Drive Me Crazy,” Florida Georgia Line for “Lil Bit.” Tyler Hubbard, George Birge, Jimmie Allen, Breland, Blanco Brown, and Chris Bandi also contributed to Nelly’s country debut record. The genre-transcending music icon brought in Kane Brown to join him on his up-tempo track “Grits and Glamour,” Darius Rucker and City Spud for “Ms. Nelly called in country icons and newcomers that are currently making waves in music city to bring the nine-track collection to life. Credit: HEARTLAND Cover Art via RECORDS/Columbia The country-inspired record honors the individuals who gave him the creative freedom to cross over music boundaries and his friends in country music who welcomed him with open arms. Nelly practiced what he preached, as he recently adapted with the needs and wants of his fans to develop his first studio album in eight years, Heartland. You have to find somewhat a way to embrace the now because if you don’t, then you will get written off,” he adds. As an artist, you have to understand in order for you to be remembered. But, what I have found is that there are some traditionalists that get it and that understand evolution. “But, I understand that…because I understand that there are three forms of traditional music and that’s hip-hop, traditional country, and traditional R&B. “You try to inspire, you want to inspire as an artist and have other artists go ‘hmmm…I wonder.’ There was a point in time when I said I was going to do a song with Tim McGraw, and everybody in my genre of music didn’t appreciate it,” shares Nelly during an exclusive Country Now interview.
It was 2012 when Nelly joined forces with Florida Georgia Line to recreate their summertime anthem, “ Cruise.” It wasn’t long until Nelly’s name on country ballads became a norm – Kane Brown’s “ Cool Again,” Jimmie Allen’s recent release “ Good Times Roll,” and the list goes on and on. Following the rapid success of the groundbreaking single, country musicians were eager to add the “Nelly Flair” to their honky-tonk tracks. The track “ Over and Over” was Nelly’s golden ticket into Music City, as it showcased his soulful storytelling. Before Lil Nas X took a risk and released his chart-topping rap/country- crossover hit “ Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus – there was Nelly who came before him to open the window between genres with Tim McGraw in the early 2000s. Multi-platinum artist Nelly has become a trailblazer within the music industry, as he constantly evolves with the times and pushes the boundaries of mainstream music. Photo Courtesy Nelly Photo Courtesy Nelly