Nelly Brings Out Bobby Brown On New Season Of ‘Real Husbands Of Hollywood’

Nelly is a busy man. Not only is the rapper gearing up for the release of his seventh studio album, M.O. (September 30), but he’s also starring in the second season of BET’s Real Husbands Of Hollywood, which premieres after the Hip-Hop Awards on October 15.

The scripted comedy series, known as the “fakest reality show on television,” takes a spoof on reality TV, a genre that has dominated American television over the past several years. Nelly joins show creator Kevin Hart, Duane Martin, Boris Kodjoe, Robin Thicke, Nick Cannon and J.B. Smoove in what has quickly won over audiences with its hilariousness. This season the fun continues.

Nelly chatted with XXL to talk more about his involvement with the show and some other projects he has in the works. Take a look.

XXL: How does it feel to be a part of Real Husbands Of Hollywood for a second season?
Nelly: It’s a dope experience. It’s a good thing to be able to work with people who you actually enjoy being around. It’s one of those things where you look forward to going to work every day.

What can viewers expect from this season?
It only gets better. I think after the first season, everybody is kind of coming into their own. People will get a chance to understand the characters a little more. From seeing how the first season progressed to where we are now, I think they get a chance to see what it is they want to do.

Considering the cast members essentially play exaggerated versions of themselves, as an actor, is it easier, as opposed to playing a completely different character?
I think it’s a lot easier because we have the freedom to just be ourselves in a sense. We get a chance to make fun of ourselves. It’s the fakest reality show on television. It’s not real, obviously. It’s one of those things where everyone gets a chance to embellish a character more and more. The script is basically how you feel.

Do you have a lot of creative control over your script?
We all do. We don’t really have lines, we kind of have outlines. It’s kind of a guide like, "We want this to kind of sway this way." Kevin is so hands-on and encourages everybody to add input, and I think that’s what makes the show work; the fact that it’s not just one person’s brainchild. It’s a combination, and no one is trying to step on anybody. Everybody wants the shit to be successful.

Do you have any favorite guest appearances this season?
We get the King, Bobby Brown, on this season, which is real dope.

Did you think RHOH would become as successful as it is?
Yes, I’m not gonna front. I was a part of the very first one back when Kevin first hosted the BET Awards. Kevin called me, and we were talking about the idea, and I was like, "This shit is dope." Kevin and I are real close and shit, and we were just talking out the blue and was like, "What about if this shit was a series?" Once Kevin got it together, he called me and asked if I would be a part of it, and of course being a friend I said yeah. Sometimes you kind of know when you’re working on something—because there was nothing like it on television. We knew we could take it anywhere we wanted to take it.

Did the show make you and the rest of the cast more tight in friendship?
I knew everybody. Nick and I were cool. Me and Kevin are probably the closest. I got a chance to kick it with Duane Martin, Smoove and Boris. We all became pretty cool. Everybody gets along, and I think that’s what makes the show work.

What made you decide to name your new album M.O., and what’s something different fans can expect from you musically compared to your last album, 5.0?
It’s just me being me. A lot of my family and close friends know me, and if you know me you call me Mo. It’s just me being me at all times and keeping a Midwest state of mind. It’s three years later. Everything is different. Music changes so drastically now, and you think about a three-year change, in that aspect you want to try to reinvent yourself. I feel like if I’m not bringing nothing new to the table then it’s not really worth coming out. That’s the Nelly since day one. Since my very first album I was bringing something new to the table.

We have “Rick James” out right now featuring T.I. and produced by Pharrell. I promise you this album is something that you never heard in your life. That and “I.D.G.A.F.” and other songs are the type of vibe we tried to do with this whole project. I’m excited for people to hear certain joints like “Headphones,” featuring Nelly Furtado. Obviously I have a bunch of collaborations on there, but I think the collaborations work. Once you hear it, it just turns out that I wound up with these people on the songs. All of the songs are definitely Nelly. It’s a well-balanced album.

Any other films and projects you’re working on that we should be looking out for?
I finished up a new movie with Sylvester Stallone called Reach Me, which should be out the top of next year. Get a chance to check out my new school called ex’treme Institute, which is based in St. Louis, where we teach kids how to be producers, engineers, graphic designers, etc., for an affordable price. It’s like a trade school where they can do it at their own leisure without having to go to a four-year college and spend $50,000-$70,000.—Gerren Keith Gaynor (@MRGERRENALIST)