Nelly Album: “Nellyville [Edited]”

Description :

Personnel includes: Nelly, Murphy Lee, Justin Timberlake, King Jacob, Kelly Rowland, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Dani Stevenson. Producers include: Jason "Jay E" Epperson, The Neptunes, Just Blaze, Waiel Yaghnam, Bam & Ryan Bowser. Principally recorded at The Hit Factory, Miami, Florida. "Hot In Herre" won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Rap Male Solo Performance. "Dilemma" (w/ Kelly Rowland) won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. NELLYVILLE was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Album Of The Year and Best Rap Album. "Dilemma" (w/ Kelly Rowland) was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Award for Record Of The Year. NELLYVILLE could fairly be billed as its creator's coming-of-age album, with a sophisticated sheen that's a world and several million dollars away from its predecessor, the hugely successful COUNTRY GRAMMAR. Confidence and an undeniable musicality are the watchwords here, from the opening title track which is a both half-sung, half-rapped statement of first principles and a tour through the artist's psyche. The infectious club track "Hot in Herre" should bring fans and Nelly neophytes alike running with its old-school chorus, while the tight, steamy textures of "Pimp Juice" show Nelly as a master of insinuating vocalese. There are the usual guest appearances, notably from Justin Timberlake on the rap/pop crossover "Work It," where Timberlake's smooth vocals are expertly used to provide a cool, stylish counterpoint to Nelly's urgent rapping. Beanie Sigel guests on the remix of "Roc the Mic" while the take-no-prisoners stomp of "On the Grind" featuring King Jacob is a reminder, if any were necessary, that no matter how sophisticated his music gets, the streets of St. Louis will always be Nelly's spiritual home.

After purchasing Nelly's first album, "Country Grammar" and the St. Lunatics' "Free City," and not being able to stop listening to it, I was really anxious for "Nellyville" to come out. And yet, what a surprise, I was disappointed thoroughly. When I first listened to the CD, I could only go up to the first nine tracks, because those were the most listenable.

The album goes completely downhill after "Splurge." The last four songs except "#1" seem like they were made just for added content and not for classics.

Now, with the exceptions of "Nellyville," "On The Grind," "Dilemma," "Splurge" and "Air Force Ones" I can't listen to any of the songs and I skip over tracks like crazy.

I liked "Hot in Herre" as much as the next person when it first came out. Now that song is so over-played, I can't even watch the video now.

And how do you know when a rapper decides not to stay hip-hop?

The answer: When he does a track with the lead singer for a pop band. Now, I know that Nelly was featured in the Girlfriend Remix, which I still, to this day despise that song. So, Timberlake returns the favor...Yada Yada Yada. This song is the worst track on the album and had no business on a "hip-hop" album period.

Had Nelly gotten rid of tracks such as: "Dem Boyz", "Work It," "CG2," "Say Now" and the unfunny skits, this sophomore attempt then would at least have had definite potential to top the debut album.

So, unless you're a big Nelly fan, disregard this album and pick up "Free City" and "Country Grammar."