Published: Monday - November 5, 2007
Words by Maya "The Brasilianaire" Medena
Nelly (Photo: Universal)
When Nelly first exploded into our lives, no one ever imagined that he would make it this far. The St. Louis native, ex-UPS delivery man satisfyingly surprises us once again, but this time with his brain power. Many were amazed to see Nelly hold his own and delighted to hear some much needed opinions protecting the rights of entertainers during BET's 3 part series, "Hip Hop V. America," that included a wide array of panelist from Stanley Crouch to the Reverend Al Sharpton. He has been profoundly criticized in the past by the public for his supposed role in the defamation of women in hip-hop, particularly because of the delineation of females in his music videos. He has also been patronized by fellow associates for not being a "real" rapper. Throughout it all, Nelly remains in the game and enlightens us with the distinction between Nelly, the artist, and Nelly, the person.
Nelly has continued to achieve longevity in his career and learned how to capitalize on his profits through new business ventures such as his ever so popular clothing line, Apple Bottom. He theorizes about the importance of timing and preparation and he accredits his achievements to the virtue of patience. Being one of the few that have been able to transition and remain a significant force in the game since the top of the new millennium, Nelly demonstrates that even in his absence he's still the sh--.
BallerStatus.com: How come there was such a pause between albums this time around?
Nelly: Well, I've always taken two years. The first one was 2000, '02 and then '04. I think this was more that there was so much other stuff to do between business and personal. Just making sure that's solidified because you can see where the music business is going (laughs). You feel me, so you just want to make sure everything is in tact and that your business is straight. Also, Universal went through a lot of changes over the last few years. Not only with myself, but with staff and with people working up there. There's a lot going on in the industry and takes a lot of getting used to.
BallerStatus.com: You always had an X-factor with every album. Whether it is exploring a new sound, working with new artists or getting into tip-top physical shape. Is there an X-factor this time around?
Nelly: Um. I never looked at it that way. I guess you could say that. I don't like how people come in and say "yo, this is my best album," know what I'm saying? That's something I never said. I will say that whatever you consider to be my best album, this is right up there with it. I took a lot of time; I took a lot of thought and creative approaches to songs on this album that other people didn't think of. Hopefully, people will get it when they hear it as far as accepting it. I like to think now that I helped myself form a fanbase that appreciates what Nelly does.
BallerStatus.com: You've been able to come back out time and time again to still make an impact whereas other artists like Paul Wall and Chamillionaire are having a hard time following up to their debut success. Why do you think that is?
Nelly: I don't know. Some people call it the "sophomore jinx." That's why I felt really real fortunate when we came with Nellyville, my sophomore album, things got better. You know, I think that's kind of hard to do. It's just one of those things. The second time around some people tackle that hump, some people kind of pause and some people don't recover from it.
Paul Wall, I love Paul Wall. I love Chamillionaire. I'm wishing those brothers the best. I think they definitely have the skills to do it. Just maybe as of right now, there's probably a reason. I don't think it's their talent because they have all the talent in the world. They just got to find something to get them over this hump. What I think they should do is not take it personal. Cause a lot of people do and they called the "sophomore jinx" for a reason because it happens to a lot of good artists too that weren't able to pull themselves out of that. I would say to them to stay focused.
With me again, I feel really fortunate that it didn't happen to me and it only helped me solidify more of a fanbase. And now when I get ready to come out, with the state that music is in right now, people are appreciating artists more in oppose to people just coming out with one or two songs.
BallerStatus.com: In the recent airing of BET's "Hip Hop V. America," people got to see the intellectual side of you. After the taping of the show, was there anything in particular that offended you or was there any tension between you and any of the panelists?
Nelly: Yeah. I can't think of his name. Old dude. He's talking about gold teeth wearing and tattoos. I'm like, "my brother, if you ever knew your history" -- we were wearing gold and tattoos before we got to this country. We were marking our bodies and doing all that before. So it's not like that has an effect on how intellectual you are or advances you can make in life and in business. That was some of the most ignorant comments. You want to talk about ignorance, and what you saying sound like you been hurt. Somewhere in his life, he was hurt -- I don't know if it was girls or whatever, but you sound bitter! You don't sound like you up here trying to make a point. That's basically it and the fact the lady said that it was a pleasant surprise to talk to me and to see how intellectual I am. But see, that's the whole point of this conversation. We're not given a chance to know the rappers. We're judging them on the work that they're doing, but the work that they're doing is entertainment. I could see it if we were preachers and school teachers and we were teaching the wrong thing, you know what I'm saying? But, we are entertainers. Come talk to us outside of that, you can figure it out.
