Nelly Hit With Copyright Lawsuit By Childhood Friends And Former Bandmates The St Lunatics; Accused Of Cutting Them Out Of Royalty Payments!

(PHOTO CREDIT: What Up Doe Radio )

Noir Nation, Nelly is facing a new lawsuit regarding his chart-topping debut album ‘Country Grammar’ as his childhood friends and former bandmates accuse him of failing to properly compensate them for their contributions!

According to Billboard, a complaint was filed Wednesday (September 18th ) afternoon in Manhattan federal court that accuses Nelly of repeated manipulation. St Lunatics members Ali (Ali Jones), Murphy Lee (Tohri Harper), Kyjuan (Robert Kyjuan) and City Spud (Lavell Webb). Slo Down (Corey Edwards), and another former group member have issued claims that Nelly led them to believe that they would be paid for their work on his early 2000s album.

“Every time plaintiffs confronted defendant Haynes [he] would assure them as ‘friends’ he would never prevent them from receiving the financial success they were entitled to,” the lawsuit reads.

“Unfortunately, plaintiffs, reasonably believing that their friend and former band member would never steal credit for writing the original compositions, did not initially pursue any legal remedies.”

Nelly, Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, and City Spud became friends as teenagers in high school, together they created The St Lunatics.

The group made their official debut in the late 1990s with the release of their hit single “Gimme What U Got”, and their debut album Free City which was released a year after Nelly’s Country Grammar.

According to court documents obtained by the outlet members of the group are listed as co-writers in the public credits a part of Nelly’s debut album.

Within the filed complaint, St Lunatics members claim that they were involved in the production of more songs than they have been credited for including “Steal the Show,” “Thicky Thick Girl,” “Batter Up,” and “Wrap Sumden” including the title track “Country Grammar,” which only credits Nelly and producer Jason Epperson.

Court records detail claims that Nelly, “privately and publicly acknowledged that plaintiffs were the lyric writers” and “promised to ensure that plaintiffs received writing and publishing credit.” However, St Lunatics members state they “discovered that defendant Haynes had been lying to them the entire time.”

“Despite repeatedly promising plaintiffs that they would receive full recognition and credit… it eventually became clear that defendant Haynes had no intention of providing the plaintiffs with any such credit or recognition,” reads a statement from the group’s attorney.