Photo Credit: @thelaunchmag

Nelly released his debut album Country Grammar on June 27th, 2000. The album introduced a unique style of St. Louis uptown swing mixed with a twang of Midwestern sound. The album also contained four hit singles: “E.I.,” “Ride Wit Me,” “Batter Up” and the title track, all topping the charts as fan favorites. His first single, “Country Grammar (Hot S***),” peaked at number 7 on the Billboard 100.

Once this album (and his follow-up, Nellyville, dropped a couple of years later), Nelly was solidified as a rapper looking to stay around for a while.

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The post “It’s Going Down Down Baby”: Nelly’s ‘Country Grammar’ Turns 17 appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

We are nearing the middle of October, yet still no Woptober has been released. While the release date is this coming Friday, Gucci Mane continues to keep Everybody Looking  even after his album release. His fans are on their toes looking out for the new project and artist are hopping on tracks left and right. Travis Scott featured on “Last Time” and Yound Dolph was present for “Bling Blaww Burr”. Now, Gucci has done us all a solid and released a new video for “Icy Lil B*tch”. The video encompasses nothing too over the top: the beloved game of basketball, jewelry, dancing dollars, oh and half naked women!?

The video is reminiscent of Nelly’s infamous “Tip Drill” video, only subtract the huge football jerseys and add a little ATL flavor. It honestly does not come as a surprise that Gucci would release a video like this considering he is only a few months out of prison. He’s got to keep the spotlight on him somehow, right?

Guwop seems to be here to stay with his many hits since his “1st Day Out the Feds”. He dropped his album, Everybody Looking, a mere three months ago and already has an entirely new project. Gucci Mane is really trying to “Out Do Ya” other rappers in the game.

Even though Gucci is showing out, other rappers like Lil’ Wayne, Lil’ Yachty, Rae Sremmurd and Juicy J  are welcoming him home and onto their tracks. The artists and fans of hip-hop are all welcoming of this new Gucci wave and what he has to offer! Make sure you check out the video to “Icy Lil’ B*tch” here,  and don’t miss the release of Woptober, this Friday!

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The post ‘Woptober’ is Among us as Gucci Releases New Video appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Just sixteen years ago, a rapper from St. Louis, Missouri named Nelly released his debut studio album, Country Grammar, on Universal Records. Country Grammar scored chart topping singles like “E.I.”, “Country Grammar (Hot Sh*t),” and “Ride wit Me.” With Country Grammar earning triple platinum status just three months after its release date and surpassing seven times platinum certification in 2002, this was just the beginning of Nelly’s mainstream success.

The rapper who is credited for putting Midwest Rap on the map and introducing the world to the St. Lunatics, was presented with a diamond plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) at the Musician On Call charity event. The event took place on Monday, July 25 in Philadelphia, PA where Nelly was the headline performer. Musicians on Call is a non-profit organization that presents live and recorded music to bedside patients in healthcare facilities. Nelly was just the right choice for the cause being that he lost his sister Jackie to Leukemia back in 2005.

Country Grammar has become the eighth studio rap album to reach 10,000,000 in sales. Asides from Nelly, the only rappers to reach diamond status in hip-hop history are:

1. Tupac– All Eyez On Me (1996) and Greatest Hits (1998)
2. Eminem– The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) and The Eminem Show (2002)
3. The Notorious B.I.G.- Life After Death (1997)
4. Outkast– Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)
5. MC Hammer– Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990)

Team @RIAA surprises @Nelly_Mo with Diamond Album Award at last night's @musiciansoncall benefit! #CountryGrammar!💎 pic.twitter.com/FKb9pU5mYs

— RIAA (@RIAA) July 26, 2016

With nineteen RIAA certified platinum and gold albums and singles (not including features), it is safe to say that being awarded the diamond plaque is one of Nelly’s greatest music achievements to date.

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*when dropping a song makes ur day

— four two three (@isaiahrashad) September 24, 2015

“When dropping a song makes your day…”, TDE emcee Isaiah Rashad tweeted this morning, after  revealing his first official single of 2015, Nelly. It’s been a while since the 24 year old, Chattanooga native dropped any new tunes, but with a secret sophomore project due sometime soon its only fitting he bless the fans with a brand new jam. The track’s hazy mixture of keys and 808’s are the result of an Antydote, Chris Calor, and Jowin collab, and perfectly set the scene for Rashad’s reflective, yet seductive, lyricism. Hopefully, this 3 minute piece will be enough to hold over anxious TDE stans, as they await whatever mysterious album/mix-tape/EP Rashad is cooking up for us this Fall.

The post New Music: Isaiah Rashad – “Nelly” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

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a.) Jay-Z

b.) Eminem

c.) 50 Cent

d.) Nelly

If you chose Nelly (of all people), then you are correct. In fact, he performed twice. Once in 2001 alongside Aerosmith, ‘N’Sync, Britney Spears, and Mary J. Blige; then again in 2004–and we all know how that ended. However, he’s not the only hip-hop act to grace the Super Bowl stage: that same Super Bowl in 2004, the artist formerly known as P. Diddy had a guest spot, and Nicki Minaj joined Madonna in 2012. Not only have there been just three hip-hop acts to ever appear during the halftime show, not one rapper has been the headliner.

Will a hip-hop artist ever get the opportunity to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show? Everyone understands that this is a big show; so it would make sense to tap one of the biggest names in hip-hop, one of America’s most popular genres, to perform. This would have been a great year for hip-hop to be a part of the Super Bowl: with living legends Eminem and Jay-Z both dropping albums in 2013, either one would have been a suitable center. Even Kanye West would have been a great choice. But instead, this year’s sponsor, Pepsi, chose Bruno Mars. Bruno had an electrifying performance this past Sunday that further catapulted the Grammy winner to stardom. However, many feel Bruno was a downgrade compared to last year’s performer, Beyonce. Some may say Jay-Z would have been a better choice; what better person to follow-up Mrs. Carter than Mr. Carter?

It’s likely that the sponsors of the Halftime Show are not interested in hip-hop acts or they fear a hip-hop-oriented show will cause a decrease in viewership. Every year, the Super Bowl is one of the most watched events on television. It is dismissive of hip-hop culture to leave it out of one America’s largest musical spectacles.

Honestly, this dismissal may never die. There are a lot of politics that are involved with selecting a performer for the show, and the “risque” nature of hip-hop in the eyes of much of America will be a huge hurdle to leap. If sponsors truly feel that a hip-hop artist is not a safe idea for a halftime show, then hip-hop will continue to be left out. Hopefully sponsors will come to their senses and allow icons such as Jay, Eminem, or Kanye to headline the show before they’re too far past their prime. Maybe, if they continue their rise up the pop ranks, sponsors will call up artists like Drake, Macklemore, or Kendrick Lamar.

The post Will A Hip-Hop Artist Ever Headline The Super Bowl Halftime Show? appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.