Album Review

Nelly – 5.0

• 22nd Nov 2010

Nelly returns from his two year hiatus with the release of his highly anticipated album ‘5.0’. The name originates from the classic Mustang car, which is a good enough reason as any to choose your album title, I suppose.

You may remember Nelly, you know the one who wore a plaster on his face? The one who from 2000-2004 was always in the top 10 with infectious songs like ‘Country Grammer’ and ‘Hot In Here’ to name just two. In 2008 he discarded the plaster and his album ‘Brass Knuckles’ was released to moderate success, spawning one successful single ‘Party People’ featuring Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas.

With the massive hit single ‘Just A Dream’ already selling over 1 million copies in the US, expectancy levels to sell a shed load of albums is high. Nelly, hoping to recapture fans from yester-year whilst attracting a new legion of fans, opens the album with the assistance of DJ Khaled and Birdman (aka Baby). ‘I’m Number 1’ is a quick 3 minutes of a typical rap song which Birdman has featured on numerous times and which DJ Khaled roars ad-libs over.

‘Long Gone’ featuring the infamous Chris Brown and the Floridian Goon, Plies, is a sugary, catchy R&B record where Nelly displays his vocal range rather than how well he can rap but could be considered a possible single.

‘Shes So Fly’ featuring T.I. (aka T.I.P.) is melodic with calming 808s drumming away throughout the track. T.I. takes the lead, MC’ing on the track with Nelly relying on his vocal talents once more; I expected more with this collaboration. ‘Just A Dream’ sticks to the successful formula which saw Nelly have one of his biggest hits with Tim McGraw ‘Over and Over’. This track is super catchy and it is easy to see why it has sold over a million copies.

‘Makin Movies’ is R&B ballad, Nelly continues to stick to his singing vocals again, be patient though because in the later tracks he goes back to his mid-west drawl raps which is what made me a fan in the first place.

‘Move That Body’ featuring T-Pain and Akon is a banger. Nelly finally grips the mic and eats some bars and although this is strip club song you can’t help but nod your head.

‘1000 Stacks’ featuring Puff Daddy (yes he is calling himself that again), sees Nelly take the mic and rap whilst Puff takes charge of the singing. With thumping production by Don Vito and Blade and a hook from the deceased rap giant, The Notorious B.I.G. this is one of my favourite tunes from the album.

‘Gone’ featuring collaborator of the moment Miss Kelly Rowland is simply 2010’s ‘Dilemma’ part 2. Hoping to replicate the success of this hit record, ‘Gone’ will definitely chart well and possibly excel the sales of ‘Just A Dream’.

‘Don’t It Feel Good’ sees Nelly switch styles between crooning Lothario to grimey rap with ease whilst seducing the ladies. ‘Broke’ featuring Yo Gotti and Sophie Green is another huge tune, bass rattling production with Nelly and Yo Gotti trading bars whilst Sophie delivers an attitude laced hook.

‘Nothing Without Her’ rounds the album off with an ode to Nelly’s former flame Ashanti. It’s another R&B record with a catchy hook which the ladies will lap up.

All in all I am slightly disappointed by the album. The highlights for me are when Nelly really raps. In my opinion he sings too much, call me cynical but I think it is an obvious attempt to sell more records. The move could prove genius and make him a lot of money but I think he may have lost his older male fans with his content and delivery on 5.0.