Photo of Nelly
Photo: reeb0k2008 (Flickr user) · CC BY 2.0

Solo Artist

Nelly

Active1999-present
OriginSt. Louis, Missouri, USA
Albums8
Tracks115

Most frequent collaborator: Jason Epperson  ·  20 tracks

Hip-HopRapPop RapR&BCountry Rap
99%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 114 of 115 tracks

Does Nelly write his own raps?

Yes. Nelly is credited on about 99% of his catalogue and writes his own lyrics, usually freestyling them in the studio and then tightening them up. Like most rappers he shares credit with the producers who make the beats. Songs like 'Hot in Herre,' 'Ride wit Me,' and 'Country Grammar' are his own words.

By the Numbers

8
Studio Albums
115
Tracks Credited
99%
Self-Written
over 21 million albums in the US
Records Sold
27
Years Active
317
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 114 / 115 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 115 tracks: how many Nelly wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Nelly has a writing credit99%
2%
97%
1%
Sole author2tracks2%
Co-written112tracks97%
Outside writers1tracks1%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Nelly's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 115 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)99%
Composer (music)5%
Producer7%
Performer96%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Nelly's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 99%
100%
95%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
2000Country Grammar
2002Nellyville
2004Sweat
2004Suit
2008Brass Knuckles
20105.0
2013M.O.
2021Heartland
Early · 98% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

99%
2000s
Country Grammar, Nellyville +3 more
100%
2010s
5.0, M.O.
100%
2020s
Heartland

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Nelly sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Nelly
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

EXO8%
Backstreet Boys25%
Jennifer Lopez46%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
John Legend83%
Chris Brown91%
99%Nelly
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Country Grammar (Hot Shit)
Country Grammar
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Jason Epperson
Co-wrote
E.I.
Country Grammar
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Jason Epperson
Co-wrote
Ride wit Me
Country Grammar
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Lavell Webb, Jason Epperson
Co-wrote
Hot in Herre
Nellyville
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams, Chuck Brown
Co-wrote
Dilemma
Nellyville
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Kelly Rowland, Ryan Bowser, Walter Sigler, Kenny Gamble
Co-wrote
Air Force Ones
Nellyville
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Robert Cleveland, Ali Jones, Torhi Harper, Mark Williams, Joe Kent
Co-wrote
Work It
Nellyville
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Justin Timberlake, Jason Epperson
Co-wrote
Pimp Juice
Nellyville
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Jason Epperson
Co-wrote
Flap Your Wings
Sweat
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams
Co-wrote
Tilt Ya Head Back
Sweat
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Christina Aguilera, Dorian Moore, Tegemold Newton, Curtis Mayfield
Co-wrote
My Place
Suit
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Jaheim, Dorian Moore, Randy Edelman, El DeBarge, Etterlene Jordan, Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, William DeBarge
Co-wrote
Over and Over
Suit
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Tim McGraw, Jayson Bridges, James Hargrove, Samuel McGraw
Co-wrote
Party People
Brass Knuckles
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Fergie, Jamal Jones, Garrett Hamler, Stacy Ferguson
Co-wrote
Body on Me
Brass Knuckles
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Akon, Ashanti, Aliaune Thiam, Giorgio Tuinfort, Ashanti Douglas
Co-wrote
Stepped on My J'z
Brass Knuckles
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Ciara, Jermaine Dupri, James Phillips
Co-wrote
Just a Dream
5.0
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., James Scheffer, Richard Butler Jr., Frank Romano
Co-wrote
Move That Body
5.0
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., T-Pain, Akon, Richard Butler Jr., Shondrae Crawford, Lukasz Gottwald, Aliaune Thiam, Faheem Najm
Co-wrote
Gone
5.0
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Kelly Rowland, James Scheffer, Richard Butler Jr., Earl Hood, Eric Goudy II
Co-wrote
Hey Porsche
M.O.
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Justin Franks, David Glass, Breyan Isaac, Harrison Kipner
Co-wrote
Lil Bit
Heartland
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Tyler Hubbard, Blake Redferrin, Jordan Schmidt
Co-wrote
High Horse
Heartland
Written by Cornell Haynes Jr., Breland, Sam Sumser, Spencer Small, Rocky Block, Daniel Breland, Bennie Amey III, Matt Thomas, Dean Dillon, Frank Dycus, Alan Mevis
Co-wrote

Discography 8 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Nelly115 tracks
JE20 JE17 TH16 AJ11 LW10 RC10

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. JE Jason Epperson · JE Jay E · TH Torhi Harper · AJ Ali Jones · LW Lavell Webb · RC Robert Cleveland

