It's Yo Birthday: Top 10 Nelly Tracks

Entrepreneur, actor, and Grammy Award winning recording artist, Nelly has become a brand due to giving listeners chart-topping hit after hit while maintaining impressive album sales. Ruling the early 2000’s with his smooth flow, southern swag, catchy hooks, and strong verses, the Texas-born rapper turns 38 today.  In honor of the MO legend's birthday, we are taking a look at ten of his best tracks of all-time.  

Download Nelly's Scorpio Season mixtape, a birthday gift to his fans. 

"Body On Me" Feat. Akon & Ashanti, Brass Knuckles (2008) - Released in 2008, "Body On Me" was Nelly's second single off Brass Knuckles.  It featured Ashanti and Akon, but unfortunately the song couldn't get past #58 on the Billboard Top 100. 

"Dilemma (feat. Kelly Rowland)”, Nellyville (2002) - Easily one of the best duos to come together, Nelly and Kelly won a Grammy for this song. Released in 2002 on Nellyville, “Dilemma” served as the albums second single and is Nelly’s most successful song yet. This track also propelled Kelly Rowland’s solo career, who was previously considered to only be Beyonce’s backup singer on Destiny’s Child.

“Shake Ya Tailfeather (feat. P. Diddy and Murphy Lee)”, Bad Boys II Soundtrack, (2003) - Created for the “Bad Boys II” soundtrack, thistrack gave Nelly his third number one single and won him yet another Grammy,this time for Best Rap Performance by a Group.

<p"> "Just A Dream", 5.0 (2010) - Nelly hadn't made a hit in several years until this came along.  Peaking at number 3, "Just A Dream" was a significant song for the St. Louis native.  Affirming himself strongly in the rap game again, this hit was Nelly's first single off the 2010 release 5.

“Stepped on my J’z”, BrassKnuckles (2008) - There’s a reason this song is on this list. Ifyou’ve ever owned a pair of Jordan’s, you know exactly what Nelly is talkingabout. Don’t act like you didn’t know all the words to this song - they’re notNelly’s strongest verses - back in the day. A classic song by Nelly, it didn’treach major heights on the billboard, but all the guys in the club still knewthe dance from the video. 

"#1", Nellyville (2001) - “2 is not a winner, and 3 no one remembers,” spits Nelly viciously as he makes his claim to the number one spot in rap. Probably one of his most underrated songs, Nelly lets loose on this track to let his listeners know he aspires to be the best.

“Country Grammar”, CountryGrammar (2000) - A song that’s still played at retro parties,clubs, and even your iTunes once in a while, Country Grammar defined the soundof the south at the time. Full of swagger, bling, over-confidence, and cleverwordplay, this is Nelly personified in a song. 

"Grillz (feat. Paul Wall)", Sweatsuit (2005) - This song is Nelly at his very best. With agrimy beat by Jermaine Dupri to spit over, Nelly does not disappoint. Hisverses are tight, clever, and memorable, and he even has Paul Wall featuringwith a catchy verse most people could spit on the spot.

"Hot In Herre", Nellyville (2002) - The first single of his album, Nellyville, it’s stood the test of time to still be played at parties ten years later. With dirty lyrics and an infectious beat courtesy of The Neptunes, this track rocketed to number one on the Billboard 100. It even won Nelly his first Grammy.   

“Ride Wit Me”, CountryGrammar (2001) - As soon as the song starts, the lyrics come backto you and you’re transported back in time. Nelly’s music has a way of staying strongthroughout the years and it’s never more evident than in his hit single, “RideWit Me.” Nelly’s flow is unmatched on this and with the simple, irresistiblebeat to back him up, there’s a reason it’s number one on this list.