Nelly, 'Brass Knuckles'

Backstory: With over 30 million records sold, St. Louis rapper Nelly (Cornell Haynes, Jr.) is certified hip-pop, a highly recognizable star who also runs a charity and owns a multitude of businesses from clothing to energy drinks. His fifth album “Brass Knuckles” has been plagued with many delays. Almost a year’s worth of release date changes have cumulatively caused a roadblock in the momentum that could have been generated by the propulsive singles “Party People” (with Fergie) and “Stepped on My J’z,” which hit in the spring and early summer, respectively.

Why you should care: Nelly’s music is never too serious. He doesn’t claim to be harder or more gangster-ish than he is, and his sexual boasts are usually more funny than offensive, so he’s palatable for those who don’t like extremes.

Verdict: The album is lean on incessantly catchy tunes like “Country Grammar” and “Hot in Herre,” which may feel like a sign of maturation to some and a step backwards to others. He generally sounds consistent, but his guest stars are a mixed bag. Amazingly enough, Fergie really shines on “Party People,” but R. Kelly’s contribution (with ATL rapper Gucci Mane) on “U Can Get It” is thoroughly forgettable. Nelly’s paramour Ashanti is cute on “Body On Me,” which also appears on her album, and Chuck D is a welcome surprise on “Self-Esteem.” But Pharrell needs to grow up on the super juvenile “Let It Go (Lil Mama)”

X-Factor: “Stepped on My J’z,” a tune about the unhappiness of getting that first scuff mark on a new pair of Jordans, is also a tribute to basketball legend Michael Jorden—a personal friend of Nelly’s, and also his business partner (the two, along with BET founder Robert Johnson, own the Charlotte Bobcats NBA franchise).

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