Rosalind Early
ST. LOUIS -- Nelly's Black and White Ball brought the stars to St. Louis on Sunday for charity and a private concert, but there was also a surprise festival announcement to close out the evening.
Fans of early 2000 rap were excited when Nelly and the St. Lunatics (minus Ali) announced earlier this month they were doing their first major world tour together in 16 years. But St. Louisans noticed that the hometown rappers behind hits like "Air Force 1s" and "Country Grammar" left a St. Louis tour date off their "Where the Party At" tour.
St. Lunatic Kyjuan hinted that the group was planning something special for its hometown, writing on social media: "How y'all gone do a tour, got Murph, KyJuan, Slo, Chingy...but you not coming to St. Louis is what ya about say huh...stay tuned."
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While a tour date wasn't announced, Nelly did say that he plans to bring a festival to St. Louis in partnership with fellow native son Metro Boomin, the red-hot record producer behind the albums with Future "We Don't Trust You" and "We Still Don't Trust You."
Nelly said that it would be called the Smokin Hayride Festival 2025 and feature a blend of hip-hop and country music. Metro Boomin joined Nelly on stage for the announcement, and the two performed together. No date for the festival has been announced yet.
Metro Boomin wasn't the only star there. Ashanti, Nelly's wife, performed with him on stage, as did Jermaine Dupri, most of the St. Lunatics, Bow Wow, Blanco Brown and Plow Da Don. Before any of that though, Ne-Yo performed a set featuring songs like "Miss Independent" and "So Sick," as well as songs he wrote for others like Beyonce's "To the Left."
Nelly has been throwing his Black and White Ball for 12 years, though it took a hiatus from 2013 until 2023. This year, the event raised funds for Make-A-Wish Foundation and Harris-Stowe State University. At the ball, Nelly granted the wish of Max DelRoasario, a 14-year-old whose cancer recently went into remission. The teen wanted a new home theater system, and accepted the funds from Nelly with his family. Harris-Stowe State University sophomore Teanna Hoye was also presented with a full-ride scholarship and a new laptop.
Mayor Tishaura O. Jones presented Nelly and the St. Lunatics (Kyjuan, Murphy Lee, Slo'Down and City Spud) with keys to the city. Nelly mentioned the festival then, but gave details later in the night when he and Metro Boomin took the stage together.
The event also featured local sports stars Jordan Binnington and Orlando Pace. Binnington, the Blues goaltender, was on the Stanley cup-winning Blues team in 2019, and Pace was on the Super Bowl-winning Rams team in 2000.
Overall, the evening felt like a love letter to St. Louis, as Nelly celebrated his family, helped the community, and showed how far so many local artists have come. "He created the line: 'I'm from the Lou and I'm proud,'" one of the party organizer's said. "I should have copyrighted it!" Nelly replied with a laugh.
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