More than two decades after the St. Lunatics last released a studio album together, Nelly is signaling that a new chapter may finally be on the way, and this time, he’s bringing Metro Boomin into the fold.

Over the weekend, the St. Louis rap icon revealed plans for a forthcoming St. Lunatics project while attending the Black and White Ball in his hometown. 

In a clip circulating from the event, Nelly shared the news directly with the crowd.

“St. Lunatics 2026 executive produced by Metro Boomin,” he announced. 

“St. Louis, we in the building. We turning up 2026 one time.”

The announcement marks the most concrete update yet surrounding a potential reunion from the legendary Midwest collective, whose legacy has loomed large in hip-hop despite a relatively brief discography. 

The group’s only album, “Free City,” arrived in 2001 and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, eventually earning platinum certification from the RIAA. 

It also topped Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, cementing the St. Lunatics as a defining force of their era.

Formed in St. Louis in the early 1990s, the group’s lineup included Nelly, Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, and City Spud. 

Slo’Down was formerly affiliated with the crew, though his tenure and role have long been the subject of dispute. 

As of now, it remains unclear which members will participate in the newly announced project.

While the collective gained early traction with tracks like “Gimme What U Got” in the late ’90s, the group didn’t release a full-length album until after Nelly’s breakout solo success with “Country Grammar.” 

“Free City,” named in reference to City Spud, who was incarcerated at the time of its release, arrived during the height of the “Air Force Ones” rapper’s rise and was backed by Universal Records. 

The project’s success further solidified the group’s place in hip-hop history, even as internal tensions quietly simmered behind the scenes.

Over the years, however, differing accounts of the St. Lunatics’ formation and internal dynamics have surfaced publicly. 

Ali, one of the group’s founding members, previously alleged that he was sidelined and unfairly treated as Nelly’s solo career accelerated, according to a report by Complex, which broke down the feud.

In a lengthy social media post, Ali claimed he helped form the group in 1993 and played a key role in teaching its members the fundamentals of songwriting and structure.

Ali also asserted that he had to advocate for Nelly’s inclusion on “Gimme What U Got,” saying the label initially resisted the idea. 

According to his account, he later declined a solo deal of his own to prioritize the group, only for the “Ride With Me” rapper to accept a similar opportunity in 1999. 

Ali further alleged that he assisted with writing during that period but received no credit.

Nelly has consistently pushed back on that version of events.

During an appearance on the St. Louis-based show “Wat Up Doe,” the father of five disputed Ali’s claims and offered a different perspective on the group’s origins, according to a report by Complex. 

According to the reality star, the core members of the St. Lunatics from day one were himself, Kyjuan, and City Spud, who were all friends who attended school together long before fame entered the picture.

“When we first started the Lunatics, Ali was not in this group,” the “Body On Me” rapper said during the interview, asserting that Ali initially served in a managerial capacity rather than as a performing member.

He also challenged Ali’s account of “Gimme What U Got,” claiming that he was the last to sign contracts related to the group and felt pressure to move forward without leverage. 

Nelly acknowledged that his decision to pursue a more solo-focused path created tension within the group, conceding that it “did not sit well with everybody.”