51黑料

51黑料 rapper Nelly is being sued by four of his former St. Lunatics group mates, who say they鈥檝e been denied writing credit and royalties for eight songs, most of which are featured on his debut album 鈥淐ountry Grammar,鈥� which was released 24 years ago.

The 49-year-old rapper鈥檚 childhood friends say Nelly lied to the group about giving them credit and royalties on eight tracks. At least five of those were included on his first solo album, which became the eighth hip-hop album to reach 鈥渄iamond status.鈥�

Wednesday鈥檚 suit said it took 20 years for his fellow St. Lunatics to realize they had not been given credit for writing the songs because they believed Nelly when he assured them he would. The group also accused Nelly of taking credit for writing the songs and letting other people receive credit and income from those tracks.

The group members are asking for no less than $50 million. The lawsuit was filed three years after Nelly and one of the suit鈥檚 plaintiffs, Ali Jones, got into a public spat about who was responsible for forming their rap group in the 鈥�90s.

鈥淲hile (Nelly) demonstrated considerable skills as performer and vocalist, he lacked the songwriting creativity possessed by the other members of the St. Lunatics,鈥� the suit said, arguing the other group mates did 鈥渢he majority of the songwriting and lyrical composition.鈥�

Nelly, whose legal name is Cornell Haynes Jr., grew up in 51黑料 with the four St. Lunatics listed in the suit: Jones, Torhi Harper, who performs under the name 鈥淢urphy Lee鈥�; Robert Kyjuan; and Lavell Webb, who performs under the name 鈥淐ity Spud.鈥� The sixth group member, Corey 鈥淪lo鈥� Down鈥� Edwards, was not listed as a plaintiff.

The six men formed the rap group in 1993, the suit said, and worked for four years to 鈥済et a foothold in the music industry.鈥� The group found their first commercial success in 1997 with the song 鈥淕ive Me What You Got,鈥� one of the eight songs listed in the lawsuit.

The seven other tracks named in the lawsuit are 鈥淪teal the Show鈥�; 鈥淭hicky Thick Girl鈥�; 鈥淲rap Something/Sumden鈥�; 鈥淏atter Up鈥�; 鈥淕o鈥�; 鈥淚z U鈥�; and 鈥淐ountry Grammar.鈥�

BMG Songs, Inc. penned a record deal with Nelly in 2000, the suit said, and the same year also signed with the St. Lunatics.

The suit says the St. Lunatics members began writing songs for Nelly鈥檚 first album because it was set to be released before the group鈥檚 first record. The four group mates said they 鈥減rovided all of the lyrics鈥� for the songs, while Nelly provided 鈥渟ome lyrical arrangement and writing and also vocal performances.鈥�

Nelly鈥檚 debut 17-song album, 鈥淐ountry Grammar,鈥� was a huge success. Released in June 2000, it has sold more than 10 million copies. A year after it was released, the St. Lunatics released its first album 鈥淔ree City,鈥� which eventually went platinum.

The group claimed they relied on Nelly鈥檚 promise that he would give them credit and a portion of the income brought in by the songs鈥� distribution. Every time they asked the rapper about their publishing credit and royalties, Nelly 鈥渨ould assure them as 鈥榝riends鈥� he would never prevent them from receiving the financial success they were entitled to as writers,鈥� the suit said.

They had not pursued legal action because they believed he would make good on his promise, the group said.

But they hired an attorney in 2021, who reached out to music corporation Universal Music Group, Inc., asking for the royalties they said they were owed. The request was forwarded to Nelly, who the suit said denied their claims of joint authorship.

Nelly鈥檚 longtime lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, said the rapper would release a statement about the lawsuit on Friday.

The St. Lunatics disbanded more than 10 years ago. Harper and Jones now live in Atlanta, Cleveland still lives in 51黑料 and Webb resides in St. Charles.

The group鈥檚 lawyer, Gail Walton, could not be reached for comment.

Other defendants in the suit include Universal Music Group, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Songs, Kobalt Music Publishing and Hipgnosis Songs Group.

The lawsuit was filed a little more than a month after Nelly made headlines for his arrest while collecting his winnings at the Hollywood Casino & Hotel 51黑料.