Nelly

T.I. And Al Sharpton Speak Out Against Gun Violence

11 May 2009 09:07:00 EDT

'These kids know I lived the life ... They know I've seen the likely outcome of their mistakes,' MC says to the crowd.
By Shaheem Reid and Rahman Dukes

T.I. in Harlem, New York, on Monday
Photo: MTV News

T.I. recently had time to chop it up with friends Young Jeezy and Nelly as they took in the Atlanta Hawks playoff game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta's Philips Arena. Soon after, the King of the South made his way from his hometown up to Harlem, New York, to join forces with the Reverend Al Sharpton and his National Action Network to speak out against gun violence following the tragic the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Corey Squire.

Just days away from beginning his jail sentence for felony weapons charges, a relaxed Tip addressed the many onlookers who came out to show their support for the "Bury Da Beef" campaign.

"First of all, I want to apologize to everyone," T.I. said, referring to his own publicized weapons case. He also talked about the mistakes he's made and explained why he's the perfect person to speak to the youth today.

"I know what it's like," he continued. "I've come into Harlem, I've spoken at schools before. These kids know I lived the life I'm now living. They know I've seen the likely outcome of their mistakes. I've caught cases, I've been to jail, I've had attempts on my life and I'm still standing. I've learned from it. I have the experience that living this life of crime — I know where they're headed."

Tip also expounded on the ramifications of gun violence.

"We don't understand the pain that goes on with mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers," he said about the victims of gun violence. "There are households being destroyed. You're not just killing a man, you're killing a family. But just like we can destroy, we can rebuild, and that's what we're here to do."

Immediately following the rally, T.I. — flanked by his Warner Music Group boss Kevin Liles, fellow MC and possible future labelmate Ja Rule and members of his K.I.N.G. Foundation — participated in a peace walk, visiting the site where Squire's life was cut short by a hail of bullets. Before his exit, a confident T.I. assured the audience he'd emerge from his prison sentence stronger than ever.

"When I get back — 'cause I will be back — you'll see me standing stronger, wiser and richer."

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Mychal Bell Of 'Jena 6' Accidentally Shoots Himself

30 Dec 2008 11:08:00 EST

Bell was reportedly cleaning a firearm when it discharged accidentally.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Mychal Bell (file)
Photo: Kita Wright/ Associated Press

Mychal Bell, one of the "Jena 6" whose case brought national attention to racial tensions in the small Louisiana town two years ago, accidentally shot himself in the shoulder Monday evening, according to CNN.

Bell was cleaning a gun and the firearm discharged unexpectedly, his lawyer said. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Monroe, Louisiana, where he was treated.

Bell's lawyer, Carol Powell-Lexing, told CNN her client underwent surgery on Monday night. At press time Bell was unable to speak, CNN reported, but authorities said the injury was not life threatening. Bell has not been charged with any crime.

In 2006, Bell, along with five other African-American classmates, were facing felony assault charges after an incident in which he and several others beat a white student for allegedly using a racial epithet. The fight was prompted after a noose was discovered hanging from a tree on school grounds, a gesture which created outrage in the community. Three white Jena High students placed the noose in the tree, it was later learned; the shade of the tree was traditionally off-limits to blacks in the past.

In September 2007, over 15,000 activists — including Mos Def and UGK's Bun B — descended on Jena to lend support to Bell and his classmates. Many believed the charges against the "Jena 6," as they were dubbed, were too excessive. Nelly, Nick Cannon and Jay-Z were among those who spoke out against what were thought to be racially-tinged claims. Bell eventually pleaded guilty to lesser charges. He served a few months at a juvenile detention center and then relocated to the town of Monroe, approximately 70 miles north of Jena.

