In stores September 16, 2008
Not many musicians can say that they’ve sold millions and millions of albums. Though today’s music industry faces an ever-changing economic climate and a push towards digital sales, it’s simply never been an easy feat. However, despite the many challenges, there are a handful of rappers who’ve placed on the RIAA’s upper-echelon list of Top Selling Artists of All-Time. Representing hip hop music are (in order): 2Pac, Eminem, Jay-Z, and Outkast.
So, who rounds out the top five? St. Louis, Missouri’s very own Nelly. On a musical hiatus since the release of his last album-set, Sweat/Suit, the trendsetting Midwesterner’s four studio releases have sold over 30 million albums worldwide. On September 16, he’s looking to add to that total with the long-delayed release of Brass Knuckles. Led by the Fergie-assisted lead single, “Party People,” the album has also spawned the singles “Stepped On My J’z” and “Body On Me.”
In an exclusive interview with DJBooth’s DJ “Z,” Nelly steps inside the booth to talk about why the new album was delayed several times, how he snagged Public Enemy’s Chuck D for the song “Self Esteem,” what the future of St. Louis hip-hop looks like, and where he would place on Forbes new Hip-Hop Cash Kings list… if he were to disclose that type of information.
