Country Grammar
{{About|the album|the song|Country Grammar (Hot Shit)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Country Grammar
| type = studio
| artist = Nelly
| cover = Country Grammar.jpg
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2000|6|27}}
| recorded = 1999–2000
| studio = Unique Recording Studios, New York City{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/country-grammar-mw0000066944|title=Country Grammar - Nelly | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|website=AllMusic}}
| genre =
| length = 66:35
| label =
| producer =
- Jason "Jay E" Epperson
- City Spud
- Steve "Blast" Wills
- Basement Beats
| next_title = Nellyville
| next_year = 2002
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Country Grammar
| type = Studio
| single1 = Country Grammar (Hot Shit)
| single1date = February 29, 2000
| single2 = E.I.
| single2date = October 17, 2000
| single3 = Ride wit Me
| single3date = February 13, 2001
| single4 = Batter Up
| single4date = July 10, 2001
}}
}}
Country Grammar is the debut studio album by American rapper and singer Nelly. It was released on June 27, 2000, by Universal Records. 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. With the album's release, Nelly and his "St. Lunatics" crew cemented the St. Louis sound firmly amongst other southern hip hop artists in the year 2000, such as Juvenile, Trina, Ludacris, OutKast, Three 6 Mafia and UGK. Country Grammar also introduced the world to Nelly's unique musical style of pop-rap and radio "singalongs" with a Missouri twang. It was supported by 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. Its second single "E.I." peaked at number 16 on the Hot 100, number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and number 11 on the ARIA Singles Chart. "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 St. Lunatics members 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). The former denoted shipments of 45,000 copies while the latter denoted 300,000 copies.
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).
Background and production
In his early years, Nelly frequently moved locations around the United States, before residing in the city of St. Louis, Missouri.{{cite journal|year=2003|title=All Music Guide to Hip-Hop|journal=All Media Guide|page=351|isbn=9780879307592|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wr1lmklsD8QC&pg=PT345|access-date=June 6, 2013|last1=Authors|first1=Various}} It was there where he discovered rap artists synonymous inside the city. In his teenage years, Nelly moved to University City, a suburb of St. Louis, where he shifted his aspirations from becoming a baseball player to producing stories and rhymes. Along with some friends from high school: Ali Jones, Torhi "Murphy Lee" Harper, Kyjuan and Lavell "City Spud" Webb, Nelly formed the group St. Lunatics in 1993. Frustrated by the lack of attention from record companies, the group formed the consensus to allow Nelly to pursue a solo career, while Ali and Murphy Lee released their own solo albums. Nelly produced demos, which were sent to national labels, eventually gaining attention from Universal Records who signed a record deal with Nelly and the St. Lunatics in 1999, with Universal releasing the former's debut album, Country Grammar, in 2000.{{cite journal|date=September 2002|title=Ebony|journal= Ebony|volume=57|issue=232|page=148|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|issn=0012-9011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zdUDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA142|access-date=June 7, 2013}} All songs on Country Grammar were recorded by Steve Eigner, and mixed by Rich Travali. Kenny Dykstra provided recording assistance and Jason Standard assisted in mixing. Mastering was performed by Herb Powers, with A&R directed by Kevin Law and Coordinated by Craig Yoskowitz. Management was provided by Tony Davis and Courtney Benson, with legality handled by Todd Rubenstein. Creative direction was handled by Sandra Brummels, with design done by BENTO Design and photography done by Jonathen Mannion.
