AKA Cornell Haynes, Jr.

Born: 2-Nov-1974
Birthplace: Austin, TX

Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Black
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Rapper

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Hot In Herre

A baseball enthusiast as a child, rapper Nelly first began to focus his interests on music after moving from the bleak streets of St. Louis to the suburban neighborhood of University City. With some high school friends he formed St. Lunatics, who attracted some attention with the hit Gimme What Ya Got in 1996. Despite the regional popularity of their material, St. Lunatics career appeared terminally stalled, and so in 1999 Nelly instead turned his efforts to a solo career.

A deal was signed with Universal Records, and in 2000 the record Country Grammar was released; an enthusiatic reception immediately brought Nelly to the top of the charts, which had been previously dominated by Eminem and Britney Spears. Having established his own career, the rapper then reunited with St. Lunatics to release their full-length debut Free City in 2001 - the attention generated by his solo success finally providing the impetus needed to break the band to a national audience.

The solo follow-up Nellyville and its singles Hot In Herre and Dilemma (a duet with Destiny's Child vocalist Kelly Rowland) once again earned Nelly #1 chart positions in 2002, as did a 2003 Puff Daddy collaboration, Shake Ya Tailfeather, recorded for the soundtrack of the film Bad Boys II. In addition to his recording projects, Nelly has also captalized on his droopy-drawers style with the clothing line Vokal.

Father: Cornell Haynes
Sister: Jacqueline "Jackie" Donahue (d. 24-Mar-2005)
Daughter: Chanel (b. 1994)
Son: Cornell III "Tre" (b. 1999)

    FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
    The Longest Yard (27-May-2005)

Official Website:
http://www.nelly.net/

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