Recently Metromix got a chance to call and catch up with Nelly, the hip hop icon who brought us songs like "E.I.," "Air Force Ones," and "Hot in Herre." You would have had to be living under a rock in the late 90s/early 2000s to not know the performer, whose fifth album, "Nelly 5.0," is dropping later this summer. He's in town this weekend to perform for one hour after the Rays play the Mariners this Saturday night, May 15th, as a part of the Summer Concert Series at The Trop, and we recently spoke with him about the concert. With his recognizble under-eye bandaid and history of gangster rap, it might surprise you that he almost played professional baseball himself. Read on to learn more fun facts from our conversation...
You played baseball and you were actually scouted by some major league teams. How close did you come to playing professional ball?
Not too close. I played for a few try-out camps...I went to the Braves camp here in St. Louis. I was actually in that camp with Ryan Howard which is funny. It was cool. It was crazy. He was hitting the ball a ton.
If you had an at-bat song, what would it be?
Me, personally? That’s kinda fun because I usually try to pick songs for other people, you know? And, I’ve never really thought about myself. I don’t know…probably, “Number One.” I would like that because I’d probably want to wear number one. Either that or, “Here Comes the Boom.”
I know you were here in Tampa in 2009 for the Super Bowl. Is there anything you like to do when you’re not performing? Any places you like to go out?
You know? I really haven’t had the chance to see Tampa. So, maybe I can get a chance to do that this time…I mean, the clubs down there, they were real cool.
There’s a bar in St. Pete called Durty Nelly's. Is that named after you?
(Laughing) I don’t know. I might have to look into that and see if we have some type of revenue stream going on…some type of name infringement. We’ll see. Sounds like a hot place.
At the Trop, will you be playing anything from your new album coming out? The 5.0?
I think so. I think there might be one or two songs that we might slide into the set. It goes kinda fast being on stage. But, yeah, I hope we’ll slide about one or two—hopefully three—songs that will be on the upcoming album.
What can you tell us about the album? Who’s on it? What can we expect?
The album is incredible. It’s my fifth debut even though I know it’s my fifth album. It’s my fifth drop date. And the album is called 5.0. Nelly 5.0. It’s kinda strange because I think every fan has the perfect Nelly song that they love about what you do…and it’s kinda hard sometimes when you’ve had success doing different things. I’ve had success doing songs like “E.I,” songs like “Dilemma” and songs like “Grillz.” It’s kinda hard to see what fans really envision you as, as an artist. I think people are going to love this album—it’s kinda mellow but it’s real energetic.
I know you mentioned you’ve worked with Kelly Rowland and Justin Timberlake in the past. Anyone else you’re dying to work with in the future?
I like to collaborate with people where I feel we can come up with pretty cool and unexpected. As far as in the future, I don’t know. I would have to see. I’m almost open to anything.
Are you expecting anything different from the fans at the Trop, since they're baseball fans instead of the crazy concert groupies that you're used to?
No, I don't think just because they're baseball fans that they're gonna be any different as far as regular fans that have come to see music. I figure that if they're gonna stay after, they pretty much wanna see the show, you know what I'm saying? So you know, if they don't, I take it they'll leave, so if they're there I think they wanna rock and they wanna have a good time and, you know, I'm gonna thank them and I'm gonna put on the best possible show that we can put on. But Tampa's always shown Nelly a lot of love, so I don't think this time should be any different...hopefully...unless you know something I don't know...if you want to prepare me for something, then I'm open...
And do you get to watch the game before you perform?
Um, yeah, yeah, yeah, we do get to check it out a little bit, get a chance to see. But, you know, I'm aware of the team you have down there, you've got a pretty good team down there. I actually rooted for you guys not too long ago when you were in the World Series.
Since you have a heart for St. Louis, do you feel like you're cheating on the Cardinals by playing after the Rays game?
Nah, nah, I already talked to them. Albert's cool, already gave me the thumbs up, he said I could go ahead and holla at ya'll, so its all good. Nah, no, not at all. Everybody knows I'm a die-hard Cardinals fan, that's not a problem. You know, I love baseball, and I love everything about baseball, I love when cities rep their team, I think it's a definite must, and I love to see hometown pride, and I love the support when I'm in that city...unless we're playing you guys, then its an uproar, so we'll see what happens...I'll see you guys when I get down there, thanks!
Want to win tickets to see the Rays game and Nelly's performance this Saturday? Enter to win here.