Composition
Much of Nelly's rap style draws from his origins, as it contains Southern drawl with Midwestern,Birchmeier, Jason. [{{AllMusic|class=biography|id=mn0000861351|pure_url=yes}} "Nelly – Music Biography"]. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved on June 6, 2013. Missouri twang,Shapiro, Peter, 2005, The Rough Guide To Hip-Hop, 2nd Edition, Penguin, p. 274 that incorporates both country and urban styles. In conjunction, Nelly approaches a pop-rap singalong vocal style, which AllMusic's Jason Birchmeier notes present within Country Grammar{{'s}} tracks including "Ride wit Me" and "E.I.". Peter Shapiro described Nelly's singing and rapping as using "unforgettable hooks based on schoolyard songs, double-dutch chants, and nonsense rhymes". Much of Country Grammar{{'s}} tracks are bass-heavy, that are primarily Southern hip-hop based and minimalistic. In the album's self-titled track, Nelly's vocals are slurred and slow, and are a "smooth, slippery-fast instrument" with "reggae inflections". Rolling Stone journalist Kris Ex found the song's lyrics to depict Nelly "riding around town in an expensive SUV with an assault weapon". "Ride wit Me" is a rap and pop crossover that samples DeBarge's 1982 song "I Like It", and its lyrics feature Nelly introspecting. Ex found the chorus of "E.I." to contain the vocal style of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. "Luven Me" samples "Don't Stop (Ever Loving Me)" by One Way and "Whatever You Want" by Tony! Toni! Toné!. Steve Sutherland of NME interpreted "Luven Me" as a "virtual rewrite" of rapper Tupac Shakur's 1995 "Dear Mama".
Singles
"Country Grammar" was released as the album's first single on February 29, 2000, in the US.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Country-Grammar/dp/B000WLCZ5K/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1370883081&sr=8-10&keywords=nelly+country+grammar|title=(Hot S**t) Country Grammar|website=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=June 10, 2013}} The song was written by Nelly and Jason "Jay E" Epperson, and produced by the latter. Its lyrics are based on the children clapping game Down Down Baby. "Country Grammar (Hot Shit)" peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/nelly/|title=Nelly|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=June 10, 2013}}{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Nelly|chart=Hot 100}}|title=Nelly Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 10, 2013}} It also reached number ten on the Canadian Hot 100 and twenty on ARIA Singles Chart.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Nelly|chart=Canadian Hot 100}}|title=Nelly Album & Song Chart History: Canadian Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 10, 2013}}{{cite web|title=australian-charts.com – Nelly – (Hot S**t) Country Grammar|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Nelly&titel=%28Hot+S%2A%2A%2A%29+Country+Grammar&cat=s|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=June 10, 2013}} The song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).{{cite web| url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Nelly%22| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104225232/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Nelly%22| url-status=dead| archive-date=January 4, 2013| title=Gold & Platinum: Nelly| publisher=Recording Industry Association of America| access-date=September 24, 2012}}{{Cite certification |region=Australia |type=single |certyear=2001 |access-date=June 10, 2013}} The second single, "E.I.", was written by Nelly and Epperson and produced by the latter. It reached number sixteen on the Hot 100, number eleven on the UK Singles Chart and number twelve on the ARIA Singles Chart. It was certified gold by the ARIA.
Written by Nelly and Epperson and produced by the latter, "Ride wit Me" was released as Country Grammar{{'s}} third single. The track features City Spud, and reached number three on the Hot 100, the highest-charting song from Country Grammar in the US. It also peaked at number three on the UK Singles chart, number four on the ARIA Singles Chart,{{cite web|title=australian-charts.com – Nelly feat. City Spud – Ride Wit Me|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Nelly+feat%2E+City+Spud&titel=Ride+Wit+Me&cat=s|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=June 10, 2013}} Irish Singles Chart, number five on the Dutch Singles Chart and number seven on the Norwegian Singles Chart. It was certified gold by the RIAA and platinum by the ARIA. "Batter Up" was released as the fourth and final single from the album. It features Murphy Lee and Ali, and was written by Nelly, Epperson and Steve "Blast" Wills, while being produced by Wills. "Batter Up" peaked at number eight on the Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders) and number nineteen on the ARIA Singles Chart.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Birchmeier|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/country-grammar-mw0000066944|title=Country Grammar – Nelly|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=June 6, 2013}}
| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev2score = B−{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Browne|author-link=David Browne (journalist)|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/07/21/country-grammar/|title=Country Grammar|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 21, 2000|access-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526052748/https://ew.com/article/2000/07/21/country-grammar/|archive-date=May 26, 2022|url-status=dead}}
| rev3 = Los Angeles Times
| rev3score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news|first=Soren|last=Baker|author-link=Soren Baker|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-21-ca-57682-story.html|title=Nelly, 'Country Grammar,' Universal|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 21, 2000|access-date=October 17, 2021}}
| rev4 = NME
| rev4score = 9/10{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Sutherland|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000919134527.html|title=Nelly – Country Grammar|website=NME|date=September 19, 2000|access-date=June 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001018000708/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000919134527.html|archive-date=October 18, 2000|url-status=dead}}
| rev5 = Pitchfork
| rev5score = 8.1/10{{cite web|first=Paul A.|last=Thompson|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/nelly-country-grammar/|title=Nelly: Country Grammar|website=Pitchfork|date=September 3, 2017|access-date=September 4, 2017}}
| rev6 = Q
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Nelly: Country Grammar|magazine=Q|issue=170|date=November 2000|page=112}}
| rev7 = Rolling Stone
| rev7score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|first=Kris|last=Ex|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=13199&cf=10668|title=Nelly: Country Grammar|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 31, 2000|access-date=June 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010803194426/http://www.rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=13199&cf=10668|archive-date=August 3, 2001|url-status=dead}}
| rev8 = The Source
| rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Johnson|first=Billy Jr.|title=Nelly: Country Grammar|magazine=The Source|issue=128|date=May 2000|pages=216, 218}}
| rev9 = Spin
| rev9score = 6/10{{cite magazine|first=Joe|last=Gross|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=grUyWt6neOgC&pg=PA194|title=Nelly: Country Grammar|magazine=Spin|volume=16|issue=9|date=September 2000|access-date=June 7, 2019|pages=194–195}}
| rev10 = The Village Voice
| rev10score = B+{{cite news|first=Robert|last=Christgau|author-link=Robert Christgau|url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv800-00.php|title=Consumer Guide: Getting Them Straight|newspaper=The Village Voice|date=August 22, 2000|access-date=June 6, 2013}}
}}
Country Grammar received acclaim by music critics. Steve Sutherland lauded the album in his review for NME, praising Nelly's utilization of vocal characteristics from other rap artists, including Tupac Shakur and Cypress Hill. Sutherland described the album as a "rarity", noting stand-out tracks such as the "seductive rap/pop crossover" "Ride wit Me", while likening "Batter Up" to "DMX with a humour infusion". He closed his review declaring Country Grammar as "album of the year". While writing that Country Grammar demonstrates that "tiresome rap topics" are not restricted to "the coasts", Entertainment Weekly{{'s}} David Browne highlighted Nelly's "smooth, slippery-fast" voice, as well as the album's "appealingly minimalist tracks" and "introspective moments" such as "Ride wit Me".
In The Village Voice, Robert Christgau wrote that Nelly presents an "easy mix of N.O. Bounce, Cleveland thug harmony, and L.A. tweedle-twaddle", finding that Nelly's heavy accent makes his hedonism more accessible. People noted that Nelly implements his own "laid-back charm" to Country Grammar{{'s}} southern hip hop, and that while he shows "limited thematic vocabulary", he articulates escapism to compensate for this.{{cite journal|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20132239,00.html|title=Picks and Pans Review: Country Grammar|date=September 11, 2000|author1=Amy Linden |author2=Chuck Arnold |author3=Ralph Novak |author4=Sabrina McFarland |journal=People|access-date=June 6, 2013}} AllMusic's Jason Birchmeier praised the album's "tongue-twisting" self-titled track as "infectious", noting other tracks to contain the same elements, including "Ride wit Me" and "E.I.". Birchmeier wrote that the album transcends regional styles such as southern hip hop to appeal to rap-pop audiences, while praising producer Jason "Jay E" Epperson's contribution to the album.
