first and then return to St. Lunatics the following year.[9]
2000–03: Breakthrough with Country Grammar and Nellyville
The label released his major label debut Country Grammar in 2000. The success of its title track as a single (#7 on the Hot 100 and No. 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", featuring his brother City Spud; and "Batter Up", featuring the St. Lunatics.[7] The album was certified 9× platinum by the RIAA on April 27, 2004.[10]
In 2002, Nelly's second album Nellyville was released, debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 Music Albums;[11] 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.[12] "Hot in Herre" won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance in 2003.[13] 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.[14] Similar claims of misogyny also surrounded Nelly's single "Pimp Juice".[15] RIAA have certified the album Platinum. For the Bad Boys II soundtrack album, Nelly contributed the single "Shake Ya Tailfeather" featuring 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.[13]
2004–08: Continued success, Sweat, Suit and Brass Knuckles
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.[16] On the 2004 NBC television concert special Tim McGraw: Here and Now, McGraw and Nelly performed the song.[17] A feud with another St. Louis-based rapper, Chingy, came up near the end of the year.[18] Tsunami Aid: A Concert for Hope, a 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake benefit concert special produced by NBC, featured Nelly.[19] 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.
Brass Knuckles was released on September 16, 2008, after several delays,[20] Initial release dates for the album targeted October 16[21] and November 13.[22] 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.[21][22] Nelly later confirmed that "Wadsyaname" was never going to be on Brass Knuckles. Nelly recorded "Party People",[21] featuring Fergie and produced by Polow da Don, which turned out to be his first official single off the album.[20] "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", which also featured label mate Avery Storm.
2009–10: Collaborations and 5.0
In the summer of 2009, Nelly made a public announcement in Las Vegas about the yet-to-be-titled album.[23] In October 2009, Nelly did an interview with SOHH.com and said that the album was going to be released sometime in 2010.[23] In an interview with Semtex TV, Nelly told reporters that he planned to release the album under the name Nelly.[24] In April 2010, Nelly's cousin Michael Johnson was murdered in Missouri, Nelly said that he delayed releasing the album because of this.[25] 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.[26] In May 2010, Nelly confirmed that the title of the album was 5.0.[27] The album was released on November 16, 2010.[28] The album's lead single "Just a Dream" was released on August 17, 2010, through iTunes[29] along with the promotional single "Tippin' In da Club".[30] The two songs were released to Mainstream and Rhythm/Crossover radio on August 10, 2010.[31] "Just a Dream" made its first chart appearance debuting on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 12 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.[32][33] "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 32[34] It debuted in Australia (ARIA Charts) on the Singles Chart at number 3,[35] in New Zealand Singles Charts at number 29, and in Switzerland (Media Control AG) at number 52. The second single "Move That Body", which features T-Pain and Akon, was released on October 12, 2010.[36] The song made its first chart appearance debuting on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 54 and has reached a current peak at number 29 in Australia.[37][38] Nelly is featured on the second single by singer Mohombi entitled "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.[39] "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.
2011–present: M.O. and The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep
On December 24, 2011, Nelly released his first ever official solo mixtape, entitled O.E.MO, which stands for "On Everything MO". The mixtape features guest appearances from T.I., 2 Chainz, Bei Maejor, St. Lunatics and more.[40]
On July 4, 2012, via his Twitter, Nelly announced his seventh studio album would be titled M.O.. He also revealed that American singer Chris Brown is featured on a song titled "Marry Go Round", taken from M.O..[41]
In August 2012, Nelly became a coach on The CW Television Network's new show The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep, along with Gloria Estefan, John Rich and Joe Jonas. Nelly released his second mixtape, entitled Scorpio Season, on November 2, 2012.[42]
In February 2013, Nelly released "Hey Porsche", the lead single form his seventh studio album M.O.. The song peaked at number forty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit the top ten in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In April 2013, a remix of "Cruise", the breakthrough single of country music duo Florida Georgia Line, featuring Nelly, was released. Nelly's next single "Get Like Me" featuring Nicki Minaj and Pharrell was released on iTunes July 2, 2013.