BallerStatus.com: You were singled out for running a credit card through a woman's ass, do you think that artists take it too far sometimes in hip-hop?
Nelly: Do I think we go too far sometimes? Yeah, I think we go too far sometimes. I definitely think we need to -- well I would never tell anyone what type of music to do -- but what we can police is when it comes on and where it comes on. See what I'm saying, that's the thing: you can't stop people from being an artist. That's why they're artists-- you take the good with the bad with the artists. That's why you have creativity and performing arts. Everybody don't like ballet. I could look at the tights as being "sexual," you know what I'm saying? Like that don't look right, you know what I'm saying? (Laughs) It's all a matter of an opinion. I think there's a time and place for almost anything.
BallerStatus.com: In some Southern parishes and just recently in a town in New Jersey, lawmakers are trying to pass laws that would regulate what kids are wearing these days. Their argument is that kids shouldn't be allowed to sag their jeans, exposing their under garments and that it should be considered as indecent exposure. Do you think this is a valid point or do you feel like this is just another way for the government to control people and cultures?
Nelly: Well, the thing with that is if you want to make such a law -- it can't just end at saggy jeans. It stems from cleavage, it stems from tight jeans. Because what is your purpose of saying this? Because you don't like where my belt is? Or you can see my underwear? Maybe that's part of my outfit. Do I agree with it at all times? You don't need to walk in court sagging. Again, there's a time and there's a place. But if cats are just out chillin', that's him. I mean I sag. Not when I'm doing meetings or business, but if I'm out chillin' with the fellas, it's natural. My pants are gonna do it regardless.
BallerStatus.com: Now that you've shown us that you are a good speaker and can successfully debate topics thrown at you, do you think you'll ever have a future in politics?
Nelly: I don't know about all that. They don't want me up there (laughs). I like to say "never say never." I don't really foresee it now, but then again, I'm only 32. You never know where this could go.
BallerStatus.com: It seems like your career as been very methodical, in terms of continuous success after success. How do you maintain the patience to wait for the perfect timing to release your projects? Do you have any advice for restless, up-and-coming artists?
Nelly: Well, with me, it was less of me picking my own route. It's not like people were trying to direct me. You have to build a career that you're comfortable with. You're the one on TV and you're the one that got to do interviews and answer questions. You know what I'm saying, it's not like I have someone answering questions for me. You have to be your own person and that's the thing I've always done. I got in the entertainment business because I wanted to be a rapper because of LL Cool J, Run DMC and Eazy-E. But Eazy-E wasn't Eazy-E when he was on tape. When he left his house, he wasn't living in Compton. He was living in Beverly Hills. He wasn't going back to the "hood" although, he probably could go back there. If you know anything about the hood, you know the hood don't play. To know that -- why would you put yourself in a certain predicament? This bracelet I got, it may look like a bracelet to me, but to homes down the street, it may look like a way to get out of a situation. To help him get a jump start on whatever it is that he wanna to do. You know his daughter could be crying 'cause he ain't got no air conditioning in his house at night. That bracelet is more then just a bracelet to him. So to know that, is to know that yo, you don't play with that situation. I'm not gonna mimic and act like people think you should act. That's the dumbest sh-- in the world to me.
BallerStatus.com: At this point in your music career, do you feel like you have peaked as an artist?
Nelly: Um. I don't know, but I don't think I'll sell 10 million records again. I mean in this day in age of downloads, ringtones and all that. Now will I say it will never happen? I won't say that. But to sell 2-3 million records today is like selling 5-6 million in '01 and '02. The last person to sell 10 million records is probably Usher. Had that album came out in 2000 or '01, that sh-- would've sold like 15 million copies. If you look at Mariah Carey's album - phenomenal. She did like six [million]. Had that been at that time too, she would've sold ten. It's kind of hard these days, but I don't know. I wouldn't say I peaked, but I would say that I've made myself very relevant in whatever I'm doing, whether it's the acting, music or business.
BallerStatus.com: Is there anything in your career that you regret doing, whether it's a record or move you made?
Nelly: Um. You can't dwell on that. I try not to dwell on that. I try to move forward and say "ok, I tripped on that" cause that's the only way we get better. We gotta make mistakes to get better. We have to face things no matter how painful they are. We got to look at the reality of the situation. People think it's supposed to be magical like in a storybook. Nah, homie. If you don't get it together right now, you gon be sitting over there thinking about what should have been and what could have been.
BallerStatus.com: You've managed to stay out of paparazzi, kind of. How do you keep your private life so private -- in particular your alleged romantic relationship with singer, Ashanti?
