You’re stuck at a red light. You casually glance over at the cars around you to curb your boredom while yet another obnoxious ad comes on the radio. You stop, eyes fixated to the car on your right. A muted explosion of puckered eyebrows, Usher-style head bopping, and a silent but passionate expression of words; the driver is rocking out in a moment of uninhibited pleasure - alone and in the zone. They’re starring in their own fantasy music video and you’re their only (unintended) audience.

You get that warm fuzzy feeling and smile. You want to look away because you know that if they notice what’s happened, their dignity will decrease at lighting pace until the light turns green – but you can’t. You consider laughing, but you don’t - you know that could just as easily been you.

I forecast that dignity shattering, heart-warming incidences like this will only become more prevalent once multi award-winning hip hop artist Nelly’s new single "Just A Dream" ravages the commercial airwaves.

I’m no hip-hop connoisseur, but let’s not beat around the proverbial bush - this song is awesome. It straddles the fence between hip-hop and pop more than his previous work, but Nelly has clearly evolved from the party anthems to give us something with a bit more heart. It’s not particularly deep or complex, but makes up for this with sweet lyrics, swirling textures and a killer melody. Girls will love it, and guys will pretend they don’t even know it exists. 

For this little beauty I think we can forgive Nelly for his 2008 "Brass Knuckles" flop.  

So get ready to unleash your inner teenage hip-hop/pop sensibilities (I know they’re in there)...  

Nelly is back. 

Review Score: 7.5/10