Brass Knuckles (album)

For the type of weapon, see Brass knuckles.

Brass Knuckles
Studio album by Nelly
Released	September 16, 2008 (2008-09-16)
Recorded	2007-2008
Genre	Hip hop, R&B
Length	58:15
Label	Derrty Ent., Universal Motown
Producer	Nelly (exec.), Wyshmaster, Free Agentz, Theron "Neff-U" Feemster, James "JLack" Lackey, Polow da Don, G Koop, Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort, Jermaine Dupri, The Neptunes, Andrew "Papa Justifi" Wansel, Boom-Batts, Droop-E
Nelly chronology
Sweat / Suit (2004) Brass Knuckles (2008) 5.0 (2010)
Singles from Brass Knuckles
"Party People" Released: April 1, 2008 "Body on Me" Released: June 9, 2008 "Stepped on My J'z" Released: June 11, 2008 "One and Only" Released: November 18, 2008

Brass Knuckles is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Nelly, released on September 16, 2008 after several delays.^[1]

Background

Production will come from Bryan-Michael Cox, Neff-U and Pharrell, among others.^{[2][2][3][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]} Nelly mentioned in an interview that producer Polow da Don produced tracks for the upcoming album.^[10] On March 30, Nelly told HipHopDX.com that "the album would feature a handful of new producers."^[11] Nelly was unable to collaborate with Springsteen but he is still hopeful to collaborate with him on a future album, or even a repackage of Brass Knuckles. Dupri gave a look into the two collaborations, one being Nelly, Carey and Jackson all appearing on the same track, in which he stated Nelly has laid the following blueprint.^[12]

Nelly's got a crazy collaboration he's trying to put together, which is him, Janet and Mariah Carey all on one song...That's what he wants. If he could convince them to do it, it would be crazy. [He] wants [Janet] to rap a 16-bar verse, he wants [Mariah] to sing the hook and he's gonna do two verses. [He] has it all planned out. You ask him about it! This is what he wants; he's 100-percent deadlocked into it.

Jermaine Dupri also stated possibilities of hopeful collaborations with Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson.^[3][12] Nelly went on to speak about the possibility of the Springsteen collaboration and that two of his own tracks will appear on the album.^[12]

I think he's doing a record with Bruce Springsteen. You know he always has to do one of those! My two records [that J.D. has produced for Nelly so far], he's gonna have some people on them—I won't tell it yet. I don't want to jinx the record.

Singles

The first single was believed to be "Cut It Out" which features rappers Pimp C and Sean P of YoungBloodZ, but was later confirmed to be "Wadsyaname", which was released digitally on August 21, 2007. However, because of the pushed release dates from October 16, 2007 and on, the first official single was changed to "Party People", which features Fergie. It was released on March 18, 2008 and peaked at number forty on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number fourteen on the UK Singles Chart. The album's second single "Stepped on My J'z", which features Ciara and Jermaine Dupri was released on June 11, 2008. It peaked at number ninety on the US Billboard Hot 100. "Body on Me", which features Akon and Ashanti, was released as the third single from the album on June 9, 2008. It peaked at number forty-two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the UK Singles Chart. The album's fourth single "One and Only", was released on November 18, 2008, but it failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, a remix of the song did peak at number one on the Japan Hot 100.

Reception

Commercial performance

Brass Knuckles debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, selling 83,717 copies in its first week in the United States. The album dropped off the Billboard 200' eight weeks later, but in early March 21, 2009 it re-appeared at number one hundred fifty-two. On December 12, 2008, it was certified Gold by the RIAA for shipping over 500,000 copies.^[13] As of September 2010, the album has sold over 223,000 copies in the United States.^[14]

Critical reception

Reviews for the album have been generally mixed. Pharoh Martin of Vibe stated that "Brass Knuckles is standard Nelly fare."^[15] RapReviews wrote that "underneath the materialistic veneer Nelly's got a good delivery, sharp lyrics and impeccable breath control." ^[16]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"U Ain't Him" (featuring Rick Ross)	Cornell Haynes, Jr., William Roberts II, Adam Cherrington	Wyshmaster	3:15
2.	"Hold Up" (featuring T.I. and LL Cool J)	Haynes, Clifford Harris, Jr., Todd Smith, T. Mingo, R. Morgan	Free Agentz	3:48
3.	"LA" (featuring Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg)	Haynes, Calvin Broadus, Jr., Nathaniel Hale, Theron Feemster	Theron "Neff-U" Feemster	4:23
4.	"Long Night" (featuring Usher)	Haynes, Usher Raymond IV, James Lackey, Ryon Lovette, Ryon Raymond	James "JLack" Lackey	3:15
5.	"Lie" (featuring St. Lunatics)	Haynes, Robert Cleveland, Torhi Harper, Jamal Jones, Ali Jones, Brian Kennedy	Polow da Don	4:20
6.	"Party People" (featuring Fergie)	Haynes, Jones, Stacy Ferguson, Garrett Hamler	Polow da Don	3:58
7.	"Self-Esteem" (featuring Chuck D)	Haynes, Carlton Ridenhour, Mandell, R. Mandell	G Koop	3:37
8.	"Body on Me" (featuring Akon and Ashanti)	Haynes, Ashanti Douglas, Aliaune Thiam, Giorgio Tuinfort	Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort	3:29
9.	"Stepped on My J'z" (featuring Ciara and Jermaine Dupri)	Haynes, Ciara Harris, Jermaine Mauldin	Jermaine Dupri	5:03
10.	"Let It Go (Lil Mama)" (featuring Pharrell)	Haynes, Pharrell Williams	The Neptunes	4:22
11.	"One and Only"	Haynes, Jones, D. Dalton, L. Taylor	Polow da Don, Andrew "Papa Justifi" Wansel	4:19
12.	"Chill" (featuring St. Lunatics)	Haynes, Cleveland, Harper, Jones, Cherrington, Lavell Webb	Wyshmaster	5:42
13.	"Who Fucks wit Me" (featuring Avery Storm)	Hanyes, M. Battle, C. Saleh	Boom-Batts	4:08
14.	"Ucud Gedit" (featuring Gucci Mane and R. Kelly)	Haynes, Jones, Radric Davis, Robert Kelly	Polow da Don	4:30
Total length:				58:15

