Nelly

Early Life

Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., known professionally as Nelly, was born on November 2, 1974, in Austin, Texas. He is the only son of Cornell Haynes Sr. and Rhonda Mack. Following his parents' divorce when he was seven, Nelly moved with his mother to University City, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. It was during his teenage years that he formed the hip-hop group St. Lunatics with friends and family, which included his half-brother City Spud. The group gained local popularity with their single "Gimme What Ya Got" in 1996, but struggled to achieve broader success.

Career

Nelly's breakthrough came in 1999 when he signed with Universal Records. His debut album, "Country Grammar," released in 2000, featured hit singles like "Country Grammar" and "Ride Wit Me," both of which reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. The album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified diamond by the RIAA. His follow-up album, "Nellyville," released in 2002, produced two number-one hits, "Hot in Herre" and "Dilemma," solidifying his status as a leading figure in hip-hop. Nelly's unique style blends elements of Midwest hip-hop, pop rap, and country rap, characterized by catchy hooks and a distinctive Missouri twang.

Personal Life

Nelly has two children from previous relationships, a son named Cornell Haynes III and a daughter named Chanelle. He also adopted two children from his late stepsister, Jaqueline Donahue, who passed away from leukemia. Nelly has been involved in philanthropy, founding the 4Sho4Kids Foundation and running campaigns to raise awareness about bone marrow transplants. He dated singer Ashanti from 2003 to 2013, and they rekindled their relationship in 2023, announcing their marriage and expecting their first child together in December 2023.