Country Grammar (Hot Shit)

"Country Grammar (Hot Shit)" (also known as "Country Grammar (Hot...) "in the clean version, and released as a single under the title (Hot S**t) Country Grammar) is the debut single of American rapper Nelly. The song was written by Nelly and Jason "Jay E" Epperson, who also produced the track. Released on February 29, 2000, as the lead single from Nelly's 2000 debut album, Country Grammar, the single peaked at number seven in both the United States and the United Kingdom and reached the top 20 in Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands.

"Country Grammar (Hot Shit)"
US artwork
Single by Nelly
from the album Country Grammar
B-side	"Greed Hate Envy"
Released	February 29, 2000 (2000-02-29)
Studio	Unique (New York City)
Length	4:48 (album version) 4:19 (edit)
Label	Fo' Reel Universal
Composer(s)	Jason "Jay E" Epperson
Lyricist(s)	Nelly
Producer(s)	Jason "Jay E" Epperson
Nelly singles chronology
"Country Grammar (Hot Shit)" (2000) "E.I." (2000)
Alternative cover
European and Australian artwork

Composition

The song's melody and chorus were taken from a song popularly sung by children with clapping games called "Down Down Baby". On the clean version, the word "shit" is backmasked, and most of the explicit words are replaced by radio-friendly words and bleep-related sound effects. For instance, the lyrics "street sweeper baby cocked" in the chorus are replaced with "boom boom baby" due to its reference to a submachine gun.

"Country Grammar" references Beenie Man's 1998 dancehall single "Who Am I (Sim Simma)" with the line, "Keys to my beemer, man, holla at Beenie Man".

Music video

The video features Nelly rapping in front of several key landmarks across St. Louis such as the Gateway Arch and Lafayette Square.^[1][2] The video features St. Lunatics and fellow Midwest rapper Chingy.^[3]

Track listings

US CD single^[4]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"(Hot S**t) Country Grammar" (clean edit)	4:15
2.	"(Hot S**t) Country Grammar" (dirty edit)	4:15
3.	"Greed Hate Envy"	0:30
4.	"E.I."	0:30
5.	"Ride wit Me"	0:30

US 12-inch single^[5]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"(Hot S**t) Country Grammar" (clean edit)	4:49
2.	"(Hot S**t) Country Grammar" (dirty edit)	4:49
3.	"(Hot S**t) Country Grammar" (instrumental)	4:49

UK CD single^[6]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Country Grammar" (superclean radio edit)	3:52
2.	"Luven Me"	4:07
3.	"Country Grammar" (instrumental)	4:48
4.	"Country Grammar" (video)

UK 12-inch single^[7]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Country Grammar" (album version)	4:47
2.	"Country Grammar" (acapella)	3:58
3.	"Country Grammar" (instrumental)	4:48

UK cassette single^[8]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Country Grammar" (superclean radio edit)	3:52
2.	"Luven Me"	4:07
3.	"Country Grammar" (instrumental)	4:48

European CD single^[9]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Country Grammar" (new radio edit)	3:04
2.	"Country Grammar" (superclean radio edit with FX)	3:50

Australian CD single^[10]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Country Grammar" (new radio edit)	3:04
2.	"Country Grammar" (superclean radio edit with FX)	3:50
3.	"Country Grammar" (2 step mix)	5:56
4.	"Country Grammar" (album version)	4:47

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Country Grammar liner notes.^[11]

Studios

• Recorded at Unique Studios (New York City)
• Mixed at Sound on Sound Studios (New York City)
• Mastered at Powers House of Sound (New York City)

Personnel

• Nelly – lyrics
• Jason "Jay E" Epperson – music, production
• Steve Eigner – recording, engineering
• Kenny Dykstra – recording and engineering assistance
• Rich Travali – mixing
• Jason Standard – mixing assistance
• Herb Powers – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2000–2001) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[12] 20 Australian Urban (ARIA)[13] 8 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 61 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15] 10 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 34 Germany (GfK)[17] 20 Ireland (IRMA)[18] 22 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 31 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 20 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 43 Scotland (OCC)[22] 20 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[23] 56 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 58 UK Singles (OCC)[25] 7 UK Dance (OCC)[26] 8 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[27] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[28] 7 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[29] 5 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[30] 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[31] 9 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[32] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position US Billboard Hot 100[33] 29 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[34] 19 US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[35] 5 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[36] 48 US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[37] 4 Chart (2001) Position Australia (ARIA)[38] 77 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[39] 99

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[40]	Gold	35,000^
United States (RIAA)[41]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United States	February 29, 2000	12-inch vinyl CD	Universal	[citation needed]
	March 7, 2000	Urban radio		[42]
	March 21, 2000	Rhythmic contemporary radio		[43]
	June 13, 2000	Contemporary hit radio		[44][45]
United Kingdom	October 30, 2000	12-inch vinyl CD cassette		[46]

References

1. "Nelly - Country Grammar (music video)". IMDb.
2. "A celebration of Nelly's 'Country Grammar' as album turns 20". 17 June 2020.
3. "BEEF - Chingy vs. Nelly". YouTube. 20 July 2020.
4. (Hot S**t) Country Grammar (US CD single liner notes). Nelly. Fo' Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2000. 012 156 800-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. (Hot S**t) Country Grammar (US 12-inch single sleeve). Nelly. Fo' Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2000. 012156800-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. (Hot S+++) Country Grammar (UK CD single liner notes). Nelly. Fo' Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2000. MCSTD 40242, 158481-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. (Hot S+++) Country Grammar (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Nelly. Fo' Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2000. MCST 40242, 158479-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. (Hot S+++) Country Grammar (UK cassette single sleeve). Nelly. Fo' Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2000. MCSC 40242.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. (Hot S+++) Country Grammar (European CD single liner notes). Nelly. Fo' Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2000. 158 479-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. (Hot S+++) Country Grammar (Australian CD single liner notes). Nelly. Fo' Reel Entertainment, Universal Music Australia. 2000. 158 480-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. Country Grammar (US CD album liner notes). Nelly. Universal Records. 2000. 012157743-2FLO3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. "Nelly – (Hot S***) Country Grammar". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
13. "Issue 572" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
14. "Nelly – (Hot S***) Country Grammar" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
15. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7099." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
16. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 47. November 18, 2000. p. 9. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
17. "Nelly – (Hot S***) Country Grammar" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
18. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – (Hot S**t) Country Grammar". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 1, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
20. "Nelly – (Hot S***) Country Grammar" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
21. "Nelly – (Hot S***) Country Grammar". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
22. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
23. "Nelly – (Hot S***) Country Grammar". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
24. "Nelly – (Hot S***) Country Grammar". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
26. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
27. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
28. "Nelly Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
29. "Nelly Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
30. "Nelly Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
31. "Nelly Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
32. "Nelly Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
33. "Billboard Top 100 – 2000". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
34. "The Year in Music 2000: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-54.
35. "The Year in Music 2000: Hot Rap Singles". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-58.
36. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 54.
37. "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 56.
38. "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2001". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
39. "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 60.
40. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
41. "American single certifications – Nelly – Country Grammar". Recording Industry Association of America.
42. "AddVance Notice" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1340. March 3, 2000. p. 103. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
43. "CHR/Rhythmic: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1342. March 17, 2000. p. 122. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
44. "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1354. June 9, 2000. p. 49. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
45. "Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2308. June 9, 2000. p. 9.
46. "New Releases – For Week Starting October 30, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 28, 2000. p. 25. Retrieved August 7, 2021.

External links

• "Country Grammar (Hot Shit)" at Discogs (list of releases)
• Music video on YouTube