Ananova:

Nelly has compared the troubles of Amy Winehouse to those of Michael Jackson.

St Louis rapper Nelly, real-name Cornell Haynes Jr, also suggested the singer's troubles could be equated with those of Jimi Hendrix.

He told Myspace: "[Her] music is what it is, because she goes through what she goes through."

He explained: "You look at Jimi Hendrix, you look at Michael Jackson, these are the greats, this is what happens."

Nelly's new album, Brass Knuckles is currently scheduled for release September 15.