Nelly Albums

What Is Nelly’s Best-Selling Album?

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In the tumultuous shift from ’99 to the early 2000s, hip-hop witnessed the demise of East Coast vs. West Coast rap feuds, the ostentatious bling era led by icons like Jay-Z and P. Diddy, and the peak of gangsta rap embodied by N.W.A. The dawn of the new millennium brought forth a seismic transformation, as crunk music ascended, Southern hip-hop took center stage, and the once-rigid regional boundaries blurred. In this chaos, artists like OutKast and Nelly emerged as trailblazers, shifting the hip-hop paradigm.

Nelly’s debut album, Country Grammar, emerged as a defining moment, etching an indelible mark in the annals of the genre. The title track, “Country Grammar (Hot S***),” erupted like a sonic hurricane, catapulting the rapper to international stardom. But what alchemy allowed this record to amass over 10 million copies sold in the United States alone? In this exposé, we shall unravel the elements that have forged its everlasting resonance, solidifying its status as a classic amid the chaotic rap landscape.

How It All Began

Nelly and the St. Lunatics during Nelly Live In Concert at World in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Djamilla Rosa Cochran/WireImage)

Country Grammar, my friends, stands as a testament to Nelly’s unparalleled knack for seamlessly melding divergent hip-hop styles. Born in the heart of Texas but raised in the gritty streets of St. Louis, this rap maverick harnessed the essence of his roots, uniting the fiery fervor of Southern hip-hop with his distinctive Midwestern swagger, birthing a sound that resonated with all who encountered it. The album’s producer, Jason “Jay E” Epperson, incorporated catchy beats and hooks so infectious they could lure the devil himself to dance.

In the mid-1990s, a serendipitous collision occurred when Jay E and Nelly, along with other St. Lunatics crew members, found themselves at a skating rink studio. Jay E would speak in an interview with HotNewHipHop about their musical kinship leading to Country Grammar. “We just started growing together as a musical family,” says Jay E as he recounted the formative days when they collectively penned “Gimmie What U Got.” This was the moment when the stars aligned, and Jay E sensed his destiny as a producer was etched in the cosmos. Soon, the artists embarked on the journey that would lead to the creation of Country Grammar’s first song.

Read More: Nelly Accused Of Abandoning St. Lunatics By Rapper Ali: “I Got Hustled”

The Production Of Country Grammar

“The first song we ever did from Country Grammar was ‘Batter Up,’” says Jay E, who also credited the song as the beginning of Nelly’s “singsong lane,” a style for which the rapper is known. When creating the tracks that ended up being on the multi-Platinum-selling album, Jay E spoke about the production process. “The main thing I started with was the drums,” he says. Next comes the melody, then the bassline, a relentless pulse that seizes your soul and rattles your very speakers.

Jay E and Nelly also adapted some classic Southern rhymes that date back further than Country Grammar. “Nobody can take credit for ‘Down Down Baby’ [referring to Country Grammar”s chorus],” says music reviewer Tom Breihan in an article for Stereogum. “’Down Down Baby’ is a part of American folkloric tradition, a clapping-game chant that goes back, at the very least, to the mid-20th century…” Breihan also mentioned how the chant worked in “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop,” a 1959 hit by Little Anthony & The Imperials.

Read More: Nelly Songs: The Rapper’s Best Hits

The Success Of Country Grammar

As the new millennium unfurled, Labor Day Weekend bore witness to Nelly’s audacious ascent into the upper echelons of the Billboard Hot 100 charts with his debut mainstream opus, Country Grammar. This audacious album would go on to unleash three titanic singles upon the world: “Country Grammar,” “E.I.,” and “Ride wit Me.” These compositions, much like the entire sonic tapestry of the album, wove a mesmerizing fabric. They melded the unmistakable elements of New Orleans bounce, a rhythmic “singsonglane” akin to R&B, and the age-old pillars of hip-hop. But it was the incorporation of the album’s title track’s chants that conjured a storm, one that swept across the nation with relentless fury.

Today, Country Grammar is a glistening jewel in the abyss of hip-hop, a Diamond album, a rarefied breed that has seduced over 10,000,000 souls into its harmonious embrace. Its melodies have transcended the boundaries of albums and become the heartbeat of countless movies and commercials, an omnipresent force lingering in the collective consciousness. This opus, my friends, is no mere album; it’s a seismic shift, a watershed moment in hip-hop’s tumultuous journey. It set a new trajectory, one where artists boldly grasped their regional identities, and the genre, forever altered, embarked on a journey of unbridled experimentation, a journey only the fearless dare to undertake.

Read More: Nelly Albums: Ranking His Top 5

The post What Is Nelly’s Best-Selling Album? appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Nelly Albums: Ranking His Top 5

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Nelly’s albums have had over 20 years combined to cook in the music industry. In that time, Nelly became a cemented star, iconic to his fans and the general public. The rap icon’s admirers mark his ability to blend rap and R&B into something like a new genre. The signature drawl in his songs is an iconic twist that has created millions of fans worldwide. This article will discuss some of the best Nelly albums and why they hit so hard.

