Nelly has been cleared from the $50 million lawsuit that St. Lunatics member Ali filed on the group’s behalf.
According to Billboard, Ali moved to drop the legal action on Apr. 10 — but Nelly’s attorneys are asking the judge not to completely dismiss the case yet because they might counter-sue Ali for bringing a “frivolous” lawsuit.
“Plaintiff’s counsel succeeded in its frivolous campaign aimed at forcing [Nelly] to spend money defending Plaintiff’s ridiculous time-barred claim,” wrote Nelly’s legal team. “The Court is respectfully requested to retain jurisdiction and set a briefing and hearing schedule for [potential sanctions].”
Ali originally filed the lawsuit for the St. Lunatics last year, accusing Nelly of withholding royalties for the group’s contributions to his debut album, Country Grammar. Shortly after filing, St. Lunatics members Murphy Lee, City Spud and Kyjuan all withdrew from the case, saying they never approved the lawsuit.
In 2023, Ali stated on VladTV that he’d never share a stage with Nelly again because of the money he believes the group is owed. “A tiger ain’t never gonna 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 has no real, raw good intentions for others,” Ali continued. “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 $50 million, I’m happy for him. That’s what he wants. He wants a billion.”
Ali’s comments followed a 2021 post where he claimed Nelly “hustled” the group. Ali said he formed the group in 1993 and taught Nelly and the other members how to rap. When Ali was offered a solo deal, he claimed he rejected it for the group’s benefit. When Nelly’s opportunity came, he apparently didn’t do the same.
“Fast forward 1999: Ma$e Manager at the time (Cudda)…was introduced to us…and he immediately started separating the group. He wanted Nelly and City spud. They left with Cudda (went to Harlem),” he wrote. “The separation became The reality…They had left !!! We(The rest of the group) felt ‘HUSTLED’….we were *1 until, The opportunity was presented to be *2 ..they hustled us!!”
