(Source: mtv.com)

(www.NellyHQ.com)

MTV: And today you have a deal with Universal Records. How did you come to decide on a solo deal as opposed to getting the group signed?

Nelly: Well, it wasn't my idea, it was a group idea. We sat down, and I want to tell everybody it's not Nelly and The St. Lunatics, its Nelly from The St. Lunatics, 'cause I'm still in the group, always will be in the group, started in the group, and I ain't never leaving the group. But it was something that we all decided on, as far as timing, I guess my sound, just the way I like to do things... 'cause everybody's different in the group. You'll see that when the group album comes out, and when other guys, other members of the group, get a chance to do their solo projects. You'll definitely feel the difference and you'll be able to be like, "Oh, OK, Murphy Lee is different from Nelly. Big Lee is different from Murphy. Kyjuan is definitely off the rack." Everybody's different in that aspect, so I think it was just more or less the timing for me. Everybody decided, "OK, Nelly, we just gonna give you everybody's support, we just gonna get behind you, we just gonna push you through the door." Flat out. And here I am. It's definitely love, and it's the Lunatics for life.