Rapper Nelly is facing a lawsuit from his former group, the St. Lunatics, who allege that they were not properly credited for their contributions to his debut album, Country Grammar.
The lawsuit, filed by Nelly’s childhood friends and former bandmates, claims copyright infringement, accusing the rapper of failing to acknowledge their work on several tracks from the album that launched his career in 2000.
According to the complaint, the St. Lunatics claim they contributed to eight songs on Country Grammar, including hits like “Country Grammar,” “Batter Up,” and “Steal the Show.”
The album reached #7 on the Billboard charts and catapulted Nelly into stardom, selling millions of copies worldwide.
The lawsuit further alleges that Nelly and the St. Lunatics had been collaborating on music since the late 1990s, with some of the tracks from their sessions making it onto Country Grammar.
The dispute began in 2020 when fellow St. Lunatic member Willie Woods filed a lawsuit, alleging that he was not credited for his work on Nelly’s hit single “Ride Wit Me.”
After learning of Woods’ case, the remaining members of the St. Lunatics began exploring their legal options, believing they too were excluded from receiving proper credit.
In their lawsuit, the group alleges that Nelly and his legal representation provided them with excuses and delays when they previously sought recognition for their contributions.
The St. Lunatics now assert that Nelly never intended to credit them for their work.
This lawsuit highlights long-standing tensions between Nelly and the St. Lunatics over intellectual property rights and proper recognition in the music industry.
