Sweatsuit (album)

Sweatsuit is a compilation album by American rapper Nelly, released in May 2005. The album consists of tracks from his 2004 simultaneous album releases, Sweat and Suit. The US edition of the compilation also includes four extra tracks, including the single "Grillz" featuring rappers Paul Wall and Ali & Gipp, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; along with The Notorious B.I.G. single "Nasty Girl", "Tired" featuring Avery Storm, and "Fly Away" from the soundtrack of the 2005 film The Longest Yard.

Sweatsuit
Compilation album by Nelly
Released	May 2005 (2005-05)
Recorded	2003–2005
Genre	Hip hop R&B
Length	73:41
Label	Universal Derrty Fo' Reel
Nelly chronology
Suit (2004) Sweatsuit (2005) Brass Knuckles (2008)
Alternative cover

Sweatsuit received positive reviews from critics, for containing the highlights from both Sweat and Suit, praising its material quality. Commercially, the compilation peaked at 26 on the US Billboard 200, and reached the top 40 in Australia and New Zealand. It has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of 500,000 copies.

Background

While recording material for his third studio album, Nelly originally had the intention of producing one album. Songs were being recorded at a steady pace, with Nelly composing more ideas, to which he established the idea of two albums released simultaneously to house all the tracks.^[1] On April 27, 2004, Nelly's representative initially described the upcoming albums as thematically dissimilar, "one is more melodic and party-oriented in the vein of records like "E.I." and "Tip Drill", while the other was described as having a "harder edge".^[2] Nelly would release singles accompanied by music videos from both albums.^[2] Talking to MTV News, Nelly went on to describe the differences between both albums; their titles of Sweat and Suit were announced on May 27, 2004.^[3] He noted Sweat as "more up-tempo" and "energetic", while characterizing Suit as more of "a grown-up and sexy vibe [...] it's more melodic".^[1]

Release

The compilation was released in the UK on May 6, 2005 and in the US on November 22.^[4][5]

Reception

Critical

AllMusic's Jason Birchmeier saw Sweatsuit as an album that combines the highlights of Sweat and Suit, and one that should have been released initially. Birchmeier went on to criticize the compilation's track sequencing, and described the new songs as "unexceptional."^[6] Though he summarized its material as "a solid, well-balanced, smoothly mixed listen," awarding the compilation four out of five stars.^[6] RapReviews.com's Steve Juon gave Sweatsuit an eight out of ten. Juon didn't see the new tracks as reason to purchase the compilation; he saw it as discarding material not targeted towards a pop audience, to make the compilation more attractive to new buyers who didn't get either Sweat or Suit.^[7] Ultimately, Juon went on to praise Nelly's consistency, confidence and the combination of pop and hip hop within the material.^[7]

Commercial

Sweatsuit peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard 200 chart, remaining on the chart for twenty-four weeks.^[8] The compilation peaked at number 6 and 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums, respectively.^[9][10] It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of 500,000 copies. On the Australian Albums Chart, Sweatsuit debuted at number 25, peaking at number 24 on the following week.^[11] It remained on the chart for ten weeks before dropping out on the week of August 21, 2005.^[11] The compilation peaked at number 36 on the New Zealand Albums Chart, dropping off on the following week.^[12] On the UK Albums Chart, it peaked at number 41.^[13] It was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Track listing

Sweatsuit track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Play It Off" (featuring Pharrell)	Cornell Haynes Jr. Chad Hugo Pharrell Williams	The Neptunes	3:47
2.	"My Place" (featuring Jaheim)	Haynes Jr. Eldra DeBarge Etterlene Jordan Kenneth Gamble Leon Huff Randy Edelman William DeBarge Jaheim Hoagland Dorian "Doe" Moore	Doe	5:36
3.	"Over and Over" (featuring Tim McGraw)	Haynes Jr. Bridges James Hargrove Samuel McGraw	Bridges	4:14
4.	"Flap Your Wings"	Haynes Jr. Hugo Williams	The Neptunes	4:03
5.	"Pretty Toes" (featuring Jazze Pha and T.I.)	Haynes Jr. Phalon Alexander André Benjamin Patrick Brown Clifford Harris Jr. Raymond "Yoda" Murray Antwan Patton Rico Wade	Jazze Pha	4:28
6.	"She Don't Know My Name" (featuring Snoop Dogg and Ronald Isley)	Haynes Jr. Calvin Broadus Jr. Ronald Isley Patton Nsilo Reddick Nicholas Sherwood	Big Boi The Beat Bullies	4:26
7.	"Nobody Knows" (featuring Anthony Hamilton)	Haynes Jr. Jermaine Mauldin Anthony Hamilton James Phillips	Mauldin	4:39
8.	"Heart of a Champion" (featuring Lincoln University Vocal Ensemble)	Haynes Jr. Phillip Duckett John Tesh	Duckett	4:29
9.	"Na-NaNa-Na" (featuring Jazze Pha)	Haynes Jr. Phalon Alexander Jasper Cameron	Jazze Pha	3:59
10.	"Get'cha Get'cha" (featuring St. Lunatics)	Haynes Jr. Harper Jones Cleveland Wayne Nugent Kevin Risto	Midi Mafia	4:37
11.	"River Don't Runnn" (featuring Murphy Lee and Stephen Marley)	Haynes Jr. Harper Marley Moore	Doe	4:59
12.	"Playa" (featuring Mobb Deep and Missy Elliott)	Haynes Jr. Alan Maman Melissa Elliott Albert Johnson Kejuan Muchita Cleveland Lee Ryda	The Alchemist	3:57
13.	"'N' Dey Say"	Haynes Jr. Jayson "Koko" Bridges Gary Kemp	Bridges	3:37
14.	"Fly Away"	Haynes Jr. A. Martin C. Schack I. Matias K. Karlin Rashad Hill	Bridges	4:09
15.	"Grillz" (featuring Paul Wall and Ali & Gipp)	Haynes Jr. Mauldin Ali Jones Cameron Gipp James Phillips Paul Slayton Beyoncé Knowles Kelendria Rowland Tenitra Williams Garrett Hamler Harris Jr. Rich Harrison	Jermaine Dupri	4:30
16.	"Tired" (featuring Avery Storm)	Haynes Jr.	P. Productions	3:16
17.	"Nasty Girl" (The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge and Avery Storm)	Haynes Jr. Christopher Wallace Steven Jordan Sean Combs Brian Casey Brandon Casey Leroy Watson	Jazze Pha	4:52
Total length:				73:41

