Nelly isn’t holding back as he fires back at his former St. Lunatics bandmate Ali, who recently filed a $50 million lawsuit against him for alleged unpaid royalties. According to newly obtained legal documents, Nelly’s legal team has slammed the lawsuit as baseless and overdue, citing copyright laws that limit such claims to a three-year window.
In the filing, Nelly’s attorneys pointed to a 2021 letter in which they already rejected Ali’s ownership claims. They argue that this rejection puts the case outside the statute of limitations and accuse Ali of acting in bad faith by conveniently leaving out the letter in his lawsuit.
“Plaintiff’s counsel and Plaintiff have engaged in sanctionable conduct by omitting the dates of the express repudiation,” Nelly’s legal team wrote. They’re now seeking sanctions against Ali and his legal team, as well as reimbursement for legal fees, calling the case “objectively frivolous.”
Ali claims he is owed royalties for contributions made to Nelly’s chart-smashing Country Grammaralbum. He’s also alleging copyright infringement and unjust enrichment. However, Nelly’s camp refutes these claims, stating that co-owners of a copyright cannot legally sue one another for infringement. Additionally, they argue that the claim of unjust enrichment is preempted by federal copyright law.
What’s even more telling is that Ali’s fellow St. Lunatics members—Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, and City Spud—have distanced themselves from the lawsuit. After initially being included, they not only performed alongside Nelly at the 2024 American Music Awards but also formally withdrew their names from the case.
The lawsuit alleges that Nelly “manipulated” the St. Lunatics into believing they were being fairly compensated for their work on Country Grammar, only for the truth to allegedly come out years later. However, Nelly’s team isn’t buying it, calling out the suit for lacking both merit and timeliness.
With Ali standing alone in this legal battle, it’s clear Nelly and his team are ready to fight back with full force, shutting down what they see as an opportunistic grab for cash. As the legal dust settles, one thing is certain—this battle won’t end quietly.
