In a heartwarming celebration of hometown pride, the city of St. Louis has honored hip-hop superstar Nelly and his crew, the St. Lunatics, by awarding them the key to the city. This prestigious accolade was presented to the group at Nelly's annual Black & White Ball on Sunday, December 15th.
The event, which brought out a star-studded crowd including Nelly's wife Ashanti, fellow St. Louisans J-Kwon and Metro Boomin, as well as industry heavyweights like Ne-Yo, Jermaine Dupri, Bow Wow, and producer Bryan-Michael Cox, served as the backdrop for this momentous occasion.
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones took the stage to deliver the honor, praising Nelly's immense contributions to putting the city on the map. "You've had an amazing year and an amazing career. I think we can all agree in this room that Nelly has put St. Louis on the map," she said. "And because of that, he's been awarded time and time and time again by so many national organizations – but we want to give him his flowers here. And so it is my honor to present you with a key to the city. We wanna thank you for all that you to do for the community."
The event also served a greater purpose, as it benefited the Make-A-Wish Foundation and awarded multiple scholarships to Harris-Stowe State University. Nelly also took the time to honor Make-A-Wish's Max Del Rosario, a young boy battling Hodgkin's lymphoma.
This honor comes on the heels of a recent legal dispute between Nelly and his St. Lunatics crew. Earlier this fall, a lawsuit was filed by the group, alleging that Nelly had withheld royalties for their contributions to his blockbuster debut album, Country Grammar. However, three members of the St. Lunatics - Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, and City Spud - later withdrew their names from the lawsuit, leaving only Ali to continue the legal battle.
Despite the ongoing dispute, the city of St. Louis has chosen to celebrate the legacy and impact that Nelly and the St. Lunatics have had on the community. This key to the city serves as a testament to their enduring influence and the pride their hometown has in their success.
As Nelly and the St. Lunatics continue to navigate the ups and downs of the music industry, this recognition from their beloved St. Louis serves as a heartwarming reminder of the power of community and the lasting impact of hometown heroes.
Yorumlar