Editing Country Grammar (section)

==Background and production==
In his early years, Nelly frequently moved locations around the United States, before residing in the [[Independent city (United States)|city]] of [[St. Louis]], Missouri.<ref name="background">{{cite journal|year=2003|title=All Music Guide to Hip-Hop|journal=[[All Media Guide]]|page=351|isbn=9780879307592|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wr1lmklsD8QC&pg=PT345|access-date=June 6, 2013|last1=Authors|first1=Various}}</ref> It was there where he discovered rap artists synonymous inside the city. In his teenage years, Nelly moved to [[University City, Missouri|University City]], a suburb of St. Louis, where he shifted his aspirations from becoming a baseball player to producing stories and rhymes.<ref name="background"/> Along with some friends from [[high school]]: Ali Jones, [[Murphy Lee|Torhi "Murphy Lee" Harper]], Kyjuan and [[City Spud|Lavell "City Spud" Webb]], Nelly formed the group [[St. Lunatics]] in 1993.<ref name="background"/> Frustrated by the lack of attention from record companies, the group formed the consensus to allow Nelly to pursue a solo career, while Ali and Murphy Lee released their own solo albums.<ref name="background"/> Nelly produced demos, which were sent to national labels, eventually gaining attention from [[Universal Records]] who signed a record deal with Nelly and the St. Lunatics in 1999, with Universal releasing the former's debut album, ''Country Grammar'', in 2000.<ref name="background"/><ref name="vibe">{{cite journal|date=September 2002|title=Ebony|journal= [[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|volume=57|issue=232|page=148|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|issn=0012-9011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zdUDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA142|access-date=June 7, 2013}}</ref> All songs on ''Country Grammar'' were [[Recording engineering|recorded]] by Steve Eigner, and [[Mixing engineer|mixed]] by Rich Travali. Kenny Dykstra provided recording assistance and Jason Standard assisted in mixing.<ref name="liner"/> [[Audio mastering|Mastering]] was performed by Herb Powers, with [[Artists and repertoire|A&R]] directed by Kevin Law and Coordinated by Craig Yoskowitz.<ref name="liner"/> Management was provided by Tony Davis and Courtney Benson, with legality handled by Todd Rubenstein. Creative direction was handled by Sandra Brummels, with design done by BENTO Design and photography done by Jonathen Mannion.<ref name="liner"/>