Reviewing Country Grammar for Rolling Stone, Kris Ex wrote that the album's "liquid bass bumps" interlope well with Nelly's "wordplay-heavy sing-song rhyme-flow", while declaring Country Grammar to be "the best thing to come out of St. Louis" since comedian Redd Foxx. At the 2001 Soul Train Music Awards, Country Grammar earned Nelly the award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/80472/r-kelly-jagged-edge-top-soul-train-award-winners|title=R. Kelly, Jagged Edge Top Soul Train Award Winners|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 7, 2013}} Nelly was nominated for four awards at the Online Hip-Hop Awards, for Favorite Music Video, Song of the Year (both for "E.I."), Album of the Year (for Country Grammar) and Outstanding Graphic Design for his official website.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/80035/wyclef-to-perform-at-online-hip-hop-awards|title=Wyclef To Perform At Online Hip-Hop Awards|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 7, 2013}} He won the awards for Song of the Year and Artist of the Year.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/79575/online-hip-hop-awards-canceled-winners-named|title=Online Hip-Hop Awards Canceled, Winners Named|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 7, 2013}}
Commercial performance
Country Grammar entered the Billboard 200 on the week of July 15, 2000, at number 3, selling 235,000 copies.{{cite magazine|title=Billboard 200: Week of July 15, 2000|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2000-07-15/billboard-200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 3, 2012}}{{cite magazine|title='Nellyville' Boots Eminem Out Of No. 1|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/75207/nellyville-boots-eminem-out-of-no-1|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 16, 2013}} The album remained within the top 10 for several weeks before topping it on the week of August 17, 2000, selling 235,000 copies and passing 1.5 million in sales that week.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/08/17/nelly-scores-this-weeks-no-1-album/|title='Grammar' Lesson|date=August 17, 2000|first=Craig|last=Seymour|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=June 6, 2013|archive-date=June 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629170618/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,85459,00.html|url-status=live}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-17-ca-5745-story.html|title=Nelly Puts St. Louis on Nation's Rap Map; Janet Jackson Zooms|date=August 17, 2000|first=Robert|last=Hilburn|journal=Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 6, 2013}} Entertainment Weekly put the album's sales down to its support by its lead single, "Country Grammar (Hot Shit)", as well as the lack of releases from other music artists during that period. The album sold 235,000 copies again the following week, continuing to stay atop the Billboard 200.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432616/nelly-still-on-top-album-heap.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112011755/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432616/nelly-still-on-top-album-heap.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 12, 2014|title=Nelly Still On Top Of Album Heap|date=August 23, 2000|first=Robert|last=Mancini|website=MTV News|access-date=June 6, 2013}} Country Grammar topped US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for six consecutive weeks.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Nelly|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums}}|title=Nelly Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 6, 2013}} On October 30, 2000, the album had sold three million copies, and was certified three-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of three million copies.{{cite journal|date=October 30, 2000|title=Jet|journal= Jet|volume=98|issue=21|page= 40|issn=0021-5996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HcQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40|access-date=June 6, 2013}} On June 29, 2002, Country Grammar had sold 7.7 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.{{cite magazine|date=June 29, 2002|title=Billboard|magazine=Billboard|volume=114|issue=26|page=88|issn=0006-2510|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yg8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA13|access-date=June 6, 2013}} On July 21, 2016, the album was certified Diamond by the RIAA, denoting shipment of ten million copies in the US.{{cite web |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/nellys-country-grammar-certified-diamond-news.23097.html? |title=Nelly's Country Grammar goes diamond |last=Schwartz |first=Danny |website=HNHH |date=July 26, 2016 |access-date=July 27, 2016}}
Country Grammar entered the New Zealand Albums Chart on the week of September 24, 2000, at number 5.{{cite web|title=charts.nz – Nelly – Country Grammar|url=http://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Nelly&titel=Country+Grammar&cat=a|website=Charts.nz|access-date=April 21, 2019}} It reached its peak at number 3, for twenty-eight weeks after its debut on the chart, where it remained there for two non-consecutive weeks. It stayed on the chart for forty-two weeks before dropping out. The album was certified Triple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) for shipments of 45,000 units. On the Australian Albums Chart, Country Grammar debuted at number 45.{{cite web|title=australian-charts.com – Nelly – Country Grammar|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Nelly&titel=Country+Grammar&cat=a|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=June 7, 2013}} It re-entered the chart five times, and reached its peak at number 4 on the week of October 7, 2001. The album remained on the chart for thirty-three weeks, and was certified Triple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Country Grammar reached at number 7 on the Canadian Albums Chart, and stayed on the chart for twenty-five weeks before dropping out. It was certified Triple Platinum by Music Canada (MC), denoting shipments of 300,000 copies. On the Dutch Albums Chart, the album peaked at number 8.