The Writers & Producers Behind Nelly 6 key collaborators

JE
Jason Epperson
Songwriter
Country Grammar / Nellyville / Sweat20 tracks
JE
Jay E
Producer
Country Grammar / Nellyville17 tracks
TH
Torhi Harper
Songwriter
Country Grammar / Nellyville / Sweat / Brass Knuckles16 tracks
AJ
Ali Jones
Songwriter
Country Grammar / Nellyville / Sweat / Brass Knuckles11 tracks
LW
Lavell Webb
Songwriter
Country Grammar / Brass Knuckles / Heartland10 tracks
RC
Robert Cleveland
Songwriter
Country Grammar / Nellyville / Sweat / Brass Knuckles10 tracks

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Nelly co-writes on virtually every track across his full studio catalog. Country Grammar credits him as the primary writer on all tracks (Wikipedia lists a blanket header: "All tracks are written by Nelly, Cornell Haynes Jr."), with named writers being additional co-contributors. His first two albums were built on the Jay E (Jason Epperson) production partnership from St. Louis. The Neptunes produced two of his biggest crossover singles ("Hot in Herre" and "Flap Your Wings"). His mid-career albums leaned on Rico Love and Jim Jonsin (5.0) and Pharrell Williams (M.O.). Heartland (2021) shifted entirely to Nashville co-writing rooms. Nelly's lyricist pattern is clear: 100% credited co-writer across all eight albums, zero composer credits, consistent collaboration as sole or primary lyricist against rotating production teams.

Quick Facts

  • SalesSold over 21 million albums in the US, among the best-selling hip-hop artists ever
  • Country GrammarHis 2000 debut is diamond-certified, over 10 million US copies
  • GrammysWon three Grammy Awards, including for 'Hot in Herre'
  • NellyvilleHis 2002 album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200
  • CrossoverBridged rap, pop, and country, notably on 'Over and Over' with Tim McGraw

Creative Fingerprint

A rapper who freestyles then tightens: Nelly is credited on about 99% of his catalogue, writing his own lyrics in the studio, always sharing credit with the producers who build his crossover pop-rap beats.

The Story

Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. (born November 2, 1974), known professionally as Nelly, is a rapper and singer from St. Louis, Missouri. His debut studio album Country Grammar (2000) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over eight million copies in the United States, establishing him as one of rap's biggest commercial forces. His follow-up Nellyville (2002) produced two of the longest-running number-one singles in Hot 100 history: "Hot in Herre" spent seven weeks at number one and "Dilemma" featuring Kelly Rowland spent ten consecutive weeks there. On September 14, 2004, he released two simultaneous studio albums, Sweat and Suit, both debuting in the Billboard 200 top five. Sweat included "Tilt Ya Head Back" with Christina Aguilera and Suit included "Over and Over" with Tim McGraw, a rare rap and country crossover that reached the top five on both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs chart. Nelly co-writes virtually every track across his eight studio albums, with his legal name Cornell Haynes Jr. appearing in the songwriter credits consistently from his debut through Heartland (2021), his country crossover album.

Awards & Recognition

Won three Grammy Awards, including Best Male Rap Solo Performance for 'Hot in Herre'
Country Grammar (2000) is diamond-certified with over 10 million US copies
Nellyville (2002) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200
Sold over 21 million albums in the US, one of the best-selling rappers of all time

Frequently Asked Questions Nelly

Does Nelly write his own raps?
Yes. Nelly is credited on about 99% of his catalogue and writes his own lyrics, usually freestyling them in the studio and then tightening them up. Like most rappers he shares credit with the producers who make the beats. Songs like 'Hot in Herre,' 'Ride wit Me,' and 'Country Grammar' are his own words.
Who wrote 'Hot in Herre'?
'Hot in Herre,' from Nellyville (2002), was written by Nelly with producers The Neptunes, who built the beat around a sample. It won the Grammy for Best Male Rap Solo Performance and became one of the biggest hits of the 2000s.
Who wrote 'Dilemma'?
'Dilemma,' from Nellyville, was co-written by Nelly and features Kelly Rowland. Built on a sample of a Patti LaBelle song, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of his signature crossover hits.
How successful was Country Grammar?
Country Grammar (2000) was Nelly's blockbuster debut, certified diamond with over 10 million US copies. It launched him as a pop-rap superstar with hits like 'Ride wit Me' and the title track.
How many albums has Nelly released?
This catalogue covers his studio albums from Country Grammar (2000) through Heartland (2021), including the number-one Nellyville and the same-day releases Sweat and Suit.
How many Grammys has Nelly won?
Nelly has won three Grammy Awards, including Best Male Rap Solo Performance for 'Hot in Herre' and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for 'Shake Ya Tailfeather.'
What genre is Nelly?
Nelly makes hip-hop, pop rap, and R&B with occasional country crossovers, known for melodic, radio-friendly hits like 'Hot in Herre,' 'Dilemma,' and 'Over and Over.'
Is Nelly one of the best-selling rappers?
Yes. As of 2014 he was ranked the fourth-best-selling hip-hop artist in US history by the RIAA, with over 21 million albums sold domestically.

Sources

Wikipedia: Nelly