Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. (born November 2, 1974) was born in Austin, Texas, United States. He is an American rapper and singer. He is professionally known as Nelly. His journey into the music industry began in 1993 when he joined the Southern hip hop group St. Lunatics. However, it was in 1999 that Nelly took a significant step forward by signing with Universal Records.
Nelly's solo career took off in 2000 with the release of his debut album, "Country Grammar." The album's title track and the single "Ride wit Me" soared to the top 10 of the charts, propelling the album itself to the number one spot on the US Billboard 200 chart. "Country Grammar" remains his highest-selling album, having sold over 8.4 million copies in the United States alone.
Following this breakthrough, Nelly continued to make waves in the music industry. His subsequent album, "Nellyville," produced chart-toppers like "Hot in Herre" and "Dilemma," featuring Kelly Rowland, as well as the hit "Air Force Ones" with Murphy Lee and St. Lunatics.
Nelly's ability to churn out chart-toppers persisted with the simultaneous release of "Sweat" and "Suit" in 2004, with "Sweat" debuting at number two and "Suit" at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. His fifth studio album, "Brass Knuckles," dropped in 2008 and included tracks like "Party People" with Fergie and "Stepped on My J'z" featuring Jermaine Dupri and Ciara.
In 2010, Nelly released "5.0," featuring the triple platinum-certified lead single, "Just a Dream." Throughout his illustrious career, Nelly has garnered numerous awards, including three Grammy Awards and nine Billboard Music Awards. Beyond music, he ventured into acting, appearing in films like "The Longest Yard" alongside Adam Sandler and Chris Rock.
Nelly's influence extends beyond music and film; he's also made his mark in fashion with clothing lines like Vokal and Apple Bottoms. Notably, his impressive album sales earned him recognition as the fourth-best-selling rap artist in American music history as of 2014, with a staggering 21 million albums sold in the United States. Additionally, Billboard honored him as the third Top Artist of the Decade for the 2000s in December 2009.
In essence, Nelly's career has been a testament to his enduring musical prowess and his multifaceted contributions to entertainment and fashion, solidifying his status as one of the most significant stars of the new millennium.
