Road Warrior: Rapper Nelly Talks Custom Car, Talk Show Venture & Kelly Rowland Sequel

Rap superstar Nelly (whose real name is Cornell Haynes, Jr.) was smiling like a kid in a candy store when Ford introduced the world to the Grammy winner's 5.0 Mustang customized by Dub magazine during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The tricked-out whip, which boasts a glossy black exterior, flat-black racing stripes and rides on Pirellis wheels, was the car Nelly idolized as a teenager and now he's living a dream by having one of his own.

"Growing up in high school the 5.0 Mustang was a dream car for me. Even though I never achieved that car. By the time I got a chance where I could afford that car, they stopped making it on me," the St. Louis-bred music star explained, as we sat above the Ford booth in a private suite in Detroit's Cobo Center.

The venture with Nelly and Ford happened when the rapper met Jim Farley, Ford's marketing vice president, who was impressed with the music star's passion for Mustangs.

"It's great when you can throw out ideas and have big shots that will listen," laughed Nelly, before adding: "But the 5.0 Mustang is the epitome of where muscles cars started, where they should go and where they should end!"

The 35-year-old 'Hot in Herre' star confessed that he's racked up his fair share of traffic tickets in the past, though he expects to be adding to them in his new Mustang and has already put his team on notice.

"I've gotten quite a few tickets," he smiled. "But thanks for great lawyers!"

In addition to discussing his Mustang, Nelly updated BV Buzz on the latest happenings with his music career, his acting and a TV project he has in the works.

Would you like to do a mass-produced vehicle with Ford similar to what they did with Funkmaster Flex and the Ford Flex?

Umm, if it was done right. That's my thing. I don't want to half-ass it. I don't want to put my name on it and hope that it sells. Now we're talking about something that I am really, really into. This is the automotive industry and car guys respect car guys. Cars guys will know when you're faking. So if it can be done right, yeah, I'd love to see what could happen.

You've had several successful business ventures, from your own Apple Bottom apparel collection to endorsement deals the Sean Jean underwear line and Reebok. How have you been able to thrive in the corporate realm?

I think it's kind of like, from the beginning, you have to know where you want your career to go instead of going where the career takes you. You have to already have that mentality when you get into the game. If I have this type of success, this is where I want to go. If I have this type of success, then this is where I want to go. This is what I want to manifest this into. You see what I'm saying? So when you get that opportunity, you strike. What I try to do, I just try to do things that relate to what I'm doing so it makes sense. It doesn't look like a stretch or like I'm just out there for a check.

You have a new CD coming out this summer. I hear there's a follow-up to your mega-hit 'Dilemma' with Kelly Rowland.

'DL2!' This is one thing, we know we can't in no way shape of form can we outdo part one. There's no way. You're in a lose situation if you go in trying to do that. What the new song is doing is a continuation of the story. It's produced by my man Jim Jonsin and my man Rico Love. We were in the studio in Miami and I called K and she was in the bed and just shot down to the studio.

Any other standout collaborations on the CD?

I got a collaboration with Taraji Henson that was produced by Jermaine Dupri. It's crazy.

Why don't you think your 2008 CD, 'Brass Knuckles' performed as well has your previous ones had?

I think the disconnect was that we had great success at crossover and pop radio, but I think when urban radio heard the names, they didn't give the record a chance. Once they heard it was Fergie, they just automatically threw it in the pop category and didn't give it a chance instead of letting the people decide. I don't care where I go, when I perform that song it rocks! When I'm overseas it rocks! Its just one of those things. But I'm not upset with this game. I understand the rules and sometimes the rules don't go in your favor. You can do everything possible to prepare to win, but that don't mean you're going to win.

I understand you have a TV project in the works. Tell me about that.

Not sure if you're familiar with the Ocean's 7 Crew. It's me, Jermaine Dupri, Trey Songz, Johnta Austin, Brian Michael Cox and Tyrone "International" Davis. We're working on kind of like the male version of 'The View.' We're working on that. You ever seen that movie called 'The Ugly Truth?' You know how the guy had his show; well we're working on that.

You made your film debut in 'The Longest Yard' and have appeared on 'CSI: NY.' Why don't you act more Nelly?

I'm starting to do more now, but I wanted to do stuff that made sense to me. I had a lot of offers and a lot of things that probably could've been cool, but I turned it down because I felt I wasn't ready yet. I never want to disrespect the culture and the thing that is acting, thinking just because I'm Nelly I'm going to transition and be good at it. I know it takes work. I know it takes a lot of hours. I know it takes a lot of digging deep a lot of times within yourself and making it come up.

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For related stories, read 'Buzz Picks: Michael Jackson, Audi, Ludacris, PJ Morton & more...'

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& 'O So Open: Omarion Addresses All Rumors.'

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