Nelly
Biography
Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., better known as Nelly, is an American rapper, singer, actor, and entrepreneur who rose to prominence in the early 2000s. Born in Austin, Texas, on November 2, 1974, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, with his mother after his parents divorced when he was young. In high school, he formed the hip hop group St. Lunatics with his friends, achieving moderate local success with their 1996 single "Gimme What Ya Got". When the group struggled to land a record deal, they decided Nelly should pursue a solo career, leading to his signing with Universal Records in 1999.
Musical Breakthrough
Nelly's debut solo album, "Country Grammar," was released in 2000 and became a massive commercial success. The album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and has been certified Diamond by the RIAA, signifying over 10 million units sold in the U.S. The title track and "Ride wit Me" became top 10 hits, establishing his unique blend of Midwest slang, pop-rap, and Southern hip hop influences. His sophomore album, "Nellyville" (2002), continued his success, debuting at number one and featuring the Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Hot in Herre" and "Dilemma," featuring Kelly Rowland. "Nellyville" has been certified 6x multi-platinum.
Subsequent Career
In 2004, Nelly released two albums simultaneously: "Sweat," a rap-focused album, and "Suit," which was more R&B-oriented. "Suit" debuted at number one on the Billboard albums chart, while "Sweat" debuted at number two. A notable crossover hit from "Suit" was the duet "Over and Over" with country music star Tim McGraw. He has since released several other albums, including "Brass Knuckles" (2008), "5.0" (2010), "M.O." (2013), and the country-influenced album "Heartland" (2021). Throughout his career, Nelly has won three Grammy Awards and nine Billboard Music Awards.
Other Ventures
Beyond his music career, Nelly has ventured into acting and business. He made his film debut in the 2001 movie "Snipes" and later co-starred in the 2005 remake of "The Longest Yard" with Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. He has also appeared in television shows such as "CSI: NY" and had his own reality TV show, "Nellyville," which ran for two seasons. As an entrepreneur, Nelly launched the clothing lines Vokal and Apple Bottoms. He has also been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including a campaign to raise awareness for bone marrow donation after his sister was diagnosed with leukemia.