Nelly Claps Back at St. Lunatics’ Ali, Drops “Actual Factuals” About Group’s History

Nelly is setting the record straight after St. Lunatics’ Ali accused him of abandoning the group for solo fame. The rapper wasted no time firing back, sharing his version of the story during an appearance on the St. Louis radio show What Up Doe.

Ali recently took to Instagram, claiming that he wrote some of Nelly’s biggest hits and that the rapper left the St. Lunatics behind once he got a record deal. But according to Nelly, that’s far from the truth.

Nelly Says Ali Wasn’t an Original Member of St. Lunatics

During the interview, Nelly revealed that only three people were original St. Lunatics members:

Nelly
Kyjuan
City Spud

Ali, on the other hand, wasn’t in the group from the beginning. Instead, he and two others initially partnered with St. Lunatics as managers—not artists.

“Ali was not in this group. Stop me when I’m lying,” Nelly stated.

He explained that before Ali joined, the St. Lunatics were already putting in the work—performing at talent shows, doing car washes, and building a name for themselves. According to Nelly, Ali didn’t participate in those early days, either because he thought he was too good or he simply didn’t want to perform.

“Just factuals. Actual factuals.”

How St. Lunatics Finally Got Their Break

Nelly detailed how the group gained recognition after a showcase for Jive Records. The label loved the Lunatics and wanted to hear more music. Around this time, the group was offered free studio time if they signed a deal with a local production company.

This is when Ali officially joined St. Lunatics, and together, they recorded “Gimme What Ya Got”, a track that put them on the map. However, Nelly claims that Ali made moves behind his back, pushing others to sign the contract without telling him first.

“Ali done got everybody to sign but me,” Nelly said. “My back against the wall. I ain’t got no leverage.”

Shortly after, Cudda Love, Mase’s manager, flew Nelly out to New York and encouraged him to record solo songs, a move that, according to Nelly, didn’t sit well with the rest of the group.

Nelly Claims He Fought for St. Lunatics’ Success

Despite tension within the group, Nelly insists that he never abandoned St. Lunatics. When he secured his solo deal, he negotiated a separate album deal for the group, ensuring they had their own shot at success.

However, problems arose when the Lunatics demanded more money for their contributions to Country Grammar. Nelly claims that he personally fought for them to get paid, and when the label refused, he gave them money from his own budget—which he had to pay back himself.

“I begged the label to pay them, and they got paid. But it came out of my budget.”

Nelly went on to question why Ali, who claimed to be knowledgeable about the industry, made such major mistakes. He also noted that Ali later quit the group, despite previously portraying himself as a leader.

Nelly vs. Ali – Who’s Telling the Truth?

This latest dispute between Nelly and Ali adds to their ongoing public feud over St. Lunatics’ legacy. With Nelly dropping “actual factuals,” fans are now debating who’s telling the truth.

Did Nelly really leave his group behind, or is Ali bitter about how things played out?

Drop your thoughts in the comments! 💬🔥