It’s been about four years since Nelly released his last album and now he’s back with a new album, a new outlook on life, and some new material that he is sure his fans are going to enjoy. Terrell spoke with Nelly about his new album “Brass Knuckles”, balancing his business ventures, his relationship with R&B singer Ashanti, and what’s been going on in his life since his last album.

Terrell: What’s good Nelly?

Nelly: What’s happening pimpin’, how you?

Terrell: Oh, I’m good.

Nelly: Ok, that’s what’s up.

Terrell: Well, I guess the first thing I’d like to discuss is all these hats you’ve been wearing. Being the CEO of Dirty Ent, as well as your Apple Bottom Jeans clothing line, and still trying to maintain your status and career as a recording artist, does it ever get complicated or a bit overwhelming wearing all these hats at once?

Nelly: Hell yeah.

Terrell: (laughs)….Ok then.

Nelly: (laughs) I mean, you want the real answer, or you want me to sugarcoat it a lil’ bit? Naw, on the real though, it does. But, at the same time, if it was easy, everybody could do it, you know? Not saying everybody can’t do it, because anyone can do it just as well as I try to if they just put their minds to it and strive for the best and work hard. But it does man, I mean it’s a lot. The thing is, I know how it feels not to have. I actually spent more years not having than I have having and in that aspect, I ain’t really ready to stop having yet. (laughs) You know what I’m saying? So, you just put forth that determination and keep it moving.

Terrell: Absolutely. Now of course all your fans have been anticipating your next album entitled “Brass Knuckles”. I know that’s coming in August, (laughs) so what can people expect from Nelly with this new album?

Nelly: You know what man, this one here…..it’s gon be NICE. I can’t really front, I don’t really do the whole “Yeah, this is my best album ever!” you know? I never really do that because I don’t believe that that’s up to you to determine. I believe your fans are going to determine what album they like from you the most. No matter what you do, you might think this is the album that you just KILLED, and your fans may still be like “Yo, “Country Grammar was your best..” you know what I mean? So, what I do think is that whatever album that you’ve come to love of Nelly’s, I do believe you gonna put this one up there. I spent a lot of time on this project because, you know, I really went through a lot in these last four years business wise, as far as dealing with my company. Also, I lost my sister in 2005, then turned around six months later and lost my grandfather.

Terrell: Wow….

Nelly: So to be honest with you man, I wasn’t really….in the mood. It’s situations like that that make you think like “Let me enjoy my life a little more or spend time with my kids a little more or hug my mama more…”. You know? It’s just one of those type of things that you go through in life, you know?

Terrell: Right. Now you mentioned the passing of two of your family members recently, are there any special songs that you put on this album for either or both of them?

Nelly: You know what? I did do a song for my sister. But, honestly T, I don’t know if I’m gonna put it on there.

Terrell: Ok.

Nelly: Because I don’t know if people would really understand it and where I’m coming from. I don’t know if I just did it for me, I don’t really know how I feel about it right now man. It wasn’t a song I did for the fans or for everybody, I did it for me.

Terrell: Absolutely, that‘s understandable. As an artist I know it’s certain songs you do therapeutically.

Nelly: Exactly.

Terrell: So talk to me about some of the producers and artists you collaborated with this time around.

Nelly: Well of course, I always work with my family. That being Pharrell and The Neptune’s. Also, I got Jermaine Dupri. Myself, JD & Ciara got this joint called “Stepped On My J’z” which is the next single from the album and it’s real, real hot. And I know some people probably saying “C’mon Nelly, another snicker song?” But, it’s not like that with me. I might do nine snicker songs before it’s all said and done. (laughs) It’s just capturing the moment in time. These shoes meant a lot to us and it was a real fun song to do. I got Ciara on it too because I thought it would be pretty hot to get a females perspective on the record as well. I also got my man Akon and my girl Ashanti on this hot record called “Body On Me”. I got another song called “Self Esteem” on the album, which is one of my all-time favorites of the collaborations I’ve done because I was able to get the legendary Chuck D on this one. It’s a great song and I can’t wait for the fans to hear that one. Let’s see, who else?…Oh shit, I can’t forget I got song called “Long Night” featuring my man Usher. I think the ladies are gonna really like this one. Me and Usher went in on this one, I can’t even front. You know, you hear a lot of rappers on R&B songs and the singers on the hook. Basically the rapper raps and the singer sings. But, it’s not like that with me and Usher on this joint, we together as one on this one. Of course, I got my family the St. Lunatics on the album also. We got a song on there called “Lie”. It’s kind of our “To the right….to the right”, Beyonce had her “To the left, to the left”. (laughs) That’s just some fun shit that we thought was hot. I got a song with one of my new artists by the name of Avery Storm. He’s also got an album coming out real soon too. So, yeah mean, we’re in a really good place right now. Only thing left to do is get it out there and work it out, you know?

Terrell: That’s what’s up, definitely can’t wait to hear it. Now we recently saw you on BET’s special “Hip Hop vs. America”. I know you expressed your point of view on the whole issue and the fact that your label didn’t even want you to go on the show to begin with, yet you, along with T.I. still did. So, what was your motivation to go on the show and give your point of view?

