Nelly has been sued by his former group the St. Lunatics over what they claim is uncredited work on his Country Grammar album.
The group, consisting of Ali Jones (Ali), Torhi Harper (Murphy Lee), Robert Kyjuan (Kyjuan) and Nelly’s brother Lavell Webb (City Spud), filed the copyright infringement suit against Nelly on Wednesday (September 18).
The claim, which was made in New York Federal Court, asserts that the superstar didn’t credit them for their work on his 2000 album.
The claim revolves around their publishing and writing on the album.
This isn’t the first time St. Lunatics have spoken out against Nelly’s alleged impropriety regarding their artistic contributions to their work.
In 2023, Ali vowed he’d never perform with Nelly ever again because of money he owed the band.
Ali Jones sat down with VladTV for an interview in August of that year and opened up about Nelly allegedly going for months at a time without paying him what he was owed.
“I’ll say like it could be $90,000 or $70,000,” he estimated. “When that conversation happens I’ll get a check. It’ll be $13,000. Now you’ll be fucked up now because what is this $13,000 for? You owe me $91,000.”
He concluded: “What did you pay me for? At the end of it, it’s gonna be $66,000 because he’s far behind on the payments.”
The St. Louis native blasted Nelly for the lack of communication on his end and then blamed an outsider for trying to divide Nelly from the group.
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Ali went on to declare that he’s “never” going to reunite with Nelly or hit the stage to perform with him again in the future.
“A tiger ain’t never gon’ change his stripes,” he said. “I watched it for 20 years and I’m the butt of the joke because it took me 20 years to realize it. I could put a never, ever behind it will I ever hit the stage or do anything with him.”
He added: “He has no real raw good intentions for others. Not for us and we’ve all sat together and searched hard to try to find a time that didn’t benefit him. He got $50 million, I’m happy for him. That’s what he wants. He wants a billion.”
The $50 million Ali was referencing is the reported figure Nelly was paid for selling half of his music catalog back in June. The deal included eight albums spanning a string of hits, a lot of which played a crucial role in elevating 21st-century Hip Hop and R&B.
Nelly is facing a lawsuit from his former group, the St. Lunatics, over allegations of uncredited work on his Country Grammar album. The group, comprised of Ali Jones (Ali), Torhi Harper (Murphy Lee), Robert Kyjuan (Kyjuan), and Nelly’s brother Lavell Webb (City Spud), filed a copyright infringement suit against Nelly in New York Federal Court. The claim revolves around the lack of credit given to the group for their contributions to Nelly’s 2000 album.
History of Dispute
This is not the first time the St. Lunatics have raised concerns about Nelly’s treatment of their artistic contributions. In 2023, Ali publicly stated that he would never perform with Nelly again due to unpaid debts owed to the band. In an interview with VladTV, Ali revealed that Nelly had failed to pay him for months, despite owing him significant amounts of money.
Financial Dispute
Ali recounted instances where Nelly would promise to pay him large sums, only to receive significantly less than what was owed. This lack of payment and communication led Ali to sever ties with Nelly and vow never to reunite or perform with him in the future.
Ali’s Stance
Ali expressed his disappointment in Nelly’s actions, stating that he had observed Nelly’s behavior for 20 years and realized that Nelly’s intentions were not genuine. Despite Nelly’s success and financial gains, Ali believed that Nelly lacked integrity and genuine concern for others.
Nelly’s Financial Deal
Ali referenced a reported $50 million deal that Nelly had made by selling half of his music catalog in June. This deal included eight albums that had played a significant role in shaping 21st-century Hip Hop and R&B. Despite Nelly’s financial success, Ali remained steadfast in his decision to distance himself from Nelly.
Conclusion
The ongoing dispute between Nelly and the St. Lunatics highlights the complexities of artistic collaborations and financial agreements within the music industry. It serves as a reminder of the importance of crediting and compensating all parties involved in the creation of music.
FAQs
Q: What is the basis of the St. Lunatics’ lawsuit against Nelly?
A: The St. Lunatics claim that Nelly failed to credit them for their work on his Country Grammar album, leading to a copyright infringement suit.
Q: Why did Ali vow never to perform with Nelly again?
A: Ali cited unpaid debts and lack of communication from Nelly as the reasons behind his decision to sever ties with the artist.
Q: What was the reported financial deal that Nelly made in June?
A: Nelly reportedly sold half of his music catalog for $50 million, including eight albums that had a significant impact on Hip Hop and R&B.
Credit: hiphopdx.com
