Exclusive: Nelly Talks BET ‘Top Rappers’ Snub

Published: Thursday 21st Oct 2010 by Sam

BET’s recent Top 10 Rappers of the 21st Century list took many by surprise, none more so than Nelly. For, despite selling more than most of the list combined, the Hip-Hop heavy-weight failed to make the final list; a list complied by numerous industry figures.

Keen to hear his thoughts on the matter, That Grape Juice TV asked the St. Louis native one-on-one at his swanky London hotel earlier this week. Peep what he had to say above…

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Nelly’s new album ‘5.0’ hits stores on November 15th via Universal Motown

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Do you agree with Nelly?

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  1. Robert October 21, 2010

    Yeah… Nelly shoulda got mentioned… He’s definitely better than rick ross and jadakiss

  2. chile please! October 21, 2010

    @ Robert HUH???? Are you f****** serious????? Girl Bye! Jadakiss is better than both Rick Ross & Nelly. Nelly don’t got no lyrical content…….he is so garbage. I’m so mad at your comment. Anyway……….I can’t see the video i’m at work…but what I can say is that Nelly is not that good of a rapper…..all he makes is party songs or songs where he’s trying to sing/rap. So I wouldn’t be surprised that he didn’t make the list. I’m so tired of these commercial rainbow rappers…I need that gutter grimey 90’s Rap! Rap now sucks……….see Soulja Girl…..I really can’t with her!

  3. Sarah October 21, 2010

    No worries, Nell. That list is just as big of a joke as RS top 100 singers and that crap Vh1 recently bought on about the greatest artists of all time.

    BET has been crap for years. What a joke they are now.

  4. HOCUSPOCUS October 21, 2010

    YEA THE LIST WAS BS IF YOU WATCH THE PROGRAM THE LIST HAD NO FORMAT NO SET CRITERIA THE PEOPLE JUDGING WAS MORE IN THEIR FEELINGS THAN FACTS ITS LIKE THEY TRYED TO SELL A BUNCH BULL AS IF THEY WERE EXPERTS. NELLY , SNOOP WAS SNUBBED THEY ARE ALWAYS SNUBBED BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE CAN NOT GET OUT OF ONE SOUND FOR HIP HOP YOU CAN’T BE 2 BUBBLE GUM OR ITS NOT SERIOUS HIP HOP WHEN DID HIP HOP BECOME SO BLACK AND WHITE HIP HOP IS SO CRITICAL AND CLOSE MINDED SOMETIMES AND THAT FUNNY BECAUSE AT ONE POINT HIP HOP WAS TAKEN SERIOUS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE ANY LEGITIMATE FORM OF MUSIC AND THIS GENERATION TURNS AROUND AND MAKES IT SO RIGID WELL OF COURSE NOT THIS GENERATION AS A WHOLE BUT THE SO CALLED EXPERTS IM A BIG FAN OF CONSCIOUS HIP HOP BUT IM NOT GLUED TO THE MINDSET THAT ITS THE ONLY KIND THAT SHOULD BE MADE AND THIS LIST SEEM LIKE PROPAGANDA TO THE MAX
    I WAS PISSED FOR NELLY, JAYZ AND SNOOP AND IM NOT THE BIGGEST JAY Z FAN BUT I HAVE TO GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR HIS INFLUENCES ON HIP HOP FOR THE REASON JAY Z WAS NOT ON THIS LIST SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME REASON EMINEM AND WAYNE SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ON THE LIST THEY NOT EVEN SURE WHAT THE CRITERIA WAS MTV TOP MC HAD BETTER METHOD THAN THIS WTH WAS GOING ON.

  5. SoPRETTEE1908 October 21, 2010

    im sorry but the only person that belonged on that list was wayne, eminem, ludacris , t.i., and thats it . nelly im sorry but u cant go against any of those guys. you are talented but their music content is much more than chicken head right thur durdy music im sorry.

  6. HOCUSPOCUS October 21, 2010

    NELLY WOULD DEFINITELY BE IN MY TOP 5 WHY BECAUSE OF SALES ,ORIGINALITY AND INFLUENCES. NELLY THE 3 TOP SELLING HIP HOP ARTIST NEXT TO EM AND 2 PAC NO ONE SOUND LIKE NELLY WHEN YOU HEAR ONE OF SONGS YOU AUTOMATICALLY NO ITS HIM. HIS RAP VOICE IS LIKE NO BODY ELSE AND THE WHOLE SINGING RAPPING VOICE IS SOMETHING NELLY PUT IN THE SPOTLIGHT I AM ONE WHO DID NOT LIKE ALL NELLY MUSIC AND WAS QUITE TIRED OF CONSTANT PLAY OF SOME OF THE SONGS BUT I ALWAYS RESPECT HIS CRAFT AND ORIGINALITY AND HIP HOP NEEDS A LIGHTER SIDE NELLY IS ONE OF THE LEADERS FOR THE LIGHTER SIDE OF HIP HOP I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE CAN NOT SEE THAT BUT OF COURSE THIS IS WHY PEOPLE SHOULD NOT LISTEN TO THE MEDIA TO PIC WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR YOU DO YOU.

