Released: 2000
“Country Grammar (Hot Shit)” by Nelly is a celebration anthem, portraying his Midwestern roots and his journey to fame. The track centralizes on the themes of wealth, power, and the celebration of his own success while not forgetting where he’s come from, St. Louis.
The hook, “I’m goin’ down, down baby, yo’ street in a Range Rover… Shimmy, shimmy cocoa, what? Listen to it pound”, we see Nelly bringing street elements and metaphor into the song. The Range Rover represents his newfound wealth and success. The phrase “shimmy, shimmy cocoa, what?” recalls a children’s counting rhyme well known in the U.S. – a creative use of universally understood cultural reference to possibly imply his childhood or background.
Moving on to the verses, “You can find me, in St. Louis rollin’ on dubs…blowin’ up like cocoa puffs”. Here, Nelly is declaring his loyalty to his home city, St. Louis. Rolling on dubs is street slang for driving around in a car with 20-inch rims or larger, this is an emblem of prosperity. He uses a clever play with words, “blowin’ up like cocoa puffs” meaning becoming popular & successful, but also an allusion to smoking marijuana, further establishing his street credentials.
“Who say pretty boys can’t be wild niggaz?…From St. Louis to Memphis…Blow 30 mill’ like I’m Hammer”. Nelly addresses stereotypes about appearances, ensuring his toughness isn’t questioned, and defying the doubts people have about ‘pretty boys’. He then shouts out to the cities and people who influenced him. “Blow 30 mill’ like I’m Hammer” is a reference to MC Hammer, who notoriously went bankrupt after excessively spending his wealth, something Nelly is cheekily suggesting he might do.
In a later verse, “Let’s show these cats to make these milli-ons…Bill Gates, Donald Trump let me in now”, Nelly is calling out to other successful people. Calling them ‘cats’ is a friendly, colloquial term. “Let me in now” suggests he wants to join their ranks. He further reinforces his newfound wealth with mentions of luxury brands like the Benz.
At its core, “Country Grammar (Hot Shit)” brings together a skillfully crafted vision of Nelly’s balanced life, appreciating his rise to stardom, but continuing to keep his St. Louis roots and the streets close to his heart. It’s a classic jam that cements Nelly’s unique style in the annals of hip-hop.