Artistry
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".[43] 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",[44] he generally writes in the studio rather than at home,[45] he normally comes up with a chorus for a song before writing the verses,[46] and he likes to write to the music he will be rapping over.[47] AllMusic also notes his "tongue-twisting" hooks, which are also often sung rather than rapped.[48]
Other ventures
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.[49] Nelly later signed a shoe deal with Reebok.[50] 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.[51] 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.[52]
Nelly has played the Main Event at the 2007 World Series of Poker.[53] He has also played The PokerStars European Poker Tour and PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.[54] 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 to 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.[55]
Philanthropy
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.[56] In 2010, Nelly endorsed Do Something's Tackle Hunger campaign. In a public service announcement he filmed for the cause, Nelly challenged teens to fight hunger by collecting one million pounds of food for the holiday season.[57]
Film and television career
Nelly's film debut came in 2001 in the independent film Snipes playing a famous rapper named Prolifik.[58] His big movie role came in the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock.[59] The movie's soundtrack includes his songs "Errtime" and "Fly Away". In June 2008, in an interview with Kiwibox, 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."[60] In 2008 and 2009, Nelly appeared in episodes of the CBS crime drama CSI: NY.[61] In 2011, he made a cameo appearance on 90210. He played Officer Glen Donner in the 2014 thriller film A Fall from Grace.[62]
Discography
- Country Grammar (2000)
- Nellyville (2002)
- Sweat (2004)
- Suit (2004)
- Brass Knuckles (2008)
- 5.0 (2010)
- M.O. (2013)
Filmography
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Film | Year | Director | Character | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Snipes | 2001 | Rich Murray | Prolifk | Lead role |
The Longest Yard | 2005 | Peter Segal | Earl Megget | Supporting role Also sang on the soundtrack |
Reach Me | 2014 | John Herzfeld | E-Ruption | Supporting role |
A Fall from Grace † | 2015 | Jennifer Lynch | Officer Glen Donner | Supporting role |
Film | Year | Character | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
CSI: NY | 2008—09 | Terrence Davis | Season 5, episodes 3 "Turbulence" and 8 "My Name Is Mac Taylor" Season 5, episode 5 "Pay Up" Season 6, episode 8 "Cuckoo's Nest" |
90210 | 2011 | Himself | Cameo appearance; Season 3, episode 15 "Revenge with the Nerd" |
T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle | 2011—present | Himself | Cameo appearance; Season 1, episode 3 "America's Sweetheart" Cameo appearance; Season 2, episodes 2 "Birthday Bash", 4 "Bitter Sweet 16", 6 "Who's the Boss?" |
The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep | 2012 | Himself | Reality television |
Real Husbands of Hollywood | 2013–present | Himself | Reoccurring Role |
Nellyville | 2014–present | Himself | Reality television |
References
- ^ Republic Records. "Republic Records". Republic Records. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- ^ Chart Watch Extra: The Top 20 New Acts Of The 2000s Chart Watch by Paul Grein
- ^ a b Shapiro, Peter, 2005, The Rough Guide To Hip-Hop, 2nd Edition, Penguin, p. 274
- ^ Grein, Paul (2013-07-16). "Week Ending July 14, 2013. Albums: Jay-Z Back On The Throne | Chart Watch - Yahoo Music". Music.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/charts-decade-end/artists-of-the-decade?year=2009
- ^ Townsel, Lisa Jones (September 2002). "Heating Up 'Nellyville'". Ebony. p. 144Template:Inconsistent citations
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ a b c d Birchmeier, Jason (2006). "Nelly - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ a b c d "Interview with Kevin Law". HitQuarters. 3 Oct 2002. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ "Interview with Kevin Law". HitQuarters. 28 Aug 2000. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum - Country Grammar (album)". RIAA. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts / Billboard.com". Billboard.com. 2002-07-13. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum - Nellyville". RIAA. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- ^ a b "Nelly - Grammy Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ Arce, Rose (2005-03-03). "Hip-hop portrayal of women protested". CNN. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ D'Angelo, Joe (2003-09-10). "Nelly's Pimp Juice Threatened By Anti-Pimp Campaign". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Barrett, Annie (2004-11-26). "Television Commentary - Wednesday". Entertainment Weekly. No. 794.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (2005-01-07). "Chingy Fires Back at Nelly And Luda, Drops New Dis Track". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ Rashbaum, Alyssa (2005-01-11). "Nelly, Maroon 5, Madonna, Mary J. Blige Join Tsunami Benefit Show". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Nelly Announces [sic] New Self Titled Album | Nelly". Rap Basement. 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "NEW MUSIC: NELLY - “SHE GOT ME”". November 10, 2009. Concrete Loop.