Nelly: Here's the thing with us two. Whatever goes on between me and her, that's how we feel about it. It's between me and her, feel what I'm saying? We enjoy going out, we enjoy kickin' it. She's funny, she's very talented. She's smart. And it's a thing that we just enjoy being around each other. People will build you up to take you down.
BallerStatus.com: Do you ever feel like you could use your relationship to your advantage and build a marketing scheme, like Jay-Z and Beyonce and maximize the success of both your careers?
Nelly: See I wouldn't want to do that because we don't want to do that. That's not what we are in it for. When that gets broke down, that takes precedence on the relationship between you as a person and your friendship. If the business ain't right, that shouldn't affect your friendship. Only if you allow it and set it up to get to that point.
BallerStatus.com: In regards to your label, Dirty ENT, wasn't Chingy supposed to sign with you before signing to DTP?
Nelly: Well, we were working on a situation where Chingy was involved -- or I shouldn't say involved -- but he was within our circle and he would open up for us. It was one of those things that he was ready to make a move that I wasn't ready for. We had other things to do to first -- Murph was coming out and this and that. He wanted to come out now. And you never stop a man for living his dream, so he went somewhere else where he could do that. Like I tell everyone, that was more personal then business 'cause we know each other and to this day, we cool as a fan. Chingy part of that Old Saint Louis.
BallerStatus.com: Is there any new artists coming out on Derty ENT?
Nelly: Yeah, we got an artist named Avery Storm who we getting ready to release. He's going to start doing some showcases. He's pop/R&B, R&B/pop whatever you want to call that 'cause it's all about the same thing right about now (laughs). You might've seen him before -- he was in the "Nasty Girl" video. He's the only white dude with cornrows there, so you can't miss em. (Laughs).
BallerStatus.com: So you're comfortable co-signing a white boy that rocks cornrows?
Nelly: I mean, listen, I don't think it's like "yo, you can only do this 'cause you're this color." We a generation! He grew up listening to Marvin Gaye like everyone else, you can't know him cause of what he listens to. You can't say you can't listen to that. He feels the music just like everyone else. He's a hell of a talent. He writes, he produces and the guy is just incredible. He deserves to have a shot and I just feel real good that he's with Derty ENT. He's gonna shock em. He's gonna do his thing definitely.
BallerStatus.com: KRS-One came at you and you held your ground, how was it facing a rap legend in a battle on wax?
Nelly: I didn't see myself as going up against him, but more me defending myself. Let's be serious, he's f---in' KRS-One. That's like me jumpin into a ring to wrestle Hulk Hogan. But if I get trapped in that ring, I'm gonna wrestle Hulk Hogan 'cause I'm a man.
I took it personal after I found out that it wasn't personal. I mean come on man, I grew up listening to KRS-One like everybody else. "The Bridge Is Over." Let's just be real, he's one of the pioneers if so not a teacher of hip-hop. As a great a person is, you're not great without faults. As great as Michael Jordon was, people still thought he had a gambling problem. As great as Michael Jackson is, people think he got all kinds of problems. (Laughs) You're nothing with out faults. Even with KRS-One, he's the greatest, but sometimes he's quick to snap because things aren't the way how he sees them or how he wants them to be. But the way he sees things need to be, is in away better for the situation at hand, but you can't just force feed everybody and when they don't do what you want, you can't just knock them.
The thing with that -- point black I love him. I still admire him. There's no beef now. You might even see Nelly and KRS doing a joint. That's where I'm at with mine. I've never been that type of person. I won't strike, but I will defend. If you come and attack me, I'll beat your ass, but I'm not gonna run up on you and start swingin'. I'm not saying I beat KRS-One's ass (laughs). You know what I'm saying? I'm just saying, it's just one of those periods in time that makes up the career of Nelly. But when I heard him say "I got a rap for every top ten rapper in the business," I was done. I thought it was personal personal. I was like this young country kid, coming from St. Louis and I never really been out of St. Louis. But all I know is that when you're winning, people are mad 'cause they're loosing. So I was like, "yo, what the f---? What are you coming at me yo? I didn't say nothing about nobody." All I said was "EI" and "Come Ride With Me" (laughs) "Fish don't fry in the kitchen." I said nothing about "f--- him, f--- him and f--- him." So when you see people come at you, the St. Louis mentality -- come on we are number one in the murder rate, it's not a game to us This is serious business. Like, we don't battle rap. We got a problem with you then we got a problem. I didn't see that as that. That's all I was coming from.
BallerStatus.com: It was kind of worth it in the end though because people saw you in a different light.
Nelly: Well, yeah it was nice to know when I did the song "Number One" that it was definitely heard. I didn't do it just to do it, it was heard. People actually paid attention to that song. So I had to do something right.
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