This article is about Nelly, the rapper. For the female singer, see Nelly Furtado.

Nelly (born November 2, 1978) is an American rapper. Born Cornell Haynes Jr. in University City, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, he first came to mainstream audiences with Country Grammar (2000) and released Free City with his St. Louis crew the St. Lunatics in 2001. Country Grammar turned out to become a mainstream success that set the stage for his breakthrough album, Nellyville . Nellyville established him as one of the most famous rappers in the early 2000s, with an image of being equal parts handsome boy-next-door and tough gangsta. From the beginnings of his pop career, the lyrics of "Country Grammar" explored this dichotomy, posing the question: "Who says pretty boys can't be wild niggaz?" and containing references to gun violence and drug use while also sending shoutouts to billionaires Bill Gates and Donald Trump.

The 2002 single "Hot in Herre" (see also quote in Nudity) was also tremendously popular, as was its follow-up, "Dilemma," which featured vocals by Kelly Rowland from Destiny's Child.

In early 2003, Nelly released the controversial single, "Air Force Ones". MTV, MTV2, and VH1 refused to air the video due to product placement for the popular sneakers of the same name. Their sister station, BET, however, played it.

On September 14, 2004, Nelly released two albums, Sweat and Suit. Suit, an R&B-oriented album, debuted at #1 on the Billboard albums chart and Sweat, a rap-oriented album, debuted at #2. From the Suit album, the slow ballad "Over and Over", an unlikely duet with country music star Tim McGraw, became another crossover hit. Nelly performed the song with McGraw on the latter's CBS Television concert special in 2004. Nelly is part owner of the NBA expansion team Charlotte Bobcats with BET founder Robert Johnson as of 2005.

Discography

Albums

• 2000 "Country Grammar" #1 US, #14 UK
• 2002 "Nellyville" #1 US, #2 UK
• 2003 "Da Derrty Versions: The Reinvention" #12 US
• 2004 "Sweat" #2 US, #11 UK
• 2004 "Suit" #1 US, #8 UK

Hit singles

• 2000 "(Hot Shit) Country Grammar" #7 US, #7 UK
• 2000 "E.I." #16 US, #11 UK (2001 release in the UK)
• 2001 "Ride wit Me" (feat. City Spud) #3 US, #3 UK
• 2001 "Batter Up" (with St. Lunatics) #28 UK
• 2001 "Where the Party at?" (Jagged Edge feat. Nelly) #3 US, #25 UK
• 2001 "#1" #22 US
• 2002 "Hot in Herre" #1 US, #4 UK
• 2002 "Dilemma" (feat. Kelly Rowland) #1 US, #1 UK
• 2002 "Air Force Ones" #3 US
• 2003 "Work It" (feat. Justin Timberlake) #7 UK
• 2003 "Shake Ya Tailfeather" (with P. Diddy and Murphy Lee) #1 US, #10 UK
• 2003 "Iz U" #36 UK
• 2004 "My Place" #4 US, #1 UK (double A-side with Flap Your Wings in the UK)
• 2004 "Tilt Ya Head Back" (with Christina Aguilera) #5 UK
• 2004 "Over and Over" (feat. Tim McGraw) #3 US, #1 UK (2005 release in the UK)