He’s baaaack!
Nelly releases his new album, “Brass Knuckles,” on Tuesday, almost a decade after his 2000 debut, “Country Grammar,” moved more than 9 million copies. But he’s not holding his breath that the new disc will have anywhere near the success of his first one.
“Michael Jackson killed his career with ‘Thriller,’ ” says the buff rapper, interviewed this summer in the cigar room of his Skybox restaurant in St. Louis. “He made the ultimate album, and that left him with nowhere to go but down. He’s been chasing ‘Thriller’ his whole life.
“There’s no way in hell I’m going to chase ‘Country Grammar.’ That would drive me crazy.”
So Nelly, apparently, is setting the bar low. Still, we’re curious to see how his latest project, which features appearances by Fergie, Rick Ross, LL Cool J and T.I., will pan out. Check out this Q&A with the guy who put St. Louis on the map.
Why did it take so long to make “Brass Knuckles”?
I applaud those who can make an album every year, but I’m not one of those people. It takes months to make an album, months to promote it, then months to go on tour, and then you gotta go back to the studio. But you ain’t done nothing. What are you going to the studio to really write about?
Why so many delays with the CD?
When I’m finished, I’m never really finished. They gotta stay on me with deadlines, because I love to create. I’m always doing songs.
What’s your feeling on your fan base today compared with what it was years ago?
Life moves on. The last time I did a record, someone who was a freshman in high school has graduated, and you don’t do the same things in college you did in high school. But I can only hope they’re still there, and I can hope I’ve gained new fans.
You’ve never actually declared who Ashanti is to you. Anything you want to say?
It’s not about declaring. Declaring to who? Everyone wants to know, to be in the mix. But if you’re not blind, I’m sure you can see. But move on, you know what I’m saying? And you can call it what you want to, that’s cool.
Everyone has taken note of your body transformation. How did it happen?
You’re able to hold weight better as you get older. And as you get older you gotta work out more. Everyone doesn’t have to look like Nelly or 50 Cent or LL Cool J. It’s about being healthy and aware of what’s going on.
Flashback!
Wanna get back in a Nelly state of mind? You gotta have the essentials.
* Air Force 1s
* Grillz
* Pimp Juice
* Cheek Band-Aid
* St. Louis Cardinals jersey
