Like Night and Day

Nelly has never tried to change the face of hip-hop. He has never claimed that he is more than an artist that puts out catchy music. Nelly has gone above and beyond though with his 2 newest albums, Sweat and Suit. While sold separately, the two of them make an interesting set of music, that keep with Nelly’s traditional style of radio-friendly hip-hop, as well as expanding upon it. The two are a large contrast between each other, which help in showing Nelly’s range and his love of creating.First up is Sweat, which is more in the vein of previous Nelly albums. Each of the tracks is just waiting to be played by a dj in a club, from the laid back style of “Flap Your Wings” to the instant classic “Getcha Getcha.” While Nelly’s style borrows from other genres, such as the 70’s funk-influenced “Tilt Ya Head Back,” he successfully puts his own spin on things, making sure each track is undeniably Nelly. From start to finish, these 13 tracks keep the party going, without ever dying down.

The after party, however, will be having the rich and smooth sounds of Suit playing. Suit totally changes the formula, going from a club heavy disc to a an r&b inspired set of tracks featuring artists such as Snoop Dogg, Tim McGraw, Pharrell Williams, and many others. Just because this album isn’t loud or sound so much like classic Nelly, don’t take it as boring. In a lot of ways, this is the more mature album of the two. The tracks have a wonderful flow, with clever beats and smooth vocals that at times surprise the listener that it is Nelly singing. This seems to be especially apparent on “My Place” and the Spandau Ballet sampled “N Dey Say.” It’s amazing that the artist who brought the world “Pimp Juice” and “Ride Wit Me” can croon out vocals that sound so refined and clean.

It seems that many double albums seem to suffer, with either one disc that sounds tacked on, or a large number of mediocre songs. Nelly however, has given the world two discs that are worth their price, and compliment each other well. Nelly understands music, and what people want to hear. Fortunately, he is able to deliver without making it sound forced or fake. More artists should take a lesson from him.