Here’s a sneak peek of Nelly on Behind the Music, discussing his older sister’s death following her battle with leukemia. The episode, which also sheds light on the rapper’s family, career and his relationship with Ashanti. We’ve included a few quotes from the show below, but be sure to check it out when it premieres Monday (March 7) at 10 EST.
Nelly on his father while growing up:
“My father lead by fear. I did what my father said ‘cause I was scared of getting my ass beat. His voice rang so vividly in my head. That it was just…a fear.”Cornell Haynes, Sr., Nelly’s father, on Nelly’s abuse claims and his childhood:
“Now I was hard on him when it came to discipline. He probably said I abused him too by the way I was whoopin’ his butt or beatin’ on him. But it made a better person out of him.”
Nelly on selling drugs:
“I was slinging whatever I could get my hands on. Whether it was chronic, whether it was crack. Sometimes I would ride with my daughter in the car to go make transactions. A couple of times me, her and my baby mother would be in the car and you know we would kind of be riding dirty. So like I said, again man, I was very naïve.”Rhonda Mack, Nelly’s mother, on Nelly deciding to quit selling drugs:
“When he told me that he’s not gonna sling anymore, that was the greatest gift he’s ever given me. So now, I don’t have to worry now about getting that phone call at two thirty in the morning telling me my child dead somewhere. Or locked up somewhere. I was at peace then. I can, I can go to sleep now.”Ashanti on meeting Nelly for the first time in 2003:
“The first time I met Nelly he asked me for my autograph, but I think he was being sarcastic and I remember writing it down on the program… That picture has been in so many publications as something else but it all started out as a joke. For the record, it took him a long time to get my number [laughs].”Nelly on his career in the music business:
“Music is so motivational. That love, that passion, I didn’t get into music strictly to make money. Did I get in it to make a life, yeah, I needed to make a living but I did it because I love it. Hip hop. Because I am hip-hop. And that’s my life and that’s what I do. “
I can’t wait to see this.
WTF? He had his daughter in the car while he was selling drugs. SMH R.I.P. to his sister though
Her wanting to talk to you kept her alive…You are gassing yourself up. Life does not work like that. Just be blessed, that you had a chance to say good bye!!!!
And how the hell you know?..It was HIS dam sister not yours!
Just listen to the fuccen story and stop being so dam judgemental assclown!
@”Nigga Please” that was very disrespectful, just thought I’d let you know. NO ONE knows how “death” works so lets not act like you do!
Lenny Kravitz mom stayed alive until he got to the hospital so she could see him one last time. It’s very common for this to happen.
This is gonna be good. I wonder if he is going to officially “reveal” his relationship with Ashanti.LOL.
It’s very interesting how both of their music careers have drastically declined. Match made in heaven??
hahaha @ match made in heaven!
I definitely want to see this. His story seems very interesting. Nelly has been around for a long time!
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This really touched my heart. Thanks CL and J Dakar.
Nelly is still fine as all out doors now and knowing his story will only make him more hot in my book. I cant wait to see it.
Whachu say…Im watchin it now and thinkin “damn, this nigga was fine as hell then too!”..lol..but really, I always feel like when artists finally do talk, either we gonna like they personalities or we’re not, just like somebody around the street *shrug*
I hate when parents claim that their abuse or beating made their child a better person. He sold drugs! Did it really. Kids that grow up become better people not always because of the parent, it could be making their own mind up through life experiences. Alot kids come out better people despite their parents. You have to have a balance, all Nelly, MJ, Tyler, and the like remembers is being whipped and in fear. Not their dad played ball or would fish or talk to them, etc but their most dominating memory is fear and beatings. Plenty of people are good people with all of that. You do have to discipline a child, but not abuse. There is a difference between a spanking and a beating and threats of beating all the time. You are raising a human, not an animal. Sure they had some good times thrown in their and they probably was shocked when ther was a good day. Its just sad they never knew what it was like to have a loving father son relationship that they can speak about fondly.
I couldn’t have said it better, completely agree with you! Many parents of celebrities always want sell their “disciplining” as what has lead to their child’s success… AHHH thats not always the case. And with Nelly, as you said he was a drug dealer, if anything you were wasting your time ‘whoppin’ his butt, and/or you cause him to even further act out…. im just sayin…