Nelly: I think because it’s me. The label was like “Don’t go on there” and “You don’t wanna do this or do that…etc…” but honestly T, I really don’t know what the fuck their reasoning for not wanting me to go on the show was. (laughs) That didn’t really make sense to me. But, my reasoning was the fact that every time this issue came up, people wanted to pop MY video up and put MY name in it. All of this for ONE video…one video. They tried to make “Tip Drill” document my whole career. It’s one song and one video and on top of that….it was made specifically for adults, for an adult program. It’s not like I made the shit to put on 106 and Park, or to put on Rap City. It was made for a program that was for adults. So, I just felt like I was taking a lot of bullshit that was unnecessary man. People were being real hypocritical about the situation. It seemed as if they were trying to throw all the faults on hip-hop for the problems in the world. Hip-Hop is not the problem in the, we just choose to talk about the problems in the world, that’s all. But, we get a lot of people that want to worry about this and worry about that, but I don’t care man. I’ll sit and I’ll talk to anybody. I ain’t got no problem with debating with a muthafucka, I can debate on ANY level. I just felt like, why not go and do it? My man T.I., he felt the same way too. Even though my man got in a little bit of trouble on the back end and had a little issue, but like he said, I’m telling you what you shouldn’t do. So, it’s crazy man, but we’ll get it done.

Terrell: Ok, cool. Now it got back to me that you and my girl Kelly Rowland re-united on stage to perform your #1 single “Dilemma” over in the UK a couple weeks ago.

Nelly: Yes sir!

Terrell: Now, the fans as well as myself have been curious as to if you and Kelly might hook up again for another collaboration sometime in the near future?

Nelly: You know what, we actually talked about that while we was over there man. We talked about possibly doing a “Dilemma” Part 2. But at the same time, when you dealing with a song like “Dilemma” and the type of success that it had and the longevity of the song that took place, you gotta ask yourself, do you really wanna mess with that? But, the way me and Kelly looking at it is, we definitely are not trying to outdo that song, we’d never try to do that. But, we think it would be fun to do part two and see what happens. So yeah, we’ve talked about it, but we have to come up with something that’s super hot. I know a lot of people might think that it’s a classic song and collaboration, so we gotta make sure part two is perfect, you know?

Terrell: Well, I don’t think it’s a classic song, I KNOW it is.

Nelly: Thanks man, I definitely appreciate that, 4real.

Terrell: No problem. Now, we know some couples in the industry will choose to speak out about their relationship and then you have those who make the decision not to. You and Ashanti seem to have chosen to keep the details of your relationship on the low. What made you guys decide to keep things to yourselves, as opposed to some other couples in the industry?

Nelly: Well, it’s just one of those things where you wanna have something to yourself, you know? It’s really not a matter of….I mean, we know people ain’t dumb. (laughs) But, it’s almost like people can build you up, only to take you down. So, if you don’t want people to know certain shit, then why would you even tell them? But as far as the relationship, we enjoy each other’s company and enjoy kickin’ it and having fun, and that’s pretty much it. So, I guess if there’s something else that comes from it, when we’re ready to say it, I guess we’ll say it. But for right now, we just chillin’ man.

Terrell: Ok, cool. So, tell me what would be Nelly’s dream tour, who would you enjoy being on the road with?

Nelly: Well, my dream tour looks like it might actually happen. We talking about it right now. Me and my man Usher, we tryna work it out. I really think that would be incredible on all levels. I mean, every time myself or Usher mentions that idea to somebody their eyes just light up like “Whoa!“ Now, I’m not saying that it’s going to happen, because everything would have to fall in line, of course. But, I know me and him have talked about it and we both think that would be an incredible line-up for a tour. So hopefully we can get that cracking and it’ll jump off.

Terrell: That would definitely be a good look. Now I gotta ask you, who do you have in your CD player or your I-Pod? What’s Nelly listening to?

Nelly: Well, right now? Let’s see……I was fortunate enough….I know Wayne’s album just dropped, but I’ve had my copy for a minute now. I was one of the lucky few. I like Lupe’s album too man, I can’t even front. I think he kind of got slept on this time around. His album is incredible, for real. I was like “Man, dude went in on this one.” Let’s see who else, it’s tough for me man, because I got a variety of stuff.

Terrell: Yeah, I listen to your music and from hearing your albums, I can kind of got the impression that you have a pretty versatile ear for music.

Nelly: Oh yeah, well you definitely got the right impression. I listen to some of everything. I mean, who doesn’t love Alicia’s album? At the same time, I’m really finishing up my album and some songs for Murphy Lee and his project as well, which is gonna be crazy. But I haven’t been able to really ride out and get too deep into what’s out since I’ve been doing a lot of shit for this album lately, you know? But, if you name it I got it, because my lil’ brother keep me stocked.

Terrell: Ok, now I know the video for “Stepped On My J’z” is coming soon, as well as the video for “Body On Me” with Ashanti & Akon. Which one will the fans see first?

Nelly: Well, we just shot the video for “Stepped On My J’z” a couple weeks ago and it’s not like I expect it to be a #1 or anything like that, but I think it’s good summer jam and something for the people to enjoy and I think the fans are gonna enjoy it. We had a lot of fun shooting it. I’ll be shooting the “Body On Me” video next, we haven’t shot that one just yet.

Terrell: Ok, that’s what’s up. Now did you have any last words the fans and the readers?

Nelly: Definitely. The new album is coming soon, and I appreciate all the support that my fans have been showing me from the beginning and throughout my career. So, as long as ya’ll hanging with me, then I’m good. I’ll see you real soon on tour. My new album “Brass Knuckles” is in stores August 19th. So I’m ready, let’s do it!

Terrell: Alright, sounds good. Well, I definitely can’t wait to hear the album.

Nelly: Thanks man, I appreciate it, I think you‘ll enjoy it.

Terrell: No doubt. Thanks a lot for your time today Nelly, it’s much appreciated.

Nelly: Not a problem my brother, I enjoyed talking to you homie.

Terrell: Thank you, same here. You have a good one, alright?

Nelly: Alright, you too.

Make sure you go get Nelly’s new album “Brass Knuckles” in stores August 19th, 2008!!!