Mayfest co-chairs Katie Halpern and Mike Gebhardt announced Nelly as Dillo Day’s night headliner.
“When Mike and I were planning our vision for this year’s Dillo Day, we wanted it to be really upbeat,” Halpern said. “He has throwback appeal, but Nelly sort of appeals to everyone and he’s Grammy award-winning.”
Three-time Grammy winner Nelly is best known for his Billboard chart-topping album, Country Grammar, including its title track, “Ride Wit Me” and “Batter Up.”
“The greatest thing about him is that he’s an awesome rapper,” Gebhardt said. “But people who are not really into hip-hop or rap remember growing up with him.”
Nellyville, Nelly’s second album, was released in 2002, featuring lead singles “Hot in Herre” and “Dilemma” with Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child.
“Dillo Day is so universal,” Halpern said. “We wanted this act to reflect that.”
In comparison to previous Dillo headliners, Gebhardt views Nelly as “the best hip-hop act we’ve had.”
“We hit the mark we set,” Halpern said. “He’s universally appealing and danceable.”
According to Gebhardt, Nelly is funded in part by Northwestern’s Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Association.
Mayfest has yet to announce another act, their DJ (rumored to be Super Mash Bros.) and the student DJ, says Halpern.
“We’re most likely going to be announcing another act this Friday at the Battle of the DJs at Buffalo Wild Wings,” Gebhardt said.
Confirmed artists for Dillo 2010‘s lineup include Regina Spektor and student band Looney and the Tunes.
Bonus: Take a trip back to 2002 and refresh your memory of Nelly’s hits.
Correction: The front page news summary originally misspelled Mike Gebhardt’s surname as Gephardt. North by Northwestern regrets this error.