Notes^[14][15]

• "My Place" contains a portion of composition from "Isn't It a Shame" by girl group Labelle and Randy DeBarge's 1982 "I Like It". It samples elements of singer Teddy Pendergrass' 1979 single "Come Go with Me".
• "Heart of a Champion" samples John Tesh' 1990 "Roundball Rock".
• "Na-NaNa-Na" samples Tupac Shakur's 1996 "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted".
• "Playa" samples Lee Ryda's 1987 "Magnetic Dance 2".
• "'N' Dey Say" samples Spandau Ballet’s 1983 "True".
• "Grillz" contains interpolations of Destiny's Child's 2004 "Soldier" and MC Shan's 1987 "Left Me Lonely".

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.^[16]

Victor Abijaudi – engineer The Alchemist – audio production, producer Ali – featured artist, main personnel, rap Ali & Gipp – performer, primary artist Kori Anders – mixing Avery Storm – featured artist, guest artist, main personnel, primary artist, vocals Big Gipp – guest artist Biggie – featured artist Mr. Leslie Braithwaite – mixing Matt Brauss – brass Jayson Bridges – audio production, drums, percussion, producer Sandy Brummels – art direction Al Byno – engineer Jasper Cameron – featured artist, main personnel, producer, vocals Chris Carmouche – engineer Jason Carson – engineer Andrew Coleman – engineer Diddy – featured artist, main personnel, primary artist, rap Phillip Duckett – producer Jermaine Dupri – audio production, mixing, producer Missy Elliott – featured artist, guest artist, main personnel, primary artist, rap Brian Frye – engineer Richard "Rip" Gager – guitar Chris Gehringer – mastering Gipp – featured artist, main personnel, rap Harold Guy – assistant engineer Anthony Hamilton – featured artist, guest artist, main personnel, primary artist, vocals James D. "Sted Fast" II Hargrove – guitar, producer John Horesco IV – engineer, mixing Jun Ishizeki – engineer Ronald Isley – featured artist, guest artist, primary artist Jagged Edge – featured artist, guest artist, main personnel, primary artist, rap Jaheim – featured artist, main personnel, vocals King James II – engineer

Jazze Pha – audio production, featured artist, guest artist, main personnel, primary artist, producer, rap Kim Moore Johnson – vocals (background) Rajinder Kala – congas Chip Karpells – engineer, mixing Debra Killings – bass Kevin Law – engineer Marc Stephen Lee – engineer Murphy Lee – featured artist, main personnel, primary artist, vocals Lincoln University Vocal Ensemble – featured artist, main personnel, vocals Bryan Loss – drums Lunatics – featured artist Stephen Marley – featured artist, main personnel, primary artist, vocals Dan "Thunda Dan" Marshal – engineer, guitar Brandon "B Don" Matthews – engineer NDoffene MBodji – assistant engineer Tim McGraw – featured artist, guest artist, main personnel, primary artist, vocals Tadd Mingo – assistant engineer, engineer Mobb Deep – featured artist, guest artist, main personnel, primary artist, rap Carl Nappa – engineer Nelly – main personnel, primary artist, vocals The Neptunes – audio production, producer Jared Nugent – assistant engineer Shorty B. – bass, guitar Snoop Dogg – featured artist, main personnel, primary artist, rap Nico Solis – engineer Joe Spiz – art direction, design St. Lunatics – main personnel, primary artist, vocals T.I. – featured artist, guest artist, main personnel, primary artist, vocals Phil Tan – mixing Richard Travali – mixing Serge Tsai – engineer Paul Wall – featured artist, guest artist, main personnel, primary artist, rap Bruce Waynne – producer James White – photography Pharrell Williams – featured artist, guest artist, main personnel, primary artist, vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Sweatsuit Chart (2005) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] 22 Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)[17] 6 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[18] 8 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[12] 36 UK Albums (OCC)[13] 41 UK R&B Albums (OCC)[19] 11 US Billboard 200[8] 26 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] 6 US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[10] 5

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Sweatsuit Chart (2006) Position US Billboard 200[20] 96 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[21] 47

Certifications

Certifications for Sweatsuit

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22]	Gold	100,000‡
United States (RIAA)[23]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.