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Fans Call 'TRL' Finale 'A Great Way For The Show To End'

17 Nov 2008 02:03:00 EST

One group even ran into some trouble with the law to be at Sunday's send-off, but 'it was worth it.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kim Stolz and Christina Garibaldi

Audience members at the "TRL" finale in New York on Sunday
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — Sure, "TRL" made the likes of Justin Timberlake, Good Charlotte and Beyoncé household names, but it was the fans that made "TRL" the pop-culture phenomenon it was for the better part of a decade. Day in and day out, it was the fans who tuned in to get the scoop from the artists themselves about everything from music to marriages and everything in between. Not only that, but fans got once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet their favorite pop stars, thanks to the show's access.

And fans — as well as "TRL" legends like 50 Cent, Kid Rock, Fall Out Boy, Nelly and original host Carson Daly — flocked to Times Square to say goodbye to the countdown show for "Total Finale Live" on Sunday (November 16).

One group of girls drove all the way from San Diego to be a part of the show's swan song. And although they didn't make it up to the studio, they said it was all worth it to be in New York for the big send-off. "It was an unforgettable moment," one girl told MTV News.


	Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, More Bid Farewell To 'TRL' 'TRL' Finale, Behind The Scenes: Kid Rock Meets 50 Cent And More 'Total Finale Live': Stage-Door Interviews Fans Call 'TRL' Finale 'A Great Way For The Show To End' Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Nelly Ham It Up At 'Total Finale Live' Rehearsal

It should have been, considering all the troubles the girls faced to be there. The girls braved thunderstorms, a 42-hour drive and a 10-hour wait just to be in Times Square for the finale. "We came at, like, 6 in the morning, and no one was here, and then we came back at 1 [p.m.]. It was crazy!" the girls said. "We started crying, 'cause we didn't think we could get in."

They didn't get in, but they insisted: "We were just happy to be here in New York City."

Another group of friends had better luck — although they did run into a little trouble with the law. "It felt great [to be here]," one said. "[Our] friend almost got arrested. He hopped the [subway] turnstile and got a $100 ticket."

"It was worth it," another chimed in. "Everyone was screaming. Everyone was bugging out. I got to hug Lloyd Banks. [I was excited we got to see] Beyoncé. We love her to death!"

Two other "TRL" fans admit that the finale was a great way to say goodbye to the countdown show. "I got to see Carson," one said. "We'll miss 'TRL.' We're just happy to celebrate with you guys! It was a great way for the show to end!"

Share your "TRL" memories with us! Upload a video to YouRHere.MTV.com telling us what the show has meant to you for the past decade, and the best ones could end up on MTV.

For everything on "Total Finale Live," including bonus performances, behind-the-scenes action and more, head to TRL.MTV.com. Plus, check out our stage-door interviews with 50 Cent, Taylor Swift, Ludacris and many more superstars at the big show.

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Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Nelly Ham It Up At 'Total Finale Live' Rehearsal

16 Nov 2008 08:34:00 EST

The chemistry between the three is tangible as they rehearse for the last 'TRL.'
By Shaheem Reid

Ludacris performs at his rehearsal for "Total Finale Live"
Photo: Brian Appio

NEW YORK — Ludacris, Nelly and Snoop Dogg must have strong love for "TRL": All three missed football games to prepare for the show's big finale Sunday night (November 16). The Dogg's favorite team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, was even on TV as he rehearsed. Still, the West Coast icon was as cool as can be.

"I'm good," Dogg said with a smile in the "TRL" studios as he got ready for rehearsal. "You know me, nephew, everything is good!"

The Dogg had a pair of custom Dr. Dre headphones on his head (Snoop's were black; they usually come in red) dancing to music piped in from his iPhone. Nelly was standing off to the side talking vacations (he hasn't taken one in two years) and President Obama. Meanwhile, Ludacris went over his itinerary on his BlackBerry until he realized he would need to send an e-mail from a laptop. One of the ladies who worked for "TRL" was gracious enough to turn hers over to 'Cris for a few minutes.


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Snoop, Luda and Nelly will perform a medley of hits for the finale of the show, where they reigned supreme for so many years.

