Nelly says the early 2000s were the toughest time for hip-hop.

Nelly recently caused a stir when he declared that the years between 1999 and 2010 were the toughest era in hip-hop music. During his appearance on the popular show "The Shop," the Grammy award-winning rapper opened up about the intense competition he faced as an artist in the early 2000s. Nelly, who first burst onto the scene in 2000 with his hit single "Country Grammar," reflected on the challenges of releasing music at the same time as hip-hop legends like Jay-Z, DMX, and others.

"It was no joke, man. My era of music was the most cutthroat era in hip-hop history. No joke!" Nelly exclaimed. "When I dropped a new track, I was going up against DMX, JAY-Z, Eminem, Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, Luda – all of us were fighting for that top spot. So from 1999 to around 2008 or 2010, it was an uphill battle every single time."

Fans of Nelly's music quickly chimed in and agreed with his sentiments, while also pointing out a few other notable artists who were also making waves during that time period. "He's right, it was tough. T.I., Gucci, Jeezy, Kanye – there were so many talented artists competing for success," one user commented. "And let's not forget about OUTKAST!" added another.

Nelly's debut album "Country Grammar" was a huge success, with three of its singles – the title track, "E.I.," and "Ride Wit Me" – reaching the top 20 on the Billboard charts. The rapper was even considered for a Best New Artist nomination at the 2001 Grammy Awards, although he ultimately did not receive one. That year, the award went to Alicia Keys.

To this day, "Country Grammar" has sold over 10 million copies, while Nelly's follow-up album "Nellyville" has sold 7 million, according to Business Insider. The early 2000s was a golden age for hip-hop, with artists like Eminem selling over 32 million albums during the decade and 50 Cent releasing two chart-topping albums, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" and "The Massacre," with hit singles like "In Da Club," "21 Questions," and "Candy Shop." Ja Rule was another major player in the early 2000s hip-hop scene, with two No. 1 albums and three No. 1 singles between 2000 and 2003.

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