Nelly is facing a lawsuit from his former group, the St. Lunatics, over profits from his iconic debut album, Country Grammar. The album was released in 2000 and has sold over 10 million units. Instant hits such as “Ride Wit Me” and “E.I.” are some of those unforgettable stints within the album. Now, other group members, such as Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, and City Spud, claim they were never credited for several tracks on the album.
The St. Lunatics, older friends and collaborators of Nelly’s say that despite their heavy input on Country Grammar, Nelly never came through with promises of proper credit and royalty payments. The group says they were assured to share in the album’s success, only to find themselves left out as the album peaked in popularity.
The millions-of-dollar lawsuit seeks a whopping $50 million in damages, which the group says it should have earned over the years. “We were part of the creative process,” one reportedly said, making it clear that without their input regarding lyrics and sound on that album, it would not have reached the level of success it did. We helped bring those ideas to life.”
Country Grammar, released in June 2000, was an overnight sensation- a deliverance of Nelly’s irresistible hooks and the weird St. Louis sound to the masses. With such singles as “Ride Wit Me” and “E.I.,” the album ruled the charts, keeping a five-week run at the top of the Billboard 200. Mixing pop-rap with some catchy, relatable lyrics helped his fans appreciate him more, promoting him to an extreme fame rate.
Success did not come alone; it was a group effort along with the St. Lunatics. Their talent and input were major factors in the sound and success of Country Grammar. The crew members now seem frustrated as their hard work seems to go unnoticed due to his solo stardom.
Although Nelly has not commented publicly on the lawsuit, his past behavior shows that he might dispute this. He has been challenged legally, with serious allegations filed against him, and his lawyers have been hard at work trying to have those charges dismissed. This time, though, is different. The St. Lunatics aren’t simply some childhood buddies; these are artists who feel they were betrayed by someone with whom they put their trust.
The St. Lunatics were more than collaborators; they were childhood friends from St. Louis who founded the group in the early ’90s. It released its debut single, “Gimme What U Got,” in 1996. As Nelly’s solo career took off, the group came together and released their album, Free City, in 2001. Looking back, though, it’s easy to see that the success of Country Grammar was an individual accomplishment rather than a group effort.
The emotional weight of this lawsuit is palpable. The St. Lunatics members fight for more than just money; they fight for respect. They want their contributions to be acknowledged and appreciated. This case reminds us just how complex the music business is, where friendships and business will often intertwine.