As they talked, former VJ Jesse Camp walked in, and he and Snoop took a few pictures. DJ Whoo Kid came down from 50 Cent's dressing room and connected with both the Nelly and the Ludacris camps for possible mixtapes down the line. (Of course, Whoo Kid already has Snoop and his people on speed-dial.)

"Can somebody grab me Luda?" the stage director yelled, not knowing that 'Cris had finished his work and returned to the studio: He was sitting in the stands — where the fans usually sit — with various entourage members.

"I'm here," Luda chuckled. "Hell-lowwww, I'm here."

"I wanna use Snoop's mic," Nelly proclaimed in a joking outburst. "Yeah, let me use Snoop's!"

'Cris was the first to take the stage; his latest record, "One More Drink," came on. On the sidelines, Snoop was actually outperforming Luda, who was clearly saving his energy for the real show. The Dogg is so into his friend's music, he didn't care.

"If I take one more drink," Snoop sang, swaying back and forth. "I'm gon' end up f--- in' you!"

"That sh-- be knockin'," Snoop yelled after the song finished. "Get 'em, Luda!"

Luda's next selection was the 2003 classic "Stand Up." Snoop continued to bop and vocally support Luda.

"What's the name of this song?" 'Cris repeatedly asked the crowd during the chorus.

" 'Stand Up!' " Snoop yelled back.

" 'I'm the gott-damn reason you in VIP,' " the Long Beach MC continued, reciting one of Luda's main lines of the record. "I like that sh--!"

"Snoop, how you do your dance?" Nelly asked before his music was cued up. After Nelly rapped one of his monster catalog jams ("I'm surprised I know the words," Mr. Pimp Juice said), it was Snoop's turn.

"Oh, they brought a real n---a to go last, huh?" the Dogg said with a devilish grin.

"You son of a b---h!" 'Cris answered, laughing. The camaraderie between the three was palpable.

When Snoop finished his rehearsal, the stage director signaled what the next phase of the show would be.

"OK, Carson and La La will come in," the director ordered.

"Oh, they brought them muthaf----s back?" Snoop asked, getting a laugh out of virtually everyone in the studio.

But after rehearsal, everyone scattered — back to their dressing rooms, of course, to catch the last bits of football.

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Nelly Says He Has A Supergroup In The Works With T-Pain, Akon And Pharrell

22 Oct 2008 08:03:00 EDT

'It's more about the music than anything,' Nelly tells MTV News.
By Shaheem Reid

Nelly
Photo: MTV News

ATLANTA — Remember last year when Nelly spoke to MTV News about forming a supergroup? The speculation was that he and T.I. would make up the core of the collective, especially after Nelly spoke about his close friendship with Tip.

Since then, however, the St. Louis Grammy winner has been in talks to form a quartet of gentlemen who make platinum records as often as regular people go to lunch.

"Me, Akon, T-Pain and Pharrell are talking about doing a project," he told us Friday. "We got a host of things we're trying to do — possibly put together this new 2009 [Bell Biv DeVoe] type of thing."

With vested interest from everyone's respective record labels, how in the world can this get done from the business side? And what about everyone's insane schedules? Nelly isn't worried about any of that.

"I don't think you try to put things together with people you don't think you can accomplish [them] with," he said. "With 'Kon, with Pain and Pharrell, I know it's more about the music than anything. It's about leaving something. I think we're all OK as far as the money thing goes. I don't think anybody is hurting. You wanna do things you can be remembered by. Make a mark. I think that's something that's foremost on all our minds."

Well, speak for yourself, Nell. Skateboard P is remaining mum on the topic of the super-squad.

"Those are all my boys," Pharrell said with a surprised look (after a long pause) Saturday afternoon. "I'm kinda like the only one that adheres to the oath of secrecy. I don't wanna break that."

When asked about his ideal sound for the unit, Williams continued to evade the question. "Well, seeing as though I'm supposed to be upholding my end of the bargain of upholding my oath of secrecy, I'm not so sure of how to answer that question."

