When the new show The Next premieres on The CW in August, Nelly will have the chance to officially share his love of music with the television viewing public. But when he stopped by 102 JAMZ recently to talk about the new show, he took a moment to offer up his love for the music of chart-topping female songstress Adele.

“The type of success that she’s having this past year, I mean, Adele is killing it,” Nelly said when asked if there was an artist that he was into that might be a surprise to his fans.

Referring to her Grammy-winning 21, Nelly added, “I think if you don’t like Adele’s album, I don’t think you like music. I just think you like a certain music. If you truly say you’re a music fan, you have to love her album…and that’s just it.”

CHECK OUT PHOTOS OF NELLY AT 102 JAMZ

Adele and 21 definitely have their fans. It was the #1 album of 2011 selling 5.82 million copies. So far in 2012, the album has sold an additional 3.7 million copies, making it a clear front-runner for the best-selling album for the second consecutive year.

There is currently no official release date for Nelly’s seventh album, M.O., but it is expected to be released later this year. Maybe he’ll be able to get some nice reciprocal love from Adele when the album is released.