On the UK Albums Chart, Country Grammar reached at number 14, and stayed on it for 31 weeks. It was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), for shipments of 100,000 units. The album peaked within the top thirty on the Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders), Finnish Albums Chart and Danish Albums Chart. It reached number 45 on the German Albums Chart, remaining on it for 43 weeks. It peaked on the Swiss Albums Chart and French Albums Chart at numbers 90 and 109 respectively. Country Grammar topped the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums year-end chart in 2000.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Nelly|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums}}|title=Nelly Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Year end)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 7, 2013}}
Legacy
According to Billboard, as of 2022, Country Grammar is one of the 15 best-performing 21st-century albums without any of its singles being number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite magazine|last=Unterberger|first=Andrew|date=June 23, 2022|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/biggest-albums-21st-century-number-ones/britney-spears-oops-i-did-it-again-2000/|title=15 of the Biggest 21st Century Albums That Never Scored a Hot 100 No. 1 Hit|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 27, 2022}} Country Grammar{{'s}} success cemented Nelly's position as one of the most successful hip hop acts of the emerging decade.{{cite journal|date=October 30, 2000|title=Vibe|journal= Vibe|volume=9|issue=11|page=148|issn=1070-4701|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xCUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA94|access-date=June 7, 2013}} Vibe emphasized Nelly's expeditious fame, writing that the rapper debuted without the benefit of "guest spots or Pen and Pixel produced teasers on his CD cover". The magazine continued to note the rapper's absence of being associated with a notable group, "he just came out and sold two million records in less than a month". Nelly's success helped in making St. Louis more notable for emerging hip hop acts, increasing the city's general reputation. Country Grammar experienced commercial success, topping the US Billboard 200 chart for five weeks in 2000, eventually going on to sell over 9 million copies in the US, making it the ninth best-selling rap album of all time in the country.{{cite news|first=Erik|last=Ross|title=The 50 Best Selling Rap Albums of All Time|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/05/the-50-best-selling-rap-albums/nelly-country-grammar|work=Complex|access-date=July 3, 2013}} It is one of the highest certified albums in the US history, being certified ten times platinum{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=nelly#search_section|title=Gold & Platinum – RIAA|website=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=July 27, 2016}} by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Nelly ranked third on the Billboard 2000–2009 decade-end chart, due to the success of Country Grammar as well as his follow-up album Nellyville (2002).{{cite magazine|title=Best of the 2000s – Artists of the Decade|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266420/artists-of-the-decade|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 7, 2013}} The latter album went on to sell 6,488,000 copies in the US.{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-top-albums-last-10-years-181452729.html |title=Chart Watch Extra: Top Albums Of Last 10 Years |website=Yahoo Music |date=March 16, 2011 |access-date=September 24, 2012 |author=Grein, Paul |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010184351/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-top-albums-last-10-years-181452729.html |archive-date=October 10, 2012 |url-status=dead}}
Country Grammar was ranked as the 85th best album of all time on the Billboard Top 200 Albums of All Time.{{cite magazine|title=Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 12, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001122709/http://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums|archive-date=October 1, 2016}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Country Grammar track listing
| all_writing = Nelly (Cornell Haynes, Jr.), additional writers listed below
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Intro
| note1 = featuring Cedric the Entertainer
| length1 = 1:21
| title2 = St. Louie
| writer2 = Jason Epperson
| extra2 = Jason "Jay E" Epperson
| length2 = 4:27
| title3 = Greed, Hate, Envy
| writer3 = Lavell Webb
| extra3 = City Spud
| length3 = 4:15
| title4 = Country Grammar (Hot Shit)
| note4 = also known as "Country Grammar (Hot)"
| writer4 = Epperson
| extra4 = Epperson
| length4 = 4:47
| title5 = Steal the Show
| writer5 = {{flat list|
- Webb
- Ali Jones
- Tohri Harper
- Robert Cleveland
- Epperson
}}
| note5 = featuring St. Lunatics
| extra5 = Epperson
| length5 = 5:27
| title6 = Interlude
| note6 = featuring Cedric the Entertainer
| length6 = 0:33
| title7 = Ride wit Me
| writer7 = {{flat list|
- Webb
- Epperson
}}
| note7 = featuring City Spud
| extra7 = Epperson
| length7 = 4:51
| title8 = E.I.
