Nelly Gets his own show

[AKA2D '91]

Rapper Nelly gets his own sitcom


Rap star Nelly, whose second album "Nellyville" is currently topping the pop music charts, is finalizing an agreement to develop and star in a situation comedy for TV, according to The Hollywood Reporter.



With the new show -- whose premise is being kept under wraps -- Nelly is following in the footsteps of Will Smith, who also was a rap star before making the transition to acting with NBC's sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."



Nelly's latest album, "Nellyville," bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 700,000 copies during its first week of release. To date, the album has sold more than 1 million copies. The hip-hop star's critically acclaimed 2000 debut album, "Country Grammar," was a multiplatinum success.



Nelly, born Cornell Haynes Jr., made his feature debut in "Snipes." He also appeared on Fox's late-night comedy show "Mad TV."



Nelly grew up in St. Louis, until his mother moved him to L.A. as a teenager. It was there that Nelly became part of a band called the St. Lunatics, which had a regional hit in 1996 with "Gimmie What You Got." When that failed to win the group a major record contract, they decided that the way to go was to put Nelly out front as a single act, where his great stage presence and rhyming ability could shine.



That is how it worked out when Nelly was signed by Universal Music, which released his debut album in 2000. Nelly’s appeal seemed to be in his laid back style of rap. Nelly has said that his goal is to put St. Louis, and his St. Lunatics, on the hip hop map. Now that map may lead to TV as well.






Copyright Hollywood Star Newswire