Da Derrty Versions (The Reinvention/Remixes) [PA] - Nelly

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Da Derrty Versions (The Reinvention) is more than a mere remix album. It is the first that I’ve actually gone out and bought, and am happy to keep! Being a Nelly fan from the ‘EI‘ days I loved his songs in their original states, however Nelly (with some help from some friends) practically recreates his popular hits. Part of the reason of the success of these remixes is that each song is given a different approach. Some have revolutionary ...
...Derrty Versions is a breath of fresh air for all Nelly fans
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TRACK LISTING

1. Country Grammar (Featuring E-40)(Remixed by Jason "Jay E" Epperson)
Really catchy beats and a brilliant start to the album. It still has the freshness of the original, and you can still sing along- even if you’re hearing it for the first time. The song is refers to his St Louis roots.

2. Iz U

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I’m now going to share my inexplicable obsession with Mr Cornell Haynes a.k.a Nelly. I am amazed that this is my first review about anything Nelly-related. I had started to write one about both Nellyville and Country Grammar but I found it impossible to be unbiased. I’m confident that I’m able to be honest about my thoughts about the latest offering from the talented St. Louis rapper. Most people are aware that Nelly was first a member of the St. Lunatics, and made is the first rapper to make it as a solo star.

Da Derrty Versions (The Reinvention) is more than a mere remix album. It is the first that I’ve actually gone out and bought, and am happy to keep! Being a Nelly fan from the ‘EI‘ days I loved his songs in their original states, however Nelly (with some help from some friends) practically recreates his popular hits. Part of the reason of the success of these remixes is that each song is given a different approach. Some have revolutionary vocals, some have the beats played with, often both. Da Derrty Versions is a breath of fresh air for all Nelly fans
.
TRACK LISTING

1. Country Grammar (Featuring E-40)(Remixed by Jason "Jay E" Epperson)
Really catchy beats and a brilliant start to the album. It still has the freshness of the original, and you can still sing along- even if you’re hearing it for the first time. The song is refers to his St Louis roots.

2. Iz U

‘She said “Iz u iz, or iz u ain’t?”
“Iz u iz, or iz u ain’t?”
Iz that you in a Lamborghini
Iz that your car parked outside?’

As this is Nelly’s new single and not a previous hit- it’s difficult to judge like the rest of the album. However it is definitely in my top 5 off the album, it works well and is very catchy.
It is all about a girl that is interested in Nelly because of his car and his money.

3. E.I. (Remixed by David Banner)

"Undelay, undelay, mommy E-I E-I, UH OH, what's poppin’ tonight?"

Remember which track it is now?
Now the remix also has:

‘It must be your ass, ‘cos it ain’t your face…’

Dubious lyrics? Maybe but it DOES work. It is a fun track that you can get down to on the dance floor. I’m hoping I hear it out soon!

By this point I am delirious with excitement of listening to Nelly. The order of tracks is faultless so far, and one of my ultimate fave Nelly songs is next…

4. Ride Wit Me (Remixed by Jason "Jay E" Epperson)

It starts off sounding not too dissimilar to the original. Then the music kicks in and the vocals are slower whilst the beats are stronger. The result is a nice laid-back song, it makes me think of a summery day. Personally I wouldn’t put it in my top 5 favourite tracks.

5. Batter Up (Remixed by Jason "Jay E" Epperson)

Even better than the original- it’s the vocals that make this version work so well

6. If (Produced by The Neptunes)

‘If I couldn’t take you around the world,
Would you still be my girl?’
I think this is Nelly’s take on ‘Girlfriend’ and thankfully he has had the sense to keep Nsync well away from it.

I like this as it doesn’t sound whiney, the tone is more questioning. It could quite easily have sounded needy- like Kevin Lyttle but Nelly has more style.

