Nellyville is the second studio album by American rapper Nelly. Released on June 25, 2002, it followed his breakout debut and consolidated his crossover appeal by pairing rap verses with memorable, radio-ready choruses. The record expanded Nelly's audience beyond hip-hop fans and became one of the defining mainstream albums of the early 2000s.

This follow-up to the debut album offered a mix of club tracks, mid-tempo grooves and R&B-tinged duets. Production drew on contemporary pop and hip-hop trends to create tracks with catchy hooks and prominent melodies. The album balanced party anthems with smoother songs that emphasized melody and guest vocalists.

Notable singles

  • "Hot in Herre" — a dance-ready track that dominated radio and clubs and reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
  • "Dilemma" (featuring Kelly Rowland) — a slower, duet-style song that also became a #1 hit and received widespread mainstream attention.
  • "Air Force Ones" — a street-leaning single that celebrated sneaker culture and featured guest appearances from Nelly's crew.
  • "Pimp Juice" — another single from the record that reinforced Nelly's persona and club-ready sound.

Guest appearances and collaborations played a significant role on the album. In addition to Kelly Rowland and contributions from Nelly's associates, the record used a variety of producers and songwriters to create a diverse sonic palette. The presence of strong choruses and melodic hooks made several tracks accessible to pop and R&B listeners as well as hip-hop audiences.

Commercially, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold several hundred thousand copies in its first week, marking one of the biggest releases of 2002. Critics acknowledged its production value and hit-making ability, while some noted unevenness between the singles and deeper album cuts. Overall, its chart success and airplay confirmed Nelly's status as a mainstream star.

Over time, Nellyville has been viewed as a landmark release for early-2000s pop-rap, helping to blur genre boundaries and influence how rap artists targeted mass radio play. Its combination of club anthems and melodic collaborations remains commonly cited when discussing Nelly's commercial peak and the era's musical trends.