Nelly Tickets

Having emerged in the early 2000s, GRAMMY award-winning rapper and entrepreneur is revered for his role in ushering in the popularity of his country-rap fusion to the mainstream.

Spending much of his childhood in St. Louis, Missouri, Nelly’s roots played a pivotal part in shaping his music and establishing him as a proud Midwestern voice in a genre dominated by East and West Coast artists. His distinctive style – infused with a mix of Southern drawl and Midwestern twang – set him apart from his contemporaries, ultimately catapulting him to become a household name with countless hits such as ‘Dilemma’ and ‘Ride Wit Me’.

Born Cornell Iral Haynes Jr, Nelly began his musical journey alongside his childhood friends as part of the hip hop outfit St. Lunatics. Although the group achieved regional success, it was Nelly’s melodic rap style and charismatic personality that caught the eye of Universal Records and led to a solo deal in 1999. His debut album, Country Grammar, was released in 2000, and became an instant success. Topping charts and selling over 10 million copies to date, the album is widely recognised today as one of the best-selling rap albums of all time. Featuring tracks ‘Ride Wit Me’ and titular track ‘Country Grammar (Hot Shit)’, the album showcased Nelly’s signature flair for infectious hooks, sing-song flow and danceable beats.

Nelly’s sophomore album, Nellyville arrived in 2002 and topped the Billboard charts once again. Taken from the album, Nelly’s infectious hit single ‘Hot In Herre’ won a GRAMMY for Best Male Rap Solo Performance and became a cultural phenomenon thanks to its seductive lyrics and funk-influenced beat. Elsewhere, Nelly’s iconic duet with Kelly Rowland on ‘Dilemma’ earned a GRAMMY for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and was in good company alongside more of his bona fide club anthems of ‘Air Force Ones’ and ‘Pimp Juice’ (the latter of which Nelly later released an energy drink under the same name).

Throughout the 2000s, Nelly was prolific in releasing music that continued to blur genres and dominate the charts. In 2004, he released two albums simultaneously, with Sweat focusing on hedonistic club anthems and Suit offering respite through a smooth selection of R&B ballads. Brass Knuckles followed in 2008, featuring hits such as ‘Party People’ with Fergie and ‘Body on Me’ with Akon and Ashanti. 2010 saw Nelly embrace pop music on album 5.0, which featured the triple-platinum single ‘Just A Dream’, before later going on to release his country-influenced album, Heartland, in 2021.

Beyond music, Nelly has pursued acting, starring in films such as The Longest Yard (2005), and appearing in TV shows such as Real Husbands of Hollywood and his own docu-series Nellyville. A savvy entrepreneur, he launched the clothing brands Vokal and Apple Bottoms, and founded the 4Sho4Kids Foundation to support children battling leukemia and fund scholarships for underprivileged students.

His ability to innovate and connect with audiences across genres has solidified his legacy as one of hip hop’s most influential and enduring artists. In December 2024, Nelly announced shows in Birmingham, London, Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin for June 2025 as part of a European tour. He will be joined by special guests Eve and Fabolous.