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NELLY - DA DERRTY VERSIONS (The Reinvention)

The old adage goes: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." With a catalogue of Top 10 hits, platinum plus selling records, and Grammy, BET, Source, MTV and Billboard awards and nominations, that saying surely applies to St. Louis super star Nelly (Cornell Haynes).

However, once you've introduced the world to the inimitable "Midwest Swing," what else is there to do? You create a remix album. Pause. This is not an album of recycled tracks. Nelly's newest offering, Da Derrty Versions, is a reinvention album.

On Da Derrty Versions (The Reinvention), the St. Lunatics' head honcho pushes the proverbial envelope by taking selections from his inventory of hits and musically transforming them. You may have thought you loved "Country Grammar" or "Dilemma" in their original states, but with the help of some of his colleagues, Nelly virtually recreates the songs that make the whole world sing. Whether it's with innovative vocals, fresh instrumentals or both, Da Derrty Versions prevails as the brand new blueprint for the remix album.

"Basically, we already had the formula for the songs the first time around," Nelly explains, "all we're doing is reinventing the idea of these songs, playing with them a little bit."

Nelly baptises his songs in dirty water via production from the mayor of Mississippi music, David Banner, "Air Force Ones" from Nelly's sophomore LP, Nellyville and "E.I." from his debut album Country Grammar. The sneaker ditty takes on a new form with a rock-influenced track and additional vocals from 8 Ball and Banner. From the aggressive instrumentation to the hard-hitting guitar riffs, "Air Force Ones" charges with the velocity of a speeding 18-wheeler truck. That same voluminous energy is displayed on the new "E.I." where Banner provides a vibrant bounce beat that virtually jumps out of the speaker.

Additionally, "Pimp Juice," initially released on the Nellyville album, flows anew with pristine vocals from R&B legend Ron Isley. The sexy, saxophone-ridden instrumental joined with Isley's smooth singing breathes new life into the already heated hit. And speaking of temperatures rising, longtime Nelly producer "Jay E" Epperson and fellow Basebeats members Wally and Jayson signed on again for the remix of "Hot In Herre" - another track first featured on Nellyville.

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Related links:

1. Buy Da Derrty Versions CD Album £8.99 inc FREE del
2. NElly Officail Site