- ^ "Q&A: Nelly | Metromix Tampa Bay". Tampabay.metromix.com. 2010-05-10. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ^ "Nelly Revs Up for Fall Album Release". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
- ^ "Just a Dream - Single by Nelly". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
- ^ "Tippin' In da Club - Single by Nelly". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
- ^ "Available For Airplay". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
- ^ "Digital Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ^ Nelly's Just a Dream Makes Debut on Charts. Rap-Up. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ "Nelly Artist History". Billboard. Billboard charts. 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Nelly - Just A Dream". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ^ "Move That Body - Single - United States". iTunes.com. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. November 15, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
- ^ Chartifacts - Week Commencing: 8th November 2010. webcitation.org. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
- ^ "Nelly To Perform "Just a Dream" on Pacquiao-Margarito". BoxingScene.com. November 9, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
- ^ "New Music: Nelly – 'O.E.MO' [Mixtape]". Rap-Up.com. 2011-12-24. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ Twitter / Nelly_Mo: #MARRYGOROUND ft @chrisbrown. Twitter.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-19.
- ^ "Nelly -Scorpio Season // Free Mixtape". DatPiff. Idle Media Inc. 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
- ^ Shapiro, Peter, 2005, The Rough Guide To Hip-Hop, 2nd edition, Penguin, p. 275.
- ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, pp. 151-152.
- ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 153.
- ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 190.
- ^ Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 169.
- ^ Birchmeier, Jason (2000-06-06). "Country Grammar - Nelly". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Nelly's New Sneaker & Apparel Deal With Reebok". NobodySmiling.com. 2005-07-20. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ Howard, Theresa (2003-10-27). "Energy drinks get their hip-hop on". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
- ^ "Robert L. Johnson Adds Nelly To Bobcats Ownership Team" (Press release). NBA. 2004-07-19. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
- ^ "Day 3 of the main event of the World Series of Poker". USA Today. 2007-07-08. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
- ^ Young, Simon (2010-01-08). "2010 PCA amFAR Tournament: Round one - PokerStars Poker Blog". Pokerstarsblog.com. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
- ^ "Nelly's Priceless Princess! Fitness, Genetic Bliss, Career and More!". UrbLife.com. September 20, 2010.
- ^ "Rapper Nelly's sister dies of leukemia". USA Today. Associated Press. 2005-03-24. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
- ^ "Nelly 'Dreams' Big with DoSomething.org". Do Something.
- ^ Snipes. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ^ Tyrangiel, Josh (2004-09-27). "The Rapper Who Likes Bowling". Time. Vol. 164, no. 13.
- ^ Horowitz, Steven. "Exclusive Nelly Interview". [dead link]
- ^ Nelly (III). Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1621415/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm
External links
- Official website
- Nelly at AllMusic
- Nelly at IMDb
- 1974 births
- Living people
- African-American investors
- African-American male actors
- African-American male rappers
- African-American record producers
- African-American sports executives and administrators
- American beverage industry businesspeople
- American businesspeople in retailing
- American fashion businesspeople
- American hip hop record producers
- American hip hop singers
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American nonprofit businesspeople
- American philanthropists
- Businesspeople from Missouri
- Charlotte Bobcats owners
- Grammy Award-winning artists
- Male actors from Missouri
- Midwest hip hop musicians
- Musicians from Austin, Texas
- People from St. Louis County, Missouri
- Rappers from St. Louis, Missouri
- Rappers from Texas
- Republic Records artists
- World Music Awards winners
- Military brats