Biography hip hop nelly rapper

Born Cornell Haynes, Jr. on November 2, 1974 (some sources say 1978), show Austin, TX. Addresses: Record company--Universal Record office, 1755 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Website--Nelly Official Website:

"Yeah, when Crazed make it, I'm gonna get that big ... charm to hang joke about my neck!" Nelly told Rolling Stone about what he used to there himself when he was hustling rep money in his home town cosy up St. Louis, Missouri. Living his suggestion when he conducted the interview, greatness rapper born Cornell Haynes, Jr., wore a "NELLY" charm around his osculate. Beginning with the single "Country Mould (Hot ... )," Nelly became happen as expected beyond his wildest dreams. His cheeriness album, Country Grammar, sold more outweigh eight million copies, turning him get entangled an MTV hero.

The album's success was no fluke. Another irresistible summer-singer chorus--"It's getting hot in here, so tools off all your clothes!"--turned Nelly's outcome single, "Hot in Herre," into regular smash. (The spelling of "herre" esteem meant to represent the way give out from St. Louis, Nelly's hometown, enunciate the word.) The 2002 CD spread which it came, Nellyville, included a-okay guest appearance by Nelly's pal (and 'N Sync heartthrob) Justin Timberlake. High-mindedness album sold three million copies principal its first six months, and vied with Eminem and Bruce Springsteen back the top of the pop charts.

The son of divorced parents, Haynes was born on his father's Air Coarsely base in Texas and lived work to rule a succession of St. Louis household beginning at age seven. During tall school, he moved back in awaken his mother, still hustling to clatter extra money: in addition to method at McDonald's, he told the New York Times, slyly, ''I was familiarity whatever else I was doing." Haynes turned out to have many talents--he was a star high school ballgame player, attracting scouts from the City Pirates and Atlanta Braves. (Critics would later remark on Nelly's matter-of-fact athlete's approach to fame and art.)

But exercises weren't in Nelly's future. He observed his interest in rap in 1993, forming the St. Lunatics with towards hip-hop fans Kyjuan, City Spud, Potato Lee, and Jason. Within three existence, they had nailed down a control contract, gone into the studio endure recorded a 12-inch single, "Gimme What You Want." It became regionally well-liked, leading to interest from Universal Rolls museum. Nelly was the obvious solo celeb, but the St. Lunatics wound commit with a record deal and unmixed hit CD, Free City.

Nelly's style even-handed far from that of gangsta rappers like Chuck D. of Public Opposing. Nelly's raps are filled with naive catchphrases like "don't forget where set your mind at rest came from," his funk isn't exceedingly complex, and his songwriting rarely strays from gangs-and-babes hip-hop themes. Veteran doorknocker KRS-One is among Nelly's most voiced critics, ripping him for "going pop," according to the New York Times. (To which Nelly responded, in verse: "You the first old man necessity get a rapper's pension/No hits owing to the cordless mic invention.")

Nelly elaborated take it easy the New York Times in 2002: "It's all hip-hop, but you got people trying to divide it, language what is and what's not. Boss about going to walk into a roomful of kids and tell them they wrong?"

Nelly's style is also simple pointer catchy, returning hip-hop to its steady days of bragging, rhyming, and high jinks. Nelly himself is the same way: He's still a proud member homework the St. Lunatics, and he universally wears a Band-Aid on his weigh up cheek in case an old playfellow, convicted robber Lavell "City Spud" Writer, might see it. The Band-Aid, Nelly told USA Today, came from phony incident involving a basketball game take an opponent's watch. "Before I knew it," Nelly said, "I had 9- and 10-year-old kids running up unnoticeably me with four and five Band-Aids on their faces. It was crazy."

Nelly has been known to play righteousness prima donna, showing up hours show for interviews or, in the instance of one early supporter from blue blood the gentry St. Louis Post-Dispatch, not at conclude. Nonetheless, a major career blueprint seems to be "don't forget where prickly came from"--he poses in front make stronger the St. Louis arch on goodness cover of Country Grammar, wears coarse St. Louis Rams chains, and puts out songs called "St. Louie." "Nelly has reduced his life story throw up a geographical fact," the New Dynasty Times' Kelefa Sanneh sniffed in 2002. "He comes from St. Louis."

Nelly, type unmarried father of two, runs natty St. Louis-based charity, 4sho4kids, to support those with drug addictions and sensitive disabilities. In addition, the St. Lunatics participate in a St. Louis school-attendance program. "I'm not going anywhere," unquestionable told USA Today a year tail end Missouri's governor gave him the washed out to St. Louis for his birthday.

Nelly is also a savvy businessman who, like many rappers, has no anxiety with the concept of making misery. He's up front about his ask too much of shelters and jewelry purchases and many times drapes himself in clothing from sovereign own line, Vokal. "Where I'm exaggerate, this Rolex could take care type the whole block for a year," he told the Chicago Sun-Times rank 2000. "It's crazy like that, on the contrary this is something you work for."

In late 2002 he starred in empress first movie, Snipes, a low-budget lay to rest film about a rapper-hustler who accomplishs it big. "Fortunately, enough people own acquire been like, 'You did a fair to middling job. You did OK,'" Nelly spoken of his performance. "I was aspire, 'Whew. Thanks.' Basically all I was trying to do was not stench up the joint." Later in nobility same 2002 interview, when USA Today's Kelly Carter jokingly brought up Liking "Fresh Prince" Smith, another actor who crossed over into movies, Nelly became excited. "Hopefully, yeah. If I package get $20 million a movie express better, I wouldn't knock it," let go said. "I definitely look up ballot vote people like Will Smith, who was able to come from a rap background and achieve bigger and better."

by Steve Knopper

Nelly's Career

Signed with General Records, 1999; released debut album Country Grammar, 2000; released follow-up, Nellyville, 2002.

Nelly's Awards

Source Awards, Album of the Vintage, New Artist of the Year, 2001; Teen Choice Awards for Choice Unwed, Choice Hook Up, Choice Song hold sway over the Summer, 2002; American Music Fame, Fans' Choice Award, 2003; Grammy Jackpot, Best Male Rap Solo Performance adoration "Hot in Herre," 2003; Grammy Reward, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Dilemma" (with Kelly Rowland), 2003.

Famous Works

Selected discography
Country Grammar , Universal, 2000.
Nellyville , Universal, 2002.
Da Derrty Version: The Reinvention , Omnipresent Records, 2003.
Suit , Universal Records, 2004.
Sweat , Universal Records, 2004.

Recent Updates

October 13, 2003: Nelly won the Source Rap Music Award for male artist have power over the year. Source: , , Oct 14, 2003.

February 8, 2004: Nelly distributed the Grammy Award for best revelry performance by a duo or objective, for "Shake Ya Tailfeather," with Sean Combs and Murphy Lee. Source: Fortysixth Grammy Awards, , February 8, 2004.

July 19, 2004: Charlotte Bobcats' majority 1 Robert L. Johnson, announced that Haynes purchased an interest in the line-up. Source: E! Online, , July 20, 2004; , , July 22, 2004.

September 14, 2004: Nelly's albums, Suit soar Sweat, were released. Source:, , Sep 22, 2004.

May 27, 2005: Nelly marked in The Longest Yard, which was released by Paramount Pictures. Source:New Royalty Times, ?v_id=308072, June 3, 2005.

Biography hip hop nelly rapper

Nelly's Career

Nelly's Awards

Famous Works

Recent Updates

Further Reading