Country Grammar

1	Intro / Cedric The Entertainer 1:21
2	St. Louie 4:27
3	Greed, Hate, Envy 4:15
4	Country Grammar (Hot...) 4:47
5	Steal the Show / St. Lunatics 5:27
6	Interlude / Cedric The Entertainer 0:33
7	Ride Wit Me / City Spud 4:51
8	E.I. 4:45
9	Thicky Thick Girl / Murphy Lee 4:34
10	For My 4:08
11	Utha Side 4:33
12	Tho Dem Wrappas 4:08
13	Wrap Sumden / St. Lunatics 4:15
14	Batter Up / Murphy Lee 5:27
15	Never Let 'Em C U Sweat / The Teamsters 4:14
16	Luven Me 4:07
17	Outro / Cedric The Entertainer 0:43

Barnes & Noble

Now that the Dirty South has shifted attention away from the East Coast-West Coast axis, hip-hop prospects are rising from points all across the map. COUNTRY GRAMMAR, the debut disc by Nelly, introduces the hip-hop world to the sound and slang of St. Louis, a Midwestern city affectionately called "the Lou" or "the Arch." Pumped full of hyperactive beats like those of Hot Boys production wizard Mannie Fresh, COUNTRY GRAMMAR will appeal to fans of Juvenile's Cash Money crew. Nelly, however, spices up the 808, electro-funk with tasty samples, acoustic guitars, and live percussion. While most of the tracks are built around R&B hooks, Nelly proves on "Ride Wit Me" that he's got enough pop sensibility to gain radio airplay. And with a flow that alternately tackles rugged street stories ("Greed, Hate, & Envy"), bouncy, club-worthy cuts ("St. Louie"), and thug-redemption slow-jams ("Lovin' Me"), Nelly is an all-around crowd pleaser. So ya heard. Don't sleep on St. Louie. Michael Endelman

All Music Guide

By the time of Country Grammar's release in summer 2000, the album's title track had become a major hit single for the previously unknown St. Louis rapper Nelly, who was making his national debut. In particular, the song's tongue-twisting chorus is downright infectious: "I'm goin down down baby, yo' street in a Range Rover/Street sweeper, baby, cocked ready to let it go/Shimmy shimmy cocoa what? Listen to it pound/Light it up and take a puff, pass it to me now" -- or something like that. There are many more tongue-twisting singalong moments like this on Country Grammar, such as "Ride wit Me" and "E.I.," enough to make the album an engaging overall listen, despite some pedestrian rapping at times. More than anything, Nelly's knack for writing -- and singing -- such infectious hooks makes Country Grammar an exceptional album for its time, one that transcends regional styles like Dirty South and is universal in its (Midwestern?) pop-rap appeal. Some of the credit should go to producer Jason "Jay E" Epperson, who showcases a lot of talent over the course of Country Grammar. Jason Birchmeier

Rolling Stone

Country Grammar is the best thing to come out of St. Louis since Redd Foxx. Kris Ex