Back in 2013, if you told a country purist that a rapper from St. Louis was about to help crown the biggest country song of all time, they probably would’ve laughed you out of the honky-tonk. But then Nelly hopped on a remix for a duo named Florida Georgia Line, and the music industry basically exploded.
It wasn't just a song. It was a total shift in how we listen to music.
People like to act like "Cruise" was just some lucky fluke, but the reality is much weirder and more interesting. Nelly didn't just show up for a paycheck; he and the FGL boys—Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley—actually became legitimate friends. They call each other family. It’s one of those rare Hollywood pairings that isn't just PR smoke and mirrors.
The Remix That Changed Everything
When the original version of "Cruise" dropped in 2012, it was already doing okay. It reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Most songs would be happy with that. But then the Nelly remix happened in April 2013.
Suddenly, the song didn't just climb; it lived at the top.
We’re talking about 24 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. At the time, that was an all-time record. It became the first-ever country single to receive RIAA Diamond certification. You've gotta understand how rare that is—10 million units moved. Before this, country and hip-hop were treated like two separate planets. Nelly and Florida Georgia Line built a bridge between them and then drove a Chevy Silverado right across it.
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The sound was polarizing. Critics called it "bro-country" or "hick-hop." Some people hated it. Honestly, a lot of people still do. But the numbers don't lie. It sold over 7 million copies by late 2014, and by 2016, that number was over 7.5 million. It turned Florida Georgia Line into superstars and gave Nelly a massive second act in a genre nobody saw him coming for.
Why the chemistry actually worked
A lot of people think these collabs are forced by label executives in glass offices.
This one wasn't.
Nelly has always been a "country boy" at heart. He grew up in Missouri, not exactly the epicenter of East Coast rap. He’d already dipped his toes in the water back in 2004 with "Over and Over" featuring Tim McGraw. So, when he heard what Tyler and Brian were doing, he was already a fan.
The guys met, hit it off, and realized they shared the same "work hard, party harder" philosophy. Nelly even says working with them was a "no-brainer." He calls them his "little brothers."
It wasn’t just a one-hit wonder
Most people remember "Cruise," but Nelly and Florida Georgia Line have a surprisingly deep track record together. They didn't just shake hands and walk away.
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- Walk Away (2013): Nelly featured the duo on this track from his album M.O. * The Smooth Tour (2017): This wasn't just a few shows. It was a 40-date trek across the U.S. where Nelly opened for FGL. Imagine a stadium full of country fans rapping along to "Hot in Herre" before screaming for "H.O.L.Y."
- Lil Bit (2020): Seven years after their first hit, they did it again. This was the lead single for Nelly’s country-influenced album Heartland.
"Lil Bit" actually leans way harder into the rap side than "Cruise" ever did. It’s got a heavy beat, banjo plucking, and Nelly calling himself the "Black Tom Brady." It was a massive hit on TikTok and proved that even as the guys got older—and started having kids and families—the "family" bond was still there.
Breaking down the Heartland era
In 2021, Nelly released Heartland. It wasn't a "country album" in the traditional sense, and Nelly was very careful to say that. He has a massive amount of respect for the genre. He told Entertainment Weekly he’d never try to make a pure country record because that would be like Tim McGraw trying to make a rap album.
Instead, he made a "crossover" project.
Florida Georgia Line was all over it. Even when the duo started moving toward their eventual "break" or hiatus, Tyler Hubbard stayed close with Nelly. They performed "Lil Bit" on The Voice and Good Morning America. Watching them on stage, it’s obvious they aren't faking the vibe.
The 2026 Perspective: Where are they now?
It’s 2026, and the landscape of country music looks completely different because of what these three did over a decade ago. Artists like Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, and Shaboozey are dominating the charts with sounds that wouldn't exist without the Nelly and Florida Georgia Line blueprint.
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Right now, Florida Georgia Line is technically "on a break." Tyler and Brian have been doing their own solo things for a few years. But here’s the kicker: rumor has it a reunion might be on the horizon. Fans have been spotting them together, and the buzz is that if they do get back together, Nelly might be the first person they call.
Why? Because the "Nelly Florida Georgia Line" brand is basically a license to print money.
What most people get wrong about the collab
People think it was "the end of country music."
It wasn't.
It was actually an expansion. Before "Cruise," country was very siloed. You were either "in" or "out." This collaboration proved that you could have a banjo and a 808 drum machine on the same track and people would still love it. It made the genre more inclusive. Brian Kelley once noted that after the Nelly collab, their shows started seeing "different ages and different colors." It brought people together who normally wouldn't be in the same room.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you're a fan of this specific "hick-hop" sound or a creator looking to understand why this worked so well, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Authenticity is the secret sauce. If Nelly didn't actually like country music, "Cruise" would have felt like a cheap gimmick. It worked because he actually respected the craft.
- Cross-pollination is the future. Don't be afraid to mix "incompatible" styles. The biggest hits usually happen when two worlds collide.
- Long-term relationships matter. One-off features are fine, but the reason people still search for "Nelly Florida Georgia Line" is because they did multiple songs, toured together, and built a 10-year narrative.
- Ignore the gatekeepers. If FGL had listened to the critics who said they weren't "real country," they never would have sold 10 million copies of a single song.
The partnership between a St. Louis rapper and a duo from Florida and Georgia didn't just break the charts—it redefined what a "country" artist could look like. Whether you're blasting "Lil Bit" in your truck or still have the "Cruise" remix on your gym playlist, there's no denying these guys changed the game forever.
Keep an eye on social media in the coming months. With the 2026 reunion rumors heating up, we might just get another "Lil Bit" of magic sooner than we think.