St. Lunatics Members Ask to Be Removed from Nelly Case and Say They Never Authorized Lawsuit

Mar. 15, 2025

Nelly and The St. Lunatics attend the 15th Annual Soul Train Awards.Photo:Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty

After their historic reunion at the American Music Awards 50th Anniversary celebration this past Sunday, the St. Lunatics say they never authorizedthe lawsuitagainstNellythat alleges he denied them songwriting credits.

All three men asking to be removed from the suit were the members who joined Nelly onstage at theAMAspre-taped performance.

Nelly at the ACM Honors in Nashville in August 2023.Jason Kempin/Getty

Jason Kempin/Getty

Due to three of the four initially named members withdrawing their names, the suit is now between Ali (né Ali Jones) and Nelly (born Cornell Haynes).

Childhood friends Nelly, Ali, Murphy Lee (né Torhi Harper), Kyjuan (né Robert Kyjuan Cleveland) and Webb formed St. Lunatics in 1993. The suit alleges that between 1993-1997, the plaintiffs did most of the songwriting, while Nelly performed. Due to their success, both the group and Nelly signed deals with Universal.

Nelly and the St. Lunatics at a New York concert.Djamilla Rosa Cochran/WireImage

Djamilla Rosa Cochran/WireImage

Because of the alleged lack of credit, the complaint said they “have been completely deprived, and continue to be deprived, of any income, monies, royalties or other form of remuneration from the distribution, use, commercialization, sale, public performance or other exploitation of the [songs] via exploitation of [Country Grammar].”

The complaint sought at least $50 million in addition to attorney fees.

Nelly acknowledged the lawsuit In anInstagram postahead of their AMA performance, writing, “STL INVADES @amas …!!! An anyone who has a problem with that ‘Sue’ me…!!!”

source: people.com