Nelly was raised within a culturally rich environment, very close to her Portuguese roots. Traditional dances workshops, marching bands, and religious festivities were common activities throughout her childhood. All that cultural immersion, and the deep work ethic she learned from her parents at an early age, served her well when she moved to Toronto after high school to pursue a musical career.
She started to write her own songs when she joined the hip-hop duo Nelstar. Musicians Brian West and Gerard Eaton, from the pop band The Philosopher Kings, decided to record a demo of Nelly’s songs that ended up on the desks of DreamWorks Records, and in 2000 her first album , Whoa, Nelly! was released.
The following year Nelly went on an extensive headlining tour around North America. Whoa Nelly! reached platinum status several times and also got four nominations at the 2002 Grammy Awards. Nelly ended up taking the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “I’m Like a Bird.” Her second album, Folklore, was released on November 2003; two months after Nelly gave birth to her daughter Nevis. In 2006 Nelly released Loose, an album produced almost entirely by beats genius Timbaland. “Promiscuous” became an instant hit, earning her the number one spot at the Billboard Hot 100 while the album debuted atop the charts upon its release.
