Nelly’s longtime group, the St. Lunatics, are officially gearing up for a major return, with plans to release new music in 2026 — and they’re getting a big assist from one of hip-hop’s most in-demand producers, Metro Boomin.
The announcement was made during Nelly’s 2025 Black and White Ball on Sunday, December 14. While addressing guests at the annual charity event, the St. Louis native revealed that Metro Boomin, who also hails from the city, will serve as executive producer on the group’s upcoming album. The project will be the St. Lunatics’ first release together in 25 years.
“St. Lunatics, 2026, executive produced by Metro Boomin,” Nelly told the crowd. “St. Louis, we in the building. We turning up in 2026.”
Although the album has not yet been given a title, it will act as the long-awaited follow-up to the group’s 2001 debut, Free City. That release came shortly after Nelly’s breakout solo success with Country Grammar, which helped push the St. Lunatics into the mainstream.
The new project also follows the group’s surprise reunion at the 2024 American Music Awards last October. During the performance, Nelly was joined by Murphy Lee, Spud City, Kyjuan, and Slo Down as they ran through fan favorites such as “Air Force Ones,” “Ride Wit Me,” and “Hot In Herre.”
Notably absent from that reunion was fellow member Ali, whose absence was widely linked to a legal dispute with Nelly earlier that year. Ali had filed a lawsuit claiming that he and other members of the group were still owed royalties for their contributions to Country Grammar. The lawsuit sought $50 million in damages and alleged that the album’s credits minimized the group’s role, resulting in lost royalties.
However, Ali later withdrew the case, and the presiding judge ruled that the attorneys involved should be sanctioned for pursuing claims without legal merit.
At this time, it remains unclear whether Nelly and Ali have resolved their differences or if Ali will take part in the upcoming St. Lunatics album.
