BIO:

Nelly was born Cornell Haynes, Jr. on November 2, 1978, in Austin, Texas. His childhood was difficult, as he was moved around from city to city and even to Spain at one point in time. His final stop, St. Louis, Missouri, proved to be prophetic. Haynes began to hone his considerable rhyme skills in his neighborhood.

A talented baseball player at the shortstop position who flirted with a Major League career, Haynes was drawn to the glamour of the rap world. He formed the now famous St. Lunatics crew while in high school and drew local interest in 1996 with the single "Gimme What Ya Got." A lack of attention from major record labels however, persuaded the group to allow Haynes, now known as Nelly, to venture out on his own.

The move paid off when Nelly signed a deal with Universal Records. His popularity in Missouri proved no fluke with the launch of the single "Country Grammar." The entire country was swept up in his sound and his debut album remained at the top of the chart for several weeks.

The buzz around Nelly's Midwest flavor soon began to rival his southern counterparts, such as Master P. and Timbaland. Nelly had an immediate impact on the youth of America, with a fresh, melodic rhyme pattern and a syncopated beat accompaniment. But the infectious hooks on his songs were what set him apart from the rest of the rap rabble. As soon as radio and video caught on, success was a given

His style