Obviously, no release date for the project has been set — the guys are just in the planning stages. Meanwhile, Nelly is about to shoot a video for the next single from Brass Knuckles, "One and Only." He's also prepping a new St. Lunatics LP, Murphy Lee's next set and a solo follow-up to Brass Knucks. Pharrell is working on tracks for Cassie, Diddy and Jay-Z's Blueprint 3, among other projects.

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Metallica's Death Magnetic Tops Ne-Yo To Spend Second Straight Week At #1

24 Sep 2008 01:59:00 EDT

New albums from Nelly, DJ Khaled also debut in Billboard top 10.
By Chris Harris

Metallica
Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

After selling nearly 500,000 copies of their latest LP over just a three-day period last week, Metallica's Death Magnetic spends a second week at the top of Billboard's albums chart, scanning more than 337,000 units during its first full week in record stores.

Prior to Nielsen SoundScan's release of the latest sales figures Wednesday morning (September 24), many in the industry thought Metallica would fail to keep pace and cling to the chart's peak position, especially with Ne-Yo's Year of the Gentleman hitting stores last week. And while Ne-Yo did pose a serious threat to Metallica's dominance, he'll have to settle for second best, as his album posted first-week sales of 250,000-plus. Meanwhile, another big-name release, Nelly's Brass Knuckles, follows at #3, debuting on next week's chart with 83,700 sold.

Following Kid Rock's Rock N Roll Jesus, which slips one spot to #4 next week with 63,600 sold, it's the latest from Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker, Learn to Live, which enters the chart at #5 with 60,400 scans. Young Jeezy's The Recession plummets four spots to #6, with sales reported at around 60,000, and is followed by two other chart newcomers: DJ Khaled's We Global, which claims the #7 slot with first-week sales of 49,400, and Buckcherry's Black Butterfly at #8, which sold 46,700 copies. Rounding out the chart is Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III at #9, selling 43,000, and the Game's L.A.X. at #10, with 41,500 scans.

There are 30 new releases on next week's chart, and they run the genre gamut, from heavy metallers to R&B crooners. Coming in at #16, with 28,600 copies being snatched up, is Massachusetts metal outfit All That Remains' Overcome. Following them at #19, with sales reported at 23,400, is Raphael Saadiq's The Way I See It. Avenged Sevenfold's Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough enters the chart at #24, selling close to 20,000 copies, while Colby O'Donis' Colby O opens at #41, with 10,800 sold.

Jem's Down to Earth bows at #43, having sold a reported 10,600 units, while Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham's Gift of Screws claims the #48 spot, with 9,600 scanned. "American Idol" alum Kristy Lee Cook's Why Wait follows at #49, selling just 40 fewer copies. Taproot's Our Long Road Home enters the Billboard top 200 at #65, with 7,700 scans, with Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer's morbidly titled Who Killed Amanda Palmer coming in at #77 with 6,700 sold. B.G. and Chopper City Boyz's Life in the Concrete Jungle sold 5,200 copies its first week, which lands that LP at #117, while All Shall Perish's Awaken the Dreamers comes in at #126, with 5,000 sold.

Death Cab for Cutie's iTunes exclusive Live From Las Vegas at the Palms EP was downloaded 4,500 times, which earns that effort the #135 position, while Marc Broussard's Keep Coming Back follows at #136, with 4,400-plus sold. 33Miles' One Life enters the chart at #161, with 3,700 sold, while White Tie Affair's Walk This Way follows at #168, selling 3,600 copies — largely thanks to the inclusion of the band's track "Candle (Sick and Tired)" in a recent episode of "The Hills." Lastly, with sales clocked at 3,300, we find Breathe Carolina's Classic debuting at #186.

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Nelly And Fergie Both Wanted The 'Party People' Beat ... So They Decided To Share It

9 Apr 2008 04:43:00 EDT

Polow Da Don-produced collabo will be on Nelly's upcoming album, Brass Knuckles.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Ritesh Gupta

Fergie and Nelly on the set of "Party People"
Photo: MTV News

Polow Da Don's penchant for playing tracks he shouldn't is still paying off for the producer.

