51ºÚÁÏ

Just one year after releasing his debut album “Country Grammar,� Nelly re-emerged with the St. Lunatics, a cadre of young, rap voices hailing from the Gateway to the West.

After meeting Ali Jones through their older cousin T-Luv, brothers Kyjuan and Murphy Lee, along with original members Nelly, City Spud and Goldee, formed the St. Lunatics in the mid-1990s.

By the time they released their debut single "Gimme What U Got" in 1996, Goldee had left the group and Ali transitioned from co-manager to groupmate. After booking their first performance, Slo Down joined the rap cadre as a the group's "silent hype man," who didn't rap but wanted to add value to the Lunatics growing movement.

The St. Lunatics ushered in a new generation of hip-hop groups at the turn of the century that would be followed by future rap ensembles like the Migos and Rae Sremmurd. Their debut album, “Free City,� debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Within a month, it was certified platinum, catapulting the group into super stardom and making them hometown heroes in STL fitted caps.

“That's one of my favorite albums that I still bump till this day,� Murphy Lee says.

Now, five of the six St. Lunatics are back on the road. They’ve spent the spring and summer touring internationally with Nelly on his “Where the Party at Tour,â€� making stops in the U.K., New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Joining them are fellow 51ºÚÁÏ rap legends J-Kwon and Chingy, as well as special guest appearances from Ja Rule and Eve. The next leg of the tour is stateside, but there is no concert planned for 51ºÚÁÏ.

As the hip-hop icons hit the stage, fans globally are saying that they're seeing more St. Lunatics perform together than they’ve seen in the last decade.

“I understand why people say it because they haven’t seen it, so it's new,� Kyjuan says. But Kyjuan and Murphy Lee say the touring members began making plans to reunite five years ago.

As they celebrate the 25th anniversary of “Country Grammar,� with Kyjuan, Murphy Lee, Slo Down and Ali share more about who they are beyond the St. Lunatics.

Kyjuan and Murphy Lee relish in the nostalgia of being back on the road.

With five tour buses for "Where the Party At," the pair are certain their bus has the best vibes. They’ve shared unreleased music with J-Kwon and Chingy. Murphy Lee rediscovered how funny City Spud is. And they've shared creative ideas while reflecting on where they’d come from in their journeys.

The success of the tour has surprised even them.

“This sh** has been selling out everywhere all around the world,� Lee says. “It's been crazy.�

Kyjuan and Murphy Lee share multiple business ventures in comedy, film and music. The brothers launched their comedy event series Smokes and Jokes in 2023, creating a way for comedy lovers to enjoy the newest voices in the industry in a cannabis-friendly environment. So far, the brothers have hosted shows in 51ºÚÁÏ, Kansas City and Houston.

“We just really want to put out people who work hard, and we see they’re funny,� Kyjuan says. “So, we’re passing it on because we want everybody else to see that they’re funny.�

The series has evolved from live stand-up performances to a TV show. They've filmed seven episodes of "Who Says 51ºÚÁÏ Ain’t Funny?â€� with hopes of releasing them on a streaming platform, creating another outlet for local comedians to build new audiences.

They also have a spinoff, Smoke and Poetry, for spoken word artists; a bowling alley in the works in 51ºÚÁÏ; and individual endeavors geared towards leading by example in the community and in the music industry.

Both brothers have been vegan for over two decades. Murphy Lee has hosted vegan kickbacks (pop-up style vegan events), over the past few years in Atlanta and 51ºÚÁÏ with his wife Seviin Li, introducing communities to vegan dining and healthy food options. They’re hosting more kickbacks throughout 2025, including a Thanksgiving-themed feast in 51ºÚÁÏ.

Kyjuan says he’s focused on continuing to pour into the next generation of creatives. He recently launched his podcast series, “Two Hits and a Pass,â€� where he sits down with 51ºÚÁÏ-based artists to listen to two of their songs and discuss them afterwards. But his real passion lies in working on film projects, including one on decision-making skills for young adults that also showcases other jobs in entertainment beyond being an artist.

