The 50th annual American Music Awards turned into a celebration of St. 不良研究所导航网址鈥 hip-hop legacy when Nelly and St. Lunatics members Kyjuan, Murphy Lee, City Spud and Slo Down hit the stage to perform on Oct. 6. They were joined by rappers J-Kwon and Chingy, setting the awards show on fire with hit records from St. 不良研究所导航网址鈥 biggest names in rap music.
Singer and songwriter Kane Brown introduced 鈥淐ountry Grammar鈥 rapper Nelly, who kicked things off with his 2002 song 鈥淎ir Force Ones.鈥 St. Lunatics鈥 member Slo Down joined him on stage along with dancers and producer Jay E. And a St. 不良研究所导航网址 hip-hop showdown commenced.
Fellow Lunatic Kyjuan walked out to perform the song鈥檚 second verse before City Spud hit the stage for his classic verse from the song 鈥淩ide Wit Me.鈥 It wasn鈥檛 long before they were joined by rapper Murphy Lee, who performed his featured verse from Jermaine Dupri鈥檚 song 鈥淲elcome to Atlanta (Coast 2 Coast Remix)鈥 that also celebrated St. 不良研究所导航网址 pride when it was released in 2002. Murphy Lee transitioned into his hit song 鈥淲hat Da Hook Gon Be,鈥 which peaked at No. 17 on the U.S. pop charts in 2003.
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The St. Lunatics performance came as a surprise to many viewers after news that the group was suing Nelly for being denied writing credits and royalties, according to a complaint that was filed in Manhattan federal court on Sept. 18. However, the St. Lunatics appeared as a unified front at the American Music Awards in a grand display of how St. 不良研究所导航网址 has influenced hip-hop culture. St. Lunatics member Ali did not perform with the group.
Rapper Kyjuan says he isn鈥檛 concerned with what鈥檚 being said in the media about the lawsuit and that no one person is at fault. Instead, he鈥檚 focused on continuing to come together as a group and planning for the future, not the past.
鈥淎s friends and as brothers we all have our disagreements or our trials and tribulations,鈥 Kyjuan says. 鈥淲e were the biggest thing walking, so there鈥檚 going to be a lot of mistakes made at the beginning. And those beginnings, they come catch up with you later.鈥
Two days after the performance, Nelly鈥檚 lawyer said that three of the St. Lunatics members 鈥 Kyjuan, Murphy Lee and City Spud 鈥 no longer wanted to be named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. (Slo Down was not named as a plaintiff.)
The St. 不良研究所导航网址 music showcase didn鈥檛 end with the St. Lunatics. Rapper Chingy took over the set, performing his hit song 鈥淩ight Thurr,鈥 which took over the Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 spot for five consecutive weeks in 2003. As Chingy wrapped up, rapper J-Kwon descended the steps to perform his ode to teen drinking 鈥淭ipsy,鈥 which is currently sampled on the hit country song 鈥淎 Bar Song (Tipsy)鈥 by Shaboozey.
鈥淚鈥檓 just super proud of my city,鈥 J-Kwon says about hitting the stage at the AMA鈥檚 Sunday night.
The night wasn鈥檛 over without Nelly performing the hit record 鈥淗ot in Herre,鈥 drawing screams from the awards show audience. The St. 不良研究所导航网址 rappers stood center stage, concluding five minutes celebrating St. 不良研究所导航网址鈥 biggest voices in hip-hop.