The Evolution of Nelly

It's been a wild journey to stardom for the birthday boy.

Nelly - “There are so many different [types of] relationships. It’s hard to say...which rules they should [follow], because it’s just [about] being happy.” —Nelly on admitting he has cheated (Photo credit: Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
Family Affair - Since the passing of his sister Jacqueline Donahue, to leukemia in 2005, hip hop star Nelly has become a major advocate in raising the awareness for bone marrow transplants. The St. Louis-bred MC has spearheaded numerous bone marrow donation drives and contributed millions of dollars to the cause through the foundation he started with his sister, Jes Us 4 Jackie Foundation. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Getty Images for Bud Light)
Nelly - Nelly hooked up with Ford Explorer in 2011 to tout the quality of the SUV's sound system.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
In the Spotlight - Nelly shines during a performance critique on his new reality music makeover series, The Next, on the CW. The show travels across the nation to find Internet sensations and tries to turn them into stars overnight.   (Photo: Cooper Neill/Getty Images)Nelly: November 2 - The "Country Grammar" rapper and Ashanti's main squeeze turns 38.   (Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

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Don't Call It a Comeback - Believe it or not, Nelly hasn't really gone anywhere—his 2010 hit "Just a Dream" went triple-platinum, leading off his sixth album 5.0, which dropped that same year. (Photo: Jordan Strauss/Getty Images for Bud Light)

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