5. Brass Knuckles (2008)

Brass Knuckles, as the name implies, hits hard. After a three-year hiatus, Nelly returned with Brass Knuckles in 2008. The album features a more mature sound than Nelly’s previous work, with lyrics touching on politics and social issues. The album features collaborations with many big-name artists, including Fergie, Snoop Dogg, and Akon.

4. Sweat (2004)

Sweat was released in 2004, becoming the first of a two-album release by Nelly. Both parts in the set were successful, with Sweat being the stronger release. This album features iconic Nelly tracks, including “Tilt Ya Head Back” and “Flap Your Wings.” While this didn’t establish the Nelly sound, it sure did emphasize it to fans of the time. It is considered a quintessential Nelly album that showcases his ability and talent to make a good beat.

3. Suit (2004)

Released alongside Sweat in 2004, Suit is a more R&B-focused album than its counterpart. The album features collaborations with several big-name artists, including Jaheim, Christina Aguilera, and Tim McGraw. The hit single “My Place” spent five weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and featured a sample from the classic song “On Broadway.” Despite the success of Suit, it lives in Sweat’s shadow comparatively.

2. Nellyville (2002)

Nellyville, released in 2002, helped solidify the Nelly brand of music. It features a mixture of party ballads and heartfelt anthems for fans. The sophomore album broke expectations, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 list with “Hot in Herre.” The collaboration song “Dilemma,” one made with the efforts of Kelly Rowland, won a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

1. Country Grammar (2000)

The debut album, Country Grammar, is one of Nelly’s most successful albums to this day. Released in 2000, the album sold over 10 million copies in the US alone. The title track became an instant hit. It has outsold every other Nelly song. Country Grammar as an album is an excellent testament to Nelly’s style. Many fans regard the record as what cemented his style in the first place, which helped define the Nelly signature sound.

Nelly Songs: The Rapper’s Best Hits

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St. Louis native Nelly, also known as Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. distracted himself with music at a young age. He formed a group, St. Lunatics, with his high school friends: Kyjuan, Murphy Lee, Slo Down, City Spud, and Ali. Nelly’s pull to rap music started out as an avid listener to artists like Jay Z, Outkast, Run-DMC, LL Cool J, and Rakim. Further, he became assured that rap was the path he would assemble as his career. Here we have five of Nelly’s best records, and you’ll agree that these tracks still get the party started.

5. “Ride Wit Me” feat. St. Lunatics

Country Grammar, released in 2000, gave us “Ride Wit Me” featuring Nelly’s crew member and brother, City Spud from St. Lunatics. The song was produced by Dj Jay E, pushing the album to sell 10 million copies globally. The hook interpolates Bill Clinton’s strategy slogan “Hey, must be the Economy, Stupid!” Further, the intro interposes DJ Jimi’s ’92 hit “Where They At?”

4. “The Fix” ft. Jeremih

“The Fix” featured R&B singer Jeremih and became a hit at first listen. The DJ Mustard and Mike Free’s beat-mastering interpolates Marvin Gaye’s ’82 hit song “Sexual Healing.” Due to Nelly and Mustard being under the same division and publisher, clearing the track was less of a hassle. “The Fix” debuted on Billboard Hot 100 at No 86.

3. “Get Like Me” feat. Pharrell, Nicki Minaj

Next on the list is “Get Like Me” with Nick Minaj and Pharrell Williams. The megaproducer fuses his distinct producing style that uses a percussive beat. He subtly adds drum elements through the song in the background. The sound is evocative of the early 2010s era. The success of “Get Like Me” was unexpected but not surprising. With an all-star lineup like Nicki’s multifaceted skills and Pharrell’s unique production style, it was inevitable. MTV News’s Rob Markman reportedly praised the song and mentioned how complementary the trio was to each other.

2. “Hot In Herre”

Nelly delivers an upbeat, house party inspired by “Hot in Herre.” He was working hard to outplay his debut album on this second attempt, Nellyville, and succeeded. The mood-lifter comprises vocals from Dani Stevenson, his former labelmate at Universal. The hook inserts “Bustin’ Loose,” Chuck Brown’s ’79 single.

The Neptune-produced track implants the popular Go-Go sound from the ’70s, by way of Chuck Brown as aforementioned. Nelly instigates fun and a few double entendres to spice things up. His entry in his first verse is slick and evokes the highest level of nostalgia. He starts off, “I was like, good gracious, ass is bodacious,” and “Flirtatious, tryna show patience.”

1. “Dilemma” feat. Kelly Rowland

Last on the best of Nelly’s songs list is another gem from Nellyville. “Dilemma” featuring Kelly Rowland is a classic infusion of Soul, Rap, and Indie pop. When the music video dropped, fans of Destiny’s Child and Nelly sparked dating rumors. Their chemistry in the video sent the media into a whirlwind.

The best of Nelly’s songs are underrated and should be reviewed more often. He is a crucial player in Hip-Hop with his musical contributions. Does your best of Nelly’s songs list look like ours? Tell us in the comments.