Description
Country Grammar is the debut studio album by American rapper Nelly. It was released on June 27, 2000, by Universal Records (who released the album after listening to demos by Nelly, before signing a record deal with the rapper in 1999). The production on the album was handled by Jason "Jay E" Epperson, with additional production by C-Love, Kevin Law, City Spud, Steve "Blast" Wills, and Basement Beats. Nelly contributed to all lyrics on the album, with Epperson and City Spud also contributing. The album introduced a unique St. Louis, Midwestern sound, and introduces Nelly's vocal style of pop-rap singalongs and Midwestern, Missouri twang. It supported four successful singles: "Country Grammar (Hot Shit)", "E.I.", "Ride wit Me" and "Batter Up". Its lead single, "Country Grammar (Hot Shit)", peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart. "E.I." charted at number 16, number 12, and number 11 on the Hot 100, UK Singles Chart, and ARIA Singles Chart, respectively. "Ride wit Me" peaked within the top five on the Hot 100, ARIA Singles Chart, Irish Singles Chart, and UK Singles Chart. The album's fourth and final single, "Batter Up" featuring Murphy Lee and Ali, achieved moderate chart success.
Country Grammar received positive reviews, with critics praising Nelly's vocal style and the album's production. It topped the US Billboard 200 chart for five consecutive weeks and the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for six consecutive weeks. It peaked in the top five on the New Zealand Albums Chart and Australian Albums Chart, as well as the top ten on the Canadian Albums Chart and Dutch Albums Chart. The album was certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) and Music Canada (MC), denoting shipments of 45,000 and 300,000 copies, respectively.
In 2016, Country Grammar became the ninth hip-hop album to be certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipment of 10 million copies in the US. Its commercial success secured Nelly's status as one of the most successful hip-hop acts of the 2000s decade. On Billboard's decade-end chart, Nelly ranked as the third most successful act of the 2000s decade, due largely to the success of Country Grammar and his follow-up album Nellyville (2002).
Release Info
Label: Motown B0024140-01
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 2016
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: Pop Rap
Tracklist
A1 St. Louie
A2 Greed, Hate, Envy
A3 Country Grammar (Hot ....)
A4 Steal The Show
B1 Ride Wit Me
B2 E.I.
B3 Thicky Thick Girl
B4 For My
C1 Utha Side
C2 Tho Dem Wrappas
C3 Wrap Sumden
D1 Batter Up
D2 Never Let 'Em C U Sweat
D3 Luven Me