Popular Rapper Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes II, was arrested early this morning on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, in St. Louis. The beloved artist who has won thousands of hearts through his catchy tracks and exciting performances has now been involved in grave charges.
Having been stopped for routine traffic at around 4:45 a.m. for identity verification, he was to be stopped by the Missouri Gaming Commission. This routine stop became a little more interesting when it was discovered that Nelly had an outstanding warrant for failure to acquire car insurance.
BREAKING: Nelly arrested in St. Louis for ecstasy possession and no insurance. pic.twitter.com/q34AswC5FI
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) August 7, 2024
Things only got worse when the officers searched Nelly’s car and found some ecstasy pills. This meant more count of charges for possession of drugs. Nelly was then driven to the Maryland Heights Police Department and released shortly after. In addition to the drug possession charge, Nelly was also arrested on a warrant that had been outstanding since 2018, stemming from a traffic violation for no insurance.
This incident follows his tour earlier this year with Janet Jackson, where he was an opening act for her ninth concert tour. The summer leg of Jackson’s “Together Again” tour cemented its place as the highest-selling jaunt in her career, with Nelly playing his final date on July 30 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Until now, no statement from Nelly’s camp has been released regarding the incident. Scott Rosenblum’s lawyer is unfazed and says the case will “go nowhere.” He said he would request an investigation into the officer’s conduct during the arrest. Nelly had gone from playing at a local casino where he hit several jackpots and was likely followed afterward by the police, which could have prompted the traffic stop and background check on him.
This will not be the first time that Nelly finds himself in trouble. The rapper has been in several legal tussles over time. He was accused of sexual assault in 2017, which he denied; the case later turned into a lawsuit, and a settlement came about in 2018. He also has accumulated several traffic violations, among them a citation for not having proper proof of insurance, which accumulated to result in the current warrant. From Texas, Nelly grew up in St. Louis, where he has shown great interest in music.
He came to prominence in the early 2000s with his first album, “Country Grammar,” which included hits such as “Hot in Herre” and “Ride Wit Me.” His hip-hop style, mixed with pop, appeals to many audiences and gives him mainstream recognition. For years, he has been guesting for various artists and doing a lot of philanthropy, especially through his 4Sho4Kids Foundation, which he founded to help needy kids.
Nelly’s success did not come easy. He grew up in a rough neighborhood and experienced many things that people face daily—money trouble and problems within the family like his lady and gentleman separating. However, he directed all this energy into his music career. He mostly speaks about love, partying, and life experiences. The ability to connect with fans through great lyrics and stories to which one relates has cemented a place in many hearts for this rapper.
