(Born Oct. 02, 1974) With a distinctively smooth sound that is part hip-hop and part R&B, St. Louis native Nelly broke out onto the scene in 2000 with Country Grammar, a sensation that went platinum 8 times over. With catchy songs like "Ride With Me", Nelly separated himself from other rappers by focusing on things other than the gangsta lifestyle. Parties and ladies take the spotlight over guns and disses, making for a refreshing breathe of air. Nellyville, the second album, continued in the same tradition, with grooves like "Hot In Here" catching fire on the airwaves.