  7. HOCUSPOCUS October 21, 2010

    IM NOT EVEN GONNA GO IN ON MY FEELINS ABOUT THE HIP HOP ELVIS YOU KNOW WHO IM TALKING ABOUT AND ALL PUN INTENDED.

  8. Robert October 21, 2010

    @Chile Please

    Who is jadakiss? Yeah Exactly… He was hot then for a lil while… but not now.

    #1, Dilemma, Ride With Me, Over and Over, Fly away shits on Jadakiss discgraphy… I could go on and on. Like nelly said…

  9. ~Team Weezy~ October 21, 2010

    Nelly should have definitely been on that list. There’s no question about it. Especially with the criteria based on success, sales, and cultural impact which Nelly is very well superior in all three. He’s outsold every artist on the list except for Eminem. He’s had a successful clothing line and other business ventures, and he’s probably the most original rap artist EVER. He originated the ‘melodic hook’ which has basically became a ‘must-have’ on most successful hip hop records within the past 10 years. Some people may not like it, however, before it became ‘overloaded’ in the industry, it was interesting and different at that time. He also became sort of a ‘s** symbol’ which was another aspect of hip hop that wasn’t very dominant aside from LL Cool J.

    I think he may have got snubbed because he hasn’t released anything successful since 2005 which was 5-6 years ago. He may not be the most substance worthy lyricist but he is a good lyricist. People think because he semi-sings that he doesn’t have good raw hiphop music, but if you actually have his ALBUMS and not just singles, you would realize how much of a great artist he really is. I loved all of his albums aside from Brass Knuckes. His Country Grammar and Sweat/Suit albums are AMAZING!

    BTW: He looked so much better before he got those veneers! UGH!

  10. Robert October 21, 2010

    Bump the Top 10 Rappers of the 21st Century requirments and ish…

    Just know that none of them on that list can step up or ever come close to Tupac or Jay-z.

    Who else do you know besides Tupac that has music from the 90s that’s still relevant to what goes on in today’s world?

  11. ~Team Weezy~ October 21, 2010

    And yes Jadakiss is an awesome lyricist but he does NOT deserve to be on that list. Lyricism was only about one fourth of the criteria, and that’s pretty much all he possesses. Aside from east coast fans, no one really knows Jadakiss. I like him (especially in the LOX) but he’s not one of the best of this century.

  12. KAT DELUNA FAN October 21, 2010

    He still one of my fav rapper along with Snoop.I can care less about what the medias think

    Nelly 5.0 for number 1

  13. Blasian October 21, 2010

    Nelly should’ve been #2 he outsold everyone on that list after EM. He brought something diff and fresh to the game he put he’s City on the Map! That was F***’D UP they didn’t put him on the list but they pust some damn Rick Ross, Lil Wanye just got hot in 2007 B.S

  14. corey October 21, 2010

    I thini it was unfair,nelly shud ave made thelist,but that’s the thing about pplthey dnt remember the good that you’ve done,they jus love to regonize currrent.rick ross shouldn’t ave being on the list n drake shouldn’t ave being at no.7,nelly sold much mre record than 3 1/4of the list if nt more n he as many no.1 n top 10 hits.this is jus fuckup, nas 2pac n eminem are the best rapper still

  15. Kicktheeardrum October 21, 2010

    He deserved to be there. I’m glad he is making a nice comeback now though, I didn’t think it would happen

    Nelly reviews and more at:
    http://kicktheeardrum.com/

  16. savethedreams October 21, 2010

    Nelly I’m on your side , you shoud’ve been in the top 10, come on how is rick ross better then u?

  17. Leslie October 21, 2010

    Nelly should have made the list! He put St. Louis on the map and has sold more albums that a lot of people listed. He did the same thing for St. Louis that Eminem does for Detroit. Drake should not have made the list. Rick Ross has had a solid career (despite the fact that his image is a lie. LOL) with 4 albums. Nelly should have been #5 and T.I. #4 in my opinion.

