"E.I." is a song by American
rapperNelly. Released as the second single on October 17, 2000, from his debut album Country Grammar, it peaked at number 11 on the
UK Singles Chart and 16 on the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100. A remix of the song, called "Tip Drill", was released in 2003 along with lyrics and a music video that drew controversy for its
misogynistic themes.
Remixes
"Tip Drill", or "E.I. (Remix)"[1] is the name of a 2003 remix of the song. It appeared as the fourth track on his 2003 remix album Da Derrty Versions: The Reinvention. An alternate version featuring vocals from
Nelly's group, the
St. Lunatics, which is listed as the "Tip Drill Remix", appears as the final track on Da Derrty Versions: The Reinvention. Both versions were produced by
David Banner.[1]
The song's music video (directed by Solomite), made for the version featuring the St. Lunatics, became controversial for overtly depicting women as sexual objects.[2] It was meant to be a single but was withdrawn due to its potentially offensive content.[citation needed] Despite this, Nelly's solo version of the song received moderate airplay on
urban contemporary radio stations in the United States and peaked at number 65 on the US
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in early 2004.[3]
Features cameo appearances by
Jermaine Dupri and
David Banner.
In one interpretation of the song's meaning by
Mark Anthony Neal, the phrase tip drill is a "
ghettocolloquialism for the proverbial ugly girl with a nice body."[4]
In 2004, women's studies students at
Spelman College in
Atlanta, Georgia protested against
misogyny in rap music and "Tip Drill" specifically. The students criticized the negative portrayal and
sexual objectification of black American women in the video, which showed women in bikinis dancing and simulating various sexual acts, men throwing money on women's breasts and buttocks, and Nelly swiping a credit card between a woman's buttocks after which it starts bouncing.[5][6] Nelly's 4Sho4Kids Foundation was scheduled to hold a bone marrow drive on campus to help his sister who suffered from
leukemia: Spelman
Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance President
Moya Bailey and Leana Cabral named Nelly the "Misogynist of the Month" and the flyers they and other members placed on campus prompted the foundation to cancel the drive.[7] The president of the Student Government, Asha Jennings, said: "Nelly wants us to help his sister, but he's degrading hundreds of us."[4] According to Spelman students, Nelly's Foundation refused to hold the drive unless the university promised that students would not confront him about his song and the video.[8] The Foundation canceled the drive.
In 2008, Nelly stated that his daughter, Chanelle, had never seen the video.[9]
^E.I. (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Nelly. Fo'Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2001. MCST 40249.{{
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^E.I. (UK cassette single sleeve). Nelly. Fo'Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2001. MCSC 40249.{{
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^E.I. (European CD single liner notes). Nelly. Fo'Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2001. 158 755-2.{{
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^E.I. (Australian CD single liner notes). Nelly. Fo'Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2001. 158 756-2.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
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^Country Grammar (US CD album liner notes). Nelly. Universal Records. 2000. 012157743-2FLO3.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)