iTunes bonus tracks[17]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"Warrior"	Haynes, Feemster	Theron "Neff-U" Feemster	2:43
16.	"Let's Go"	Haynes, Cherrington	Wyshmaster	3:44
Total length:				64:44

Walmart bonus tracks[18]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"Bay"	Haynes, Earl Stevens, Jr.	Droop-E	3:42
16.	"Problems"	Haynes, Jones	Polow da Don	3:11
Total length:				65:09

Japanese bonus tracks[19]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"Bay"	Haynes, Stevens	Droop-E	3:42
16.	"Wadsyaname"	Haynes	Theron "Neff-U" Feemster	4:06
Total length:				66:05

Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart[20]	15
Canadian Albums Chart[21]	22
French Albums Chart[20]	88
Irish Albums Chart[20]	60
New Zealand Albums Chart[20]	22
Swiss Albums Chart[20]	55
UK Albums Chart[20]	20
US Billboard 200[22]	3
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[22]	2
US Top Rap Albums[22]	1

References

1. ^ Credits: Brass Knuckles. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-08-13.
2. ^ ^{a b} Scott Bowles, Steve Jones and Pete Johnson (September 6, 2007). Coming attractions: Nelly's ready to crack his 'Knuckles'. USA Today. Accessed September 9, 2007.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Shaheem Reid (August 22, 2007). T.I., Akon, Snoop, Pimp C Get Behind Nelly's Brass Knuckles. MTV. Accessed August 22, 2007.
4. ^ Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Tim Kash and Jayson Rodriguez (May 1, 2007). Mixtape Monday: 50 Cent Talks Batman, Both New LPs; Rick Ross Rubs Elbows With Jay, Jeezy MTV. Accessed August 22, 2007.
5. ^ Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes and Brennan Williams (October 8, 2007). The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes from the Underground. MTV. Accessed October 10, 2007.
6. ^ Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Sway J. Calloway (October 16, 2007). Nelly Ready to Battle Don Imus, Other Foes with Hard-Hitting New LP. MTV. Accessed October 16, 2007.
7. ^ Nelly in Studio with JoJo. KISS-FM (August 14, 2007). Accessed December 13, 2007.
8. ^ DADDYMACKOFNYC (February 12, 2008). Chuck D Interview Part 4 of 4 YouTube. Accessed February 13, 2008.
9. ^ Nelly & Ashanti Interview – Rap-Up TV. Rap-Up TV. Accessed August 25, 2007.
10. ^ YouTube - Nelly Exclusive Interview Part 1
11. ^ (March 30, 2008). Nelly Preps New Album. Accessed April 20, 2008.
12. ^ ^{a b c} Anthony Springer, Jr. (August 23, 2007). Nelly Is Back!. HipHopDX. Accessed August 23, 2007.
13. ^ [1]
14. ^ "Nelly Regains Cool with Taylor Swift's Help". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/news/nelly-regains-cool-with-taylor-swift-s-help-1004112885.story. Retrieved 2010-11-12. 
15. ^ Pharoh Martin (September 17, 2008). Nelly: "Brass Knuckles" Vibe. Accessed September 24, 2008
16. ^ RR. "Nelly's "Brass Knuckles"". RapReviews. http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2008_09_brassknuckles.html. Retrieved 2010-08-20. 
17. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/brass-knuckles/id290537274
18. ^ http://www.walmart.com/ip/10340727
19. ^ http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nelly-Brass-Knuckles-JAPAN-CD-2Bonus-Mint-W-OBI-36-1-/260709770059
20. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Nelly - Brass Knuckles - Music Charts αCharts. Accessed September 24, 2008.
21. ^ Top Canadian Albums - Brass Knuckles - Nelly Billboard. Accessed September 25, 2008.
22. ^ ^{a b c} Katie Hasty (September 24, 2008). Metallica Edges Ne-Yo, Nelly To Remain No. 1 Billboard. Accessed September 24, 2008.