| writer8 = Epperson
| extra8 = Epperson
| length8 = 4:45
| title9 = Thicky Thick Girl
| note9 = featuring Murphy Lee and Ali
| writer9 = {{flat list|
- Harper
- Jones
- Webb
}}
| extra9 = City Spud
| length9 = 4:34
| title10 = For My
| note10 = featuring Lil' Wayne
| writer10 = {{flat list|
- Dwayne Carter, Jr.
- Epperson
}}
| extra10 = Epperson
| length10 = 4:08
| title11 = Utha Side
| writer11 = Epperson
| extra11 = Epperson
| length11 = 4:33
| title12 = Tho Dem Wrappas
| writer12 = Epperson
| extra12 = Epperson
| length12 = 4:09
| title13 = Wrap Sumden
| writer13 = {{flat list|
- Webb
- Jones
- Harper
- Cleveland
- Epperson
}}
| note13 = featuring St. Lunatics
| extra13 = Epperson
| length13 = 4:16
| title14 = Batter Up
| writer14 = {{flat list|
- Epperson
- Harper
- Jones
- Steve Wills
}}
| note14 = featuring Murphy Lee and Ali
| extra14 = Steve "Blast" Wills
| length14 = 5:27
| title15 = Never Let 'Em C U Sweat
| writer15 = {{flat list|
- Webb
- Donell Simmons
- Jamal Aziz
- Jesse "Corparal" Wilson
}}
| note15 = featuring The Teamsters
| extra15 = City Spud
| length15 = 4:14
| title16 = Luven Me
| writer16 = Webb
| extra16 = City Spud
| length16 = 4:07
| title17 = Outro
| note17 = featuring Cedric the Entertainer
| length17 = 0:44
| total_length = 66:35
}}
- "Ride wit Me" contains a portion of composition from DeBarge's 1982's "I Like It".
- "Batter Up" contains a portion of composition from Primal Scream's "Movin' on Up".
- "Luven Me" samples elements from One Way's 1984 "Don't Stop (Ever Loving Me)". It also samples elements from Tony! Toni! Toné!'s 1990's "Whatever You Want".
Personnel
20th anniversary live album
For the 20th anniversary of the album, Nelly performed the entire album live at MelodyVR. On February 19, 2021, the rapper released the album Country Grammar Live alongside a documentary film, Country Grammar – A St. Lunatics Story.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Sophie |date=2021-02-19 |title=Nelly Celebrates 20 Years Of 'Country Grammar' With Live Album And Mini-Doc |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/nelly-country-grammar-live-mini-doc/ |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=UDiscoverMusic}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for Country Grammar ! Chart (2000–2001) ! Peak |
scope="row" {{album chart|Australia|4|artist=Nelly|album=Country Grammar|access-date=June 10, 2013|refname=aus chart}} |
---|
scope="row"|Australian Dance Albums (ARIA){{cite journal|url=http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue570.PDF|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue570.PDF|url-status=dead|date=January 29, 2001|archive-date=February 20, 2002|title=ARIA Dance - Week Commencing 29th January 2001|journal=The ARIA Report|page=15|via=National Library of Australia|issue=570|access-date=April 17, 2023}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
|align="center"|25 |
scope="row"| Australian Urban Albums (ARIA){{cite journal |url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020305130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020306-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue627.pdf |title=ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 4th March 2002 |journal=The ARIA Report |issue=627 |page=19 |date=March 4, 2002 |access-date=April 15, 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} {{cbignore}}
|align="center"|1 |
scope="row" {{album chart|Flanders|24|artist=Nelly|album=Country Grammar|access-date=June 10, 2013|refname=ultratop50}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|BillboardCanada|7|artist=Nelly|album=Country Grammar|access-date=June 10, 2013|refname=Canada Charts}} |
scope="row"|Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite web|url= http://canoe.com/JamMusicCharts/RANDB.html|title=R&B : Top 50|website=Jam!|date=August 19, 2000|access-date=January 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001119201200/http://canoe.com:80/JamMusicCharts/RANDB.html|archive-date=November 19, 2000}}
|style="text-align:center;"|2 |
scope="row" {{album chart|Denmark|29|artist=Nelly|album=Country Grammar|access-date=June 10, 2013}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|Netherlands|8|artist=Nelly|album=Country Grammar|access-date=June 10, 2013}} |
