The life of rapper Nelly: Career achievements and more

Name:	Nelly ( Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. )
Born:	2 November 1974 year
Age:	47 years old
Birthplace:	Austin, USA
Height:	5 Feet 8 Inches
Profession:	rapper, songwriter, actor
Relationship Status:	not married
Horoscope:	Scorpio
Net worth:	$60 000 000
Ethnicity:	African-American
Nationality:	American
Hair color:	Black
Eye color:	Dark Brown
Lucky number:	4
Lucky stone:	Garnet
Lucky color:	Purple
Match marriage:	Capricorn, Cancer, Pisces
Residence	St. Louis, Austin, Texas University City
Hobbies	Music, Philanthropy
Mother's Name	Rhonda Mack
Father's Name	Cornell Haynes Sr
Brother	City Spud
Sister	Jackie Donahue
Affairs/Girlfriends	Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas Shantel Jackson (2014-present)
Wife/Spouse	None
Children	Tre (Cornell III), Nana (Chanelle)

The millennium was an incredible time for hip-hop. The decade essentially mainstreamed rap music in America and introduced us to a new wave of rappers who went on to make some of the most iconic music to date. When we think of the hip-hop scene from the early 2000s, we think of pioneering artists like 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, and of course, Nelly. In the year 2000, Nelly made his official debut with the hit song ‘Country Grammar’ which solidified his position in the music industry. However, Nelly’s music career (much like his personal life) has seen ups and downs. 

So, how did Nelly become one of the most recognizable hip-hop stars in history, and where is he today? 

The early life of Nelly

Nelly hails from the city of Austin, the famous capital of Texas. On November 2, 1974, he was born to his parents, Cornell Haynes Sr. and Rhonda Mac. When Nelly was only seven years old, his parents ended up getting divorced. He then moved to University City with his mother, where he and a few of his friends would go on to form a high school band called St. Lunatics. The group ended up gaining a decent amount of popularity in St. Louis but did not manage to bag a record deal until later. 

While Nelly is an only child to his parents, he has a half-brother and a half-sister. His half-brother Lavell Webb happens to be a rapper as well (City Spud). Unfortunately, however, his half-sister Jackie Donahue passed away in 2005 after a long battle with leukemia.

How did Nelly enter the hip-hop scene? 

Nelly took off in the hip-hop scene in 2000 and went on to become one of the chart-topping pioneers in the game with a southern twist. Having grown up in the ‘Loo, Minneapolis, and New Orleans, the streets ran strong in Nelly’s hip-hop roots. 

In 1993, Nelly founded his infamous group St. Lunatics and came up with the single ‘Gimme What You Got’ in ’96. However, the single didn’t amass the expectations of the label A&R’s executives back then, and soon enough, the Lunatics decided to change things up. Later in February 29, 2000, Nelly burst onto the Hip-Hop charts as the frontman of St. Lunatics with their hit debut single, ‘Country Grammar.’

What are his biggest career achievements?

Under Universal Records, Nelly’s first studio album ‘Country Grammar’ took the world by storm upon its release in the June of 2000. The album featured three of his biggest hits of all time, ‘Ride Wit Me,’ ‘E.I,’ and of course, the debut single ‘Country Grammar.’ Immediately after its release, the album managed to snatch the third spot on Billboard 200 and was certified 9x platinum by 2004. From then on, he went on to release hit albums like ‘Free City’ in 2001 and the notoriously popular ‘Nellyville’ in 2002. 

His album ‘Nellyville’ made a smashing debut on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums, ranking number one for months straight. The number-one hit single from the same album, ‘Hot in Herre’, made Nelly win a Grammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance in 2003. Nelly also went on to win another Grammy (Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group) in 2004 for his single ‘Shake Ya Tailfeather.’ ‘Sweat’ (2004), ‘Suit’ (2004), ‘Brass Knuckles’ (2008), and ‘5.0’ (2010) are among his well-received albums. Besides, Nelly has produced a few more hit singles over the years. His songs ‘Hey Porsche’, ‘Get Like Me,’ and his remix of the song ‘Cruise’ originally by Florida Georgia Line gained much traction. 

However, though his latter albums did relatively well, his record sales had started declining with each release. For instance, his last album ‘Heartland’ which was released in 2020 did rather poorly in terms of sales and charts. 

Nelly on the Telly 

Nelly’s television career began with his acting debut coming as early as 2001 in the indie film ‘Snipes,’ where he played a popular rapper called ‘Prolifik.’ But his life on television really took off when he landed a prominent movie role in the famous 2005 remake of ‘The Longest Yard. He starred alongside Chris Rock and Adam Sandler, and the movie’s soundtrack included his songs ‘Fly Away’ and ‘Errtime.’  

There was a long break for Nelly in his acting career before he eventually appeared on various shows on television, including CSI: NY, 2 Broke Girls, Real Husbands of Hollywood, and Gossip Girl. However, in 2014, Nelly signed up to act on his own reality television show ‘Nellyville.’ It provided behind the scenes access to Nelly’s life. However, it soon flopped after a second season, and one would catch the occasional Nelly appearance on television from time to time.  

Controversies and legal issues

Thanks to the many controversies surrounding him, Nelly has had quite a turbulent career and personal life. Nelly’s legal perils began in 2015 when he was charged with felony drug possession of marijuana and paraphernalia upon the police finding drugs inside his vehicle. Even though the felony charge was eventually dropped, Nelly was still given 11 months of probation. 

In 2016, Nelly got into trouble with the IRS over tax lien, where he allegedly owed around $2.4 million in taxes. His first serious allegation and arrest occurred in 2017 when a woman alleged that the rapper invited her onto his tour bus and proceeded to rape her. However, Nelly was never officially charged and was soon released from custody. In 2018, another allegation came to light after a woman confessed that Nelly sexually assaulted her during a show at the Cliffs Pavilion.

What is Nelly’s net worth? 

As of 2022, Nelly has a net worth that amounts to $40 million. He owns various real estate, assets, etc., across the United States and is a rapper, entrepreneur, and businessman. 

Is Nelly still making music in 2022? 

Nelly ruled the 2000s with chart-toppers like ‘Country Grammar,’ ‘Ride Wit Me,’ and many more hit albums and singles. But one wonders what happens to an artist when they ride the peak of their careers and slowly settle down. Is Nelly making music anymore? Well, he hasn’t come out with any new music, but his last album, ‘Heartland’ was released in 2020. ‘Heartland’ had its influence on his country roots. As of now, there is little information regarding a musical comeback from the artist. 

FAQ

Does Nelly have social media?

Yes, you will find Nelly on Instagram as @nelly and on Twitter as @Nelly_Mo. 

What is Nelly’s actual name?

Nelly’s official birth name is Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. He was named after his father, Cornell Haynes Sr.

Does Nelly have kids? 

Nelly has two biological children; a daughter and a son, Chanelle Haynes and Cornell Haynes III. Moreover, he also adopted both of his late sister’s children, Shawn Thomas Jr. and Sidney Thomas, as their mother passed away after a long fight with leukemia at the age of 31.

Did Nelly go to jail?

On October 7, 2017, Nelly was arrested in Auburn, Washington, because of an alleged second-degree rape case. 

Are Nelly and Shantel still together?

No, Nelly and Shantel are no longer together. After a seven-year stint, the couple finally broke the relationship off in 2021, as confirmed by Shantel herself. Their relationship began in 2014.