A groundbreaking hip-hop and rap artist, NELLY (Megget) burst onto the scene in the summer of 2000, when the then-unknown rapper from St. Louis, Missouri, sold over a quarter of a million copies of his debut album, “Country Grammar,” during its first week of release. On the strength of his first single “Country Grammar (Hot . . .),” the album would spend seven weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart. His subsequent hits, “E.I.” and “Ride Wit Me,” would push the album to over 9 million units sold domestically.
Two years later, in the summer of 2002, Nelly proved to be no one-hit wonder when his sophomore album “Nellyville” came in at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart. “Nellyville” went on to sell over 6 million records domestically and earn its creator two Grammy trophies for the singles “Hot In Herre” (Best Male Rap Solo) and “Dilemma” (Best Rap/Sung Collaboration).
In 2003, he released a platinum-selling remix album, “Da Derrty Versions (The Reinvention).” As a member of the St. Lunatics, comprised of Nelly, Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan and Slo Down, he released the platinum-selling “Free City” in 2001. In 2003, he picked up another Grammy for his collaboration with Murphy Lee and P. Diddy for “Shake Ya Tailfeather” (Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group). Cumulatively, Nelly has sold close to 30 million singles/albums worldwide, establishing him as one of the top-selling artists of our time. In 2004, Nelly became the first rap artist to release two separate albums on the same day with “Sweat” and “Suit.” Both albums have been certified multi-platinum.
Nelly is the CEO of his own label, Derrty Entertainment, a venture with Universal Records that has seen success with release of his remix album and Murphy Lee’s platinum-bound solo debut, Murphy’s Law. He also heads up Vokal and Apple Bottoms, the men’s and women’s clothing lines.
Before rising to prominence as a rap artist, Nelly was seriously scouted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves baseball organizations; he still hoops at his hometown community center and continues to show his love for sports. He’s performed at Superbowls XXXV and XXXVIII (2001 and 2004, respectively). He maintains interest in a NASCAR team and is part owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats.
Nelly commits his time to two non-profit organizations: 4 Sho 4 Kids aims at helping underprivileged inner-city youth by providing them literacy and other educational and social programs and Jes Us 4 Jackie helps locate bone marrow donors for leukemia patients.
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