2015 has been a big year for the multitalented grammy-winning music icon, Nelly, who has been working relentlessly on multiple television, film and music projects. Nelly just celebrated the second season of his wildly successful BET docu-series, Nellyville and is currently co-starring in the #1-rated BET sitcom The Real Husbands of Hollywood for the show’s fourth season. After collaborating with Florida Georgia Line on the 6X Platinum single “Cruise,” Nelly got back in the studio to release his newest chart topper, “The Fix” Featuring Jeremih, which updates the Marvin Gaye classic, Sexual Healing, for a modern day audience. The Fix is produced by hit maker, DJ Mustard alongside Mike Free. “The Fix” serves as the first single from Nelly’s currently unnamed upcoming album. Touring across the US, Australia, Middle East, Europe and in his hometown of St. Louis with Taylor Swift, have been just a few highlights for the year.
Nelly is a multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning rap superstar, entrepreneur, philanthropist and actor, who has continually raised the bar for the entertainment industry since stepping on the scene in 2000 with his chart topping album, Country Grammar. Country Grammar spent seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and spawned the massive hits “Ride Wit Me”, “Country Grammar”, and “E.I.”. The album landed Nelly four Grammy Award nominations and sold over nine million copies worldwide. Nelly kept the momentum going with the 2002 release of Nellyville. The album debuted at #1 on top of scoring Nelly his first two Grammy Awards for “Hot in Here” – Best Male Rap Solo Performance – and “Dilemma” [feat. Kelly Rowland] – Best Rap Song Collaboration. He has since gone on to win multiple American Music Awards, a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award, Soul Train Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and was crowned “Top Pop, Rap, and R&B/Hip-Hop Artist Of The Year” by Billboard. In 2013, the St. Louis native released his seventh full-length album, M.O. [Republic Records] featuring guest appearances by Nicki Minaj, Pharrell, Future, T.I. and 2 Chainz as well as production powerhouses Rico Love (Beyonce, Usher) and Detail (Lil Wayne, T-Pain).
The music mogul has also left his mark in other aspects of the industry, introducing his women’s clothing line, Apple Bottoms, men’s clothing line, Vokal, and Pimp Juice energy drink. Additionally, he has partnered with Nike on the “Air Derrty” limited edition sneaker, he is also the CEO of his own label, Derrty Ent., as wells as co-owner of the Charlotte Hornets with Michael Jordan. One of the biggest ways Nelly gives back to St. Louis is through his school, he is the only artist to have his own accredited college, Ex’treme Institute. Nelly partnered with Vatterott College to create Ex’treme Institute (EI), a college tailored to educating those interested in the music industry.
In 2005, Nelly made his big screen debut in the Adam Sandler and Chris Rock hit remake, The Longest Yard. Shortly after, he took on a recurring role on the hit show CSI: NY in 2009.
One of Nelly’s greatest philanthropic achievements is that he hosted the largest African American bone marrow drive to date in an attempt to save his sister from Lukemia. Nelly continues to use his influence to raise awareness for multiple organizations including Make A Wish.