7. Hot In Herre (Remixed by The Neptunes)

‘It’s getting hot in herre,
So take off all your clothes’

It’s difficult to touch a massive hit like ‘Hot in Herre’ and not have people be critical. I’ve chosen to judge it as a stand alone track, and it is a good dance record. The vocals are practically the same so you can still sing along which helps the track work. The main changes are that there are extra rhythmic beats but the whole song isn't speeded up or anything.

8. Dilemma (Remixed by Jermaine Dupri)

'Nelly, I love you.... and I need youuuuu..'

This version is way better than the original. I think it benefits from the new stronger beats and it just sounds sexier and less cheesy. Anyone else would be tempted to just speed it up and turn it into a dance number but thankfully they didn’t!
I like the rap in it, a particular genius remix.

9. Kings Highway (Remixed by Jason "Jay E" Epperson)
To be honest I wasn’t a big fan of the original. This remix is fine, it doesn’t spoil it or anything.

10. Groovin' Tonight

The first time I was listening to the album I didn’t have much time and I skipped this as the first few seconds sounded really cheesy:

'Tonights the night, tonights the night...
When you lookin sooo fine...'

However when I heard it kick in I was pleasantly surprised, it is a nice ‘end of the night’ kind of track. It isn’t a rap track, and yet I like it a lot.

11. Air Force Ones
Much ’dirtier’ but it works. It’s really different sound to the original.

"If the shoe is on the shelf you should have some man, you can’t sit up and tell me you that you have none, man, you may not have three or four but you got one…"

Air Force Ones is about Nelly’s affection for the Nike Air Force brand and if you listen carefully to the lyrics you’ll see that is is quite an amusing number.

12. Work It (Remixed by Scott Storch)

The vocals are similar, the rhythm is funked up. And there is a lot more Nelly and less Timberlake- bonus! The difference is mainly in the rhythm, a few extra beats are added.

However it is a remix which is easily forgettable.

13. #1 (Remixed by Wally)

I like songs which sound like they’ve been recorded live, and this one starts off like that. I do think it sounds pretty similar to the original. To tell the truth I tend to skip it after I hear the rap in the middle.

14. Pimp Juice (Remixed by Jason "Jay E" Epperson)

It begins with a mechanical sounding female voice saying something like ‘This is too too Pimp Juice’. Thankfully after a quick cringe the song immediately redeems itself. This is so different with the saxophone and it’s slowed down and more mellow. It is not a rap track by any standard. The only problem is the order doesn’t work very well and I tend to skip to the next track because it’s brilliant.

15. E.I. (Tipdrill Remix Remixed by David Banner)

This bears little resemblance to the original, it is not so much a reinvention as a remake.

‘It must be your money ‘cos it ain’t your face’

The female vocals come in for a moment on this version. It works really well. I like it when the male vocals come together in the fourth minute it sounds spontaneous and evocative of a night out. I like the attitude and vibe that you get from this song. Yes the lyrics aren’t exactly flattering, but it’s still sexy and good to dance to.

16. Splurge (Remix)

This song is about how Nelly feels he is at a point where he deserves to ‘splurge a little’ since he has worked damn hard to get where he is today and he is right.

I’m sure the ‘remix!’ shout in the beginning and middle is Missy Elliott. I think this could have been a genius track with Missy’s input. Unfortunately it sounds a little amateurish with the small changes to the beat and little alteration to the vocals. There are also some god awful ‘futuristic’ twinkly beats popping up at one point. It would have been good to have Splurge remixed into a dancey track but it hasn't been twiddled with enough in terms of the tempo and rhythm.

A shame to end an otherwise excellent album with this track. I would have switched EI and Splurge around in the listing.

The only real moan I have about this album is where is ‘Shake Your Tailfeather’? That could have been an amazing remix and it could have finished off the album with a blast!

I would recommend this album to any Rap, Hip hop and R’n’B fan and it is a must for all Nelly fans. Although it is a remix album most of them still retain a hiphop and rap vibe (apart from Pimp Juice).

Let me know what you think if you’ve heard it!

LINKS

www. Nelly.net
 

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