Kyjuan wants to teach creatives about important industry roles that aren't always in the spotlight.

“You don’t have to be in front to be in front,� Kyjuan says. “It takes 20 people to be (the artist) you think you like.�

Corey Edwards, better known by his stage name Slo Down, realized he didn't have to be in the spotlight to shine when he first joined the St. Lunatics. Inspired by LL Cool J's hype man, E Love, and Flava Flav, Edwards became the official group mascot wearing a memorable, white half mask on his face.

He says being back on tour with the St. Lunatics has been "nothing but love." They have a lot in common with one another and the memories flood back as they share jokes, knowledgeable dialogue and the stage again.

"I'm an only child so it was a good thing for me to be back around my brothers," Edwards says.

Edwards has remained family oriented throughout his life. Although he's on the road, he enjoys being a father and grandfather who finds joy in watching his 7-year-old grandson play baseball. Aiming to help other families, Edwards and his fiancé are preparing to launch a credit restoration and housing placement program that caters to low-income individuals and those experiencing financial hardships.

"We're just trying to figure out a way to help as many people within our reach," he says.

One St. Lunatic declined to speak for this story, City Spud. The title of that first hit album “Free City� was inspired by hopes of him being free from incarceration. City Spud was the missing link when the St. Lunatics first emerged on the mainstream.

As the group prepared to sign a record deal, City Spud was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and first-degree assault. He served eight years while the St. Lunatics continued making music.

City Spud spoke with the 51ºÚÁÏ American following his 2008 release about his excitement to be back on tour with the St. Lunatics.

“To be out performing with my crew again and being around them every day is going to be lovely, because now you’re getting the complete package,� he said. Now, he's on tour with them again for the “Where the Party at Tour.�

When he’s not on the road, City Spud is a father and husband who celebrated his 12th wedding anniversary in April. He’s also still writing music and producing beats while also developing and supporting new artists like female rapper D’Nerro.

Missing from the tour is Ali.

Instead of rocking the stage with his groupmates, Ali says he’s focused on his family life. He now resides in Atlanta, relocating there with his wife and children after his father died in 2019. After years of working in entertainment, Ali has found real wealth in his family. He has four children. His youngest, Wisdom, just started her senior year of high school.

“I know what the wealth is, and it's not in these cars that I got,� Ali says. “It's not any of this jewelry. I have a family that I love.�

The 53-year-old rapper and entrepreneur had a public fallout with Nelly in 2021 after accusing him of having “hustled� the group. In 2024, social media went into a frenzy when news broke that the St. Lunatics were suing Nelly for unpaid royalties on his “Country Grammar� album. Kyjuan, Murphy Lee and City Spud dropped out of the case shortly after the filing (Slo Down was never part of it.), appearing alongside Nelly in his AMA performance.

Ali dropped the case in April 2025. Still, he says his days of performing with the St. Lunatics are over for now as he centers himself around a life at home.

“I don't want to leave this,� he says. “I don't want to go back on the road.�

Instead, he spends his time focusing on his businesses. He owns a parking lot in Atlanta, bringing in profits in a high-traffic location. In January, Ali launched “The Grey Face Podcast with Poppa Leezy� fueled by a slew of comedic Instagram reels that have built him a steadily growing online audience. For Ali, life’s happiness centers around having fun and embracing simplicity.

“I’ve really found peace, and I know what peace is,� he says. “I understand that peace is without chaos.�

A lot has changed since the St. Lunatics released their debut single “Gimme What U Got� in 1996. Original member Goldee died a few years back. And Ali says he knows he’s not on good terms with some of his groupmates as he watches them tour internationally.

“I love them, but I am the oldest, and I carry a lot of weight,� he says.

Still, Ali recognizes that the St. Lunatics were always more than friends or a rap group. They are brothers, and brotherhood “last longer than friendships.�

The legacy of the St. Lunatics remains solid, despite business disagreements and personal issues, through the music that’ll live on forever.

“We knew that whatever we put out, it was going to come back,� he says. “It’s Murphy's law.