  18. Dana October 21, 2010

    Nelly definitely deserve to be on the list period. I don’t care what anyone thinks or says.

  19. Leslie October 21, 2010

    This is exactly why Jermaine Dupri said the list was some BS!

  20. MOTHERSHIP October 21, 2010

    I’m here to tell you, that list was definitely some bullshyt. With the exception of Sway and Tigga, the rest of ’em definitely didn’t know what they were talking about. Nelly outsold most all those rappers on that list and his lyrical style is genius. None of ’em can touch him. All of his CD’s are classic. And don’t get me started when he and the ‘Tics start that interactin’ and interlupin’ harmonies and intricacies when they rap, nobody can touch Nelly and I’ve been watchin’ and rollin’ with him since he first came out the gate! The brother changed the game and his style is untouchable.

  21. Dave October 21, 2010

    Lupe >>> the whole list. But, I agree Nelly shoulda def been on the list. But, BET aka EBT are flops, why wouldn’t you expect them to do nothing more than fuckery?

  22. bladerunin October 21, 2010

    Nelly should have been in the top 5. The list was clearly bias these so called expert had they own agenda especially Boi1da Drake’s b**** i mean producer. You would think BET would get this one right but once again EPIC FAIL. This is why i rarely watch BET, too much foolishness

  23. Imanni October 21, 2010

    I never bought a Nelly album and he was not my favorite rapper(I liked a couple of singles but thats it)however I agree with him and most of the comments. I believe he was snubbed too. I love Rick Ross,Jadakiss,Jeezy and Drake but they shouldnt have been a thought for this list. I can see Wayne on this list. I know he didnt really start getting mainstream success until mid-late 2000s but ppl forget about Cash Money and the Hot Boys. They had everybody saying Bling Bling and was a part of the 90s and early 2000s(well in my opinion at least).

  24. Niko October 21, 2010

    Where Nas, and Snoop at ,how Drake get on the list, he only be out the gate for a minute.
    You could have put Game on the list before Drake, I am just saying even LL Cool J.

  25. Educated Diva October 21, 2010

    Nelly should have been in the top 10! He has been a very successful rapper & business man! I just don’t understand why was JadaKiss in the top 10 countdown and no Nelly? I know tht he is a great rapper but he hasn’t done anything besides rap & he haven’t done anything & the past 2 to 3 yrs. 50 cent & Lil Wayne in the top 5??? R u fuckn serious??? 50 can’t rap but he is a business man & has built a brand for himself. Lil Wayne is still a danm joke to me! But no Jay Z? What about Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, & other female rappers? & Yes Eminem deserves to be #1 he has been around for years. Do I think he is the best rapper lyrically, hell no! Where u at Kanye??? But he has more fans bcuz he’s white but everyone loves his music no matter the race. Kanye should have been #2.

  26. Sarah October 21, 2010

    No talent ass Drake. He is the overall reason why that list is a joke.

    I’m not sure if Nelly should have been on the list because he has done a lot of rap/singing throughout his career. One minute the guy wants to be a rapper and the next minute he wants to be a singer.

    You can’t rap/sing and call yourself a rapper. It doesn’t make any sense.

  27. I {heart} music! October 21, 2010

    According to Nelly, as long as he sold more than them, he belongs on the list. I was even shocked he sold more than them. That tells you his impact there. Nelly to me is not on the same level as Kanye, Eminem and Jadakiss. Nelly prob can sell more records than Nas as well, but would anyone EVER say he is a better rapper than Nas….HECK TO THE NAW!!! Even though Jay-Z likes to say that “women lie, men lie, and numbers don’t” line as well, but Jay-Z isnt a good rapper bcuz he can sell. He has content. Nelly, the same is not true for you.

    On the contrary, the list is a bunch of crap anyways. There is no criteria to judge a rapper. It’s all subjective. There are some things that are not and thats popularity, impact on the culture, and lyrical content. With just those three things, Nelly wouldnt be on that list. But then again, neither should Rick Ross…..Jadakiss…..MOST DEF!

  28. Alexander October 21, 2010

    Nelly out sold Rozay by a mile long and Albino Drake should not be on this list; plus Jadakiss; LLCoolJ was snubbed even Too-Short Oakland’s own;
    Who made this list?
    2Pac is the all time greatest not Thug Z,

  29. UMMM…………. October 21, 2010

    SPEAK NELLY!

    The EBT top 10 rapper’s of the 21 Century was just crap plain and simple! What was the criteria and why did it chance depending on who they wanted to appear in the top 10? Now the other VIACOM owned station MTV, is also compiling a top 10 rappers list and I beat your bottom dollar FEminem, the drug addict wife beater will be #1!…LOL…yeah… I love the fixed media its just too entertaining!