Earlier this year, he admittedly leaked the single he worked on with Usher, "Love in This Club." The song then rocketed up the Billboard Hot 100 to land at #1.

This time, he played the beat for Nelly's new single, "Party People," to the St. Lunatic when it was originally intended to be a track for Fergie's next album. Instead, the Black Eyed Pea had to settle for second billing on the song.

" 'Party People' started as a song that Polow Da Don and I did back when I did 'London Bridge' and 'Glamorous,' " Fergie told MTV News on the set of the "Party People" video in Los Angeles. "Basically, it was almost done. Trina did a verse on it; that's why you hear me say [her name] on the song. Everyone thought it was too street for me at the time. [Laughs.] So that's why they didn't want to put it on The Dutchess.

"It was left off, and I was gonna put it on my next album," she continued. "Polow played it in the studio for Nelly, and [he] flipped out and turned the song around and made it into a major club banger, brought his energy, and it just became this monster. He played it for me. I told Polow, 'You know I was saving this song for my next album. But I can't hate on it, because it's good! I like it! I like this version.' And all the label heads loved this version. And Nelly called me like, 'It's crazy!' "

Nelly said he and Polow were 10 songs deep into recording when the producer played him the music for "Party People."

" 'I'll take it,' " Nelly recalled thinking when he heard it. "I kind of reconstructed it a little bit, put some Nelly in it, rearranged it some more, and it came out to be the song you hear today."

The pair recently finished the video, which has since popped up online and will officially make its premiere next week.

The song is the lead single from Nelly's fifth album, Brass Knuckles, due June 24 on Universal Records. Guests expected on the album include Ciara, T.I. and LL Cool J. The first song released from the album was "Wadsyaname." But after the St. Louis rapper heard "Party People," he said he knew that would be the single.

"As soon as I heard it, I knew it was Nelly," he said. "It had everything that I really wanted. The beat is infectious. The feel of it is right where it needs to be — right what I want to do as far as killing it over the summer. It was perfect."

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Fergie

Nelly Lines Up Usher, Fergie And Akon For Brass Knuckles -- But No Bruce Springsteen

3 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT

'I was really trying to get the Boss, but the Boss is all over the world,' Nelly says.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Tim Kash

Nelly and Tim Kash
Photo: MTV News

Nelly and girlfriend Ashanti might make sweet music together as a couple, but when it comes down to literally making music, the two artists have only ever collaborated on one track, "Switch," a song slated for Ashanti's upcoming album, The Declaration.

Nelly says he's unsure if the two will work together again on his Brass Knuckles, due June 24.

"It's about finding the perfect song," he told MTV News over the weekend at the Kids' Choice Awards. "It has to make sense. We don't want to do it just to do it.

"You wanna make sure you get the song and you're not just agreeing because you did it [together as a couple]," he added. "It's kind of hard, because you two have a special relationship and sometimes when you work with people that you're not [as] close to, your ears are open a lot more. It is a little bit [harder], but it's also easier."

Apparently, working with Fergie and producer Polow Da Don was much easier. The St. Louis rapper described their recent collaboration, "Party People"; the video for the track premieres in two weeks.

"Energy," he said. "When I talk about energy, you got Nelly and Fergie, you probably got two of the most energetic people on the planet. And it's a straight rush."

Usher, Ciara, Akon, Jermaine Dupri, the St. Lunatics and Avery Storm are also set to appear on Knuckles. The rapper also recently revealed his ill-fated plans to work with Bruce Springsteen.

"I was really trying to get the Boss, but the Boss is all over the world," he told The Associated Press. "It didn't really work out. I know he's interested in doing it, and I'm interested in doing it."

