Nelly

One of hip-hop's most recognisable voices, Nelly broke through in the early 2000s with a smooth, melodic approach to rap that helped define mainstream hip-hop for an entire decade. Blending Southern-inflected flows with catchy hooks and pop-crossover sensibility, he racked up multiple chart-topping hits and Grammy Awards, becoming one of the best-selling artists of his era.

His music sits at the intersection of feel-good rap and R&B, built around warm production and an effortless vocal style that made him as likely to appear on a pop radio playlist as a hip-hop one. That crossover appeal gave him remarkable staying power, and his biggest tracks have remained fixtures at events and on streaming platforms well past their original release.