scope="row"|European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2001/MM-2001-06-09.pdf|title=European Top 100 Albums |magazine=Music & Media|volume=19|issue=24|date=June 9, 2001|page=10|accessdate=April 10, 2023|via=World Radio History}}
|style="text-align:center;"|36 |
scope="row" {{album chart|Finland|26|artist=Nelly|album=Country Grammar|access-date=June 10, 2013}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|France|109|artist=Nelly|album=Country Grammar|access-date=June 10, 2013}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|Germany4|45|id=3763|artist=Nelly|album=Country Grammar|access-date=August 4, 2020}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|Ireland2|15|artist=Nelly|access-date=April 15, 2023}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|New Zealand|3|artist=Nelly|album=Country Grammar|access-date=June 10, 2013}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|Norway|35|artist=Nelly|album=Country Grammar|access-date=June 10, 2013}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|Scotland|24|date=20010527|access-date=April 15, 2023}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|Switzerland|90|artist=Nelly|album=Country Grammar|access-date=June 10, 2013}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|UK|14|artist=Nelly|access-date=June 10, 2013|refname=ukchart}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|UKR&B|3|date=20010513|access-date=April 15, 2023}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Nelly|access-date=June 10, 2013|refname=Billboard200}} |
scope="row" {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Nelly|access-date=June 10, 2013|refname=R&BUSalbum-chart}} |
{{col-2}}
= Year-end charts =
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2000 year-end chart performance for Country Grammar ! Chart (2000) ! Position |
scope="row"|Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812032100/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2000_1.html|archivedate=August 12, 2004|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2000_1.html|title=Canada's Top 200 Albums of 2000|website=Jam!|accessdate=March 24, 2022}}
| 51 |
---|
scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2000|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 4, 2020}}
| 14 |
scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2000/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2000|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 4, 2020}}
| 6 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Country Grammar}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=Country Grammar|artist=Nelly|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2000|certyear=2001|access-date=August 1, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Country Grammar|artist=Nelly|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2000|certyear=2001}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|title=Country Grammar|artist=Nelly|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|access-date=February 14, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Country Grammar|artist=Nelly|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|id=2004-01-16|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=2000}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Country Grammar|artist=Nelly|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2000|certyear=2013|id=1532-574-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Country Grammar|artist=Nelly|type=album|award=Diamond|relyear=2000|certyear=2016}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true}}
Release history
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+Release history and formats for Country Grammar ! Country ! Date ! Format(s) ! Label ! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
scope="row"| Canada
|rowspan="2"| June 27, 2000 |rowspan="4"| CD |rowspan="4"| Universal |{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.ca/Country-Grammar-Nelly/dp/B00004TH6I/|title=Country Grammar: Nelly|publisher=Amazon|access-date=June 20, 2013}} |
---|
scope="row"| United States |
scope="row"| United Kingdom
| June 29, 2000 |
scope="row"| Germany
| September 25, 2000 |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.discogs.com/Nelly-Country-Grammar/master/130085 Country Grammar] at Discogs (list of releases)
{{Nelly}}
{{Authority control}}