Nelly – Country Grammar: Deluxe Edition (Colored Vinyl 2LP) * * *

20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Colored Vinyl 2LP Reissue with Four Bonus Tracks Making Their Debut on the Format!

Nelly, the St. Louis-bred hip-hop juggernaut revered for No. 1 hits like “Grillz,” “Hot in Herre,” “Dilemma,” and “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” reissues his widely-acclaimed debut album Country Grammar as a 20th anniversary Deluxe Edition colored vinyl 2LP-set with gatefold packaging. Hailed upon release by Rolling Stone as “the best thing to come out of St. Louis since Redd Foxx,” and by NME as the “album of the year so far,” Country Grammar debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 and soon vaulted to No. 1. In 2016, the RIAA certified the album Diamond, selling more than 10 million copies to date, a feat which placed Nelly among rock superstars like Led Zeppelin, the Doors and Bruce Springsteen.

As a creative heavyweight from St. Louis during a time when most rappers were from the East Coast, the West Coast, or the South, Nelly’s breezy, twangy approach proved to be a breath of fresh air for the genre. When his debut single “Country Grammar (Hot Shit)” became a smash hit and peaked at No. 7 on the Hot 100, the foundation was laid for his blockbuster debut album to break into the mainstream. Country Grammar’s beloved hits, like “Ride Wit Me” (No. 3) and the airwaves-conquering title track have dominated global culture for two decades. The album was produced by Jason ‘Jay E’ Epperson, who himself did a tremendous amount in crafting the sound of 2000s Midwestern hip-hop. Country Grammar’s evergreen appeal also stems from its astonishing array of guests, including Cedric the Entertainer on “Intro,” Lil Wayne on “For My,” The Teamsters on “Never Let ‘Em C U Sweat,” and most or all of his trusty collaborators St. Lunatics on “Steal the Show,” “Thicky Thick Girl” and “Batter Up.” It went on to be nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2000 Grammy Awards along with its title track for Best Rap Solo Performance. 

The 20th anniversary edition of this landmark album includes the bonus tracks “Icey,” “Come Over,” “Country Grammar (Instrumental),” and “Ride Wit Me (Instrumental),” all four of which have never been released on the format before.