    UMMM………….

  30. Rated X October 21, 2010

    people still cares about EBT?

    who the hell still watch that channel

  31. True Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Blue October 21, 2010

    ^^^ ROFL, exactly!

  32. gdhg October 21, 2010

    Life is so lonely. Maybe you want to check out

    🙂 🙂 — Bla c kw h it eF lirts. C” 0- M — 🙂 🙂

    a nice place for seeking interr acial love.which gives you a chance to make your -life better and open// opportunities for you to meet the attractive sin gles and treat you like a king or Q-ueen. Maybe you wanna check it/ out or tell your friends !!!

  33. UMMM…………. October 21, 2010

    I agree with @Alexander PAC is the greatest of all time! Having Drake on the list was simply disrespectful but it’s about kissing Lil Wayne’s tail in anticipation of him coming home IMO!

  34. UMMM…………. October 22, 2010

    Lastly, EVE? What happened to Lil Kim, Queen Latifia, Missy Elliot etc. Why include just one female if you are not going to consider the rest?

  35. Princess October 22, 2010

    Nelly should have been #2 on that list. He has made a great impact on music that’s out too this day. He has sold over 30 million in album sales. That list was a big big joke. Jay-Z should have been on the list. Rick Ross and Jadakiss shouldn’t have even made the list. Drake should have been # 10 at best. He’s only been out a hot second. Nas and Snoop also should have been on the list.

  36. Princess October 22, 2010

    @ UMMM.. Yes! Where were the women. Lauryn Hill could have made that list, Missy and Lil Kim also.

  37. Mahogany03 October 22, 2010

    I wish people would stop asking “Why isn’t Tupac on the list?” “Where’s Nas?” “What about Snoop?” The list is for the TOP 10 RAPPERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY (from the year 2000 to now)!!!!! #duh #readingisfundamental

    I agree with Nelly 100%. During the whole “bubblegum pop” era, he was the only rapper (besides that overrated Eminem) that held it down for the rap game. Plus he had plenty of accomplishment & trends: 10 million records sold of his debut album, successful fashion line, Pimp Juice (l0l), the resurgence of Air Force One’s, the band aid under his eye, the extra “R” in his words…I mean, come on now!!!!

  38. Kingsly October 22, 2010

    Drake should never have been on the list!

  39. Heaven October 22, 2010

    Lists of any sort are only opinions, the so called elite giving the lesser their opinion as if it’s the holy word.

    The amusing thing is that folks fall for anything, they just loved being lead my the nose.

    The fable of “The Emperors New Clothes” will never die. lmao as I smh.

  40. LOSO October 22, 2010

    Nah i’m sorry bur FABOLOUS needs to have been on that list, how can they air him. He’s been relevant since early ’00s to Now. His miixtape last year/early this year was Fiyahh! I will neva understand why they left him off. And yeah Nelly should have been on the list, deffo agree.
    The whole list was wack…rick ross, drake amongst others did NOT deserve there space.
    The only one i agree with is Eminem, without a doubt best rapper.

  41. lola October 23, 2010

    So the f**k what about album sales and melodies? So should RIHANNA AND BRITNEY SPEARS BE ON THIS LIST OF GREATEST SINGERS BECAUSE THEY OUTSOLD MANY OF THE GREATEST SINGERS AND HAVE CATCHY TUNES? Nelly is a f**king joke! How dare he get mad? He’s not a real rapper. Pitbull has a better flow than he does. His music has always been meaningless, about partying and clubing, and girls shaking their a**es! He’s actually one of the worst rappers. Put him in the same category with Flo Rida, Pitbull, Soulja Boy, and Waka Flaka. Can he even free style? Honey you only made money and a “rap” career from trends. I’m also tired of people bashing Rick Ross! Is it because he was a parole office or whatever he f**king was? Rick Ross has a good flow and hot lyrics. He’s actually one of the hottest out right now! He commands a song and is blunt in his lyrics.

  42. dc October 23, 2010

    I DEFINTILEY THINK NELLY SHOULD HAVE GOT MENTIONED. BECAUSE FROM THE LIST IT SEEM LIKE THE CRITERIA FOR EACH ONE CHOSEN CHANGED. THEY WOULD JUDGE ONE ON LYRICAL CONTENT AND THEN OTHERS ON SALES OR CHART TOPPERS. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE DECIDED WHAT THE CRITERIA SHOULD BE AND THEN MAKE THE LIST.

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