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Nelly Ready To Battle Don Imus, Other Foes With Hard-Hitting New LP

16 Oct 2007 06:32:00 EDT

Brass Knuckles, his first album in three years, also features uplifting collaboration with Chuck D.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Sway J. Calloway

Nelly
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — In the three years between Nelly's last project and his latest — the forthcoming Brass Knuckles due out November 13 — the St. Louis rapper has learned plenty, he says.

"Being away for a minute, I got a chance to see a lot," he told MTV News earlier this month. "This is probably the first time I really got a chance to pay attention to everything else [going on], and to see now from all different angles."

Maybe, then, it was that new sense of perspective that led him to ask Chuck D to contribute to the album. According to Nelly, after participating in BET's "Hip-Hop vs. America" town-hall chat with the legendary Public Enemy frontman, among others, he asked the veteran rapper to collaborate on a track called "Self Esteem."

"I don't think that people got [what Public Enemy was]," Nelly said, explaining how the song came together. "Well, what I took from Public Enemy before I got into the studio with them — just them in their moment of triumph when they were getting down — was be an individual. 'Don't believe the hype.' Right now, we believing the hype. We're trapped in believing the hype. ... I don't think Chuck was telling you what to be or when to be it, but just be it, be yourself.

"I had always had this thing: I want to do a song and I wanted to put Chuck on it," Nelly said. "So when I got [to the BET show], I had the song. I didn't even have a chance to play it for him. He said, 'Let's do it.' Just that easy. [I said,] 'Aiight, but I want you to hear the song,' 'cause I was real anxious. ... He was like, 'Don't worry about it, send it to me. It's done.' And I was like, 'Wow.' "

"Self Esteem" is an uplifting tune in the vein of PE's past classics. But Nelly is running with that topic for more than just records. He has been a target of political activists and social groups, in large part due to his video for the remix track "Tip Drill," which featured him swiping a credit card through a woman's buttocks, and Nelly has become more outspoken in his defense. He's also begun speaking out against issues he feels are more pertinent to his community than his own mistake, the latest being Don Imus' potential return to radio. Nelly felt firing the controversial shock jock was akin to a slap on the wrist compared to other punishments that could have been proposed, had the community been more patient regarding the matter.

"We jumped the gun, and we don't think before we move," Nelly said. "Right when Imus did that, instead of everybody getting all riled up and pulling him off the air, [we could have said,] 'Wait a minute, y'all. Hold up before we pull him off the air. Let's get what we can get out of the situation; because they do it to us every time. Let's think about this; this guy is a moneymaker.' It's obvious [MSNBC] didn't want him off the air, because the incident had happened two weeks beforehand, [and] they were trying to find out where it was going before they let him go. So, what can we get out of this? The guy is a moneymaker. How about we fine both of them? Let's fine both of them $50 million over the next five years; $10 million a year. ...

"Let's start the Don Imus Nappy Negro College Fund," Nelly continued. "And then for the next five years, we're sending brothers and sisters to college off his mistake. And let's hope he does it again next year! So we can get 100 million. Let's provoke him! Somebody call up there and piss him off. But again, us jumping to conclusions, because you got so many people wanting to claim the glory off of it, wanting to step in front of the camera, we got shook out of our 40 acres and a mule again. We missed it again! It was right there! Do I think he should've been fired? Hell no! Stand up, let's dock him. We could've built schools. We could have built rec centers off of that. We could have gone to college. We missed it. Now we got him fired. What did that do? It don't matter, he's rich. What is he going to do, go home, take a vacation, lay up, watch a little TV, then get a bigger deal on a satellite-radio station? [Ed. note: Imus is reportedly expected to return to radio, New York City's WABC-AM, December 3.] Now he's even bigger because now black folks know who he is. Now we're tempted to tune in just to hear if he's gonna say some other dumb stuff. Now he's even bigger. All we did was blow him up."

Right now, though, Nelly is concentrating on making himself bigger. He shot the clip to his first single, "Wadsyaname," two weeks ago in New York, and the Chris Robinson-directed video is scheduled to debut at the end of October.

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