nelly-brassknuckles music reviews Virgin Media
The latest curate's egg from the Kenny Lynch of hip-hop
Say what you like about Nelly, but nobody can deny the St Louis rapper is well connected. His first album for four years features no less than 16 guest stars, from old-school hip-hop/soul luminaries LL Cool J, Snoop, Nate Dogg and R Kelly through R&B colossi Usher, Ashanti and Ciara to producers du jour Jermaine Dupri and Pharrell. Even Chuck D looms into view on the anti-racist funk cut Self Esteem.
et impressive as Nelly’s speed-dial directory undoubtedly is, this over-abundance of guests inevitably lessens Brass Knuckles's fluidity and coherence. As ever, Nelly is best when in chart-friendly, hook-heavy mode, flirting with Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie on Party People or duelling with Akon for Ashanti's favours on Body On Me. When he comes over all gangsta on testosterone-overload tracks such as the tiresome U Ain't Him, he is way less appealing. Most pop-rap fans will like some of this album: few, if any, will like all of it.
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