St. Lunatics Explained

Background:group_or_band
St. Lunatics
Origin:St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.[1]
Genre:Hip hop
Years Active:1993–2010
Past Members:

St. Lunatics were an American hip hop group formed in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1993. The group consisted of childhood friends Nelly, Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, City Spud, and Slo Down.[2] [3] [4]

Their first hit, "Gimme What U Got", gained popularity in 1996. In 2000, the group signed with Universal Records. Their debut album, Free City, was released after Nelly's solo breakthrough, achieving Platinum status in the U.S. Members of St. Lunatics pursued solo careers, and Nelly opened a music production school. An anticipated album in 2009, City Free, was never released. City Spud served a prison term for a robbery-related crime and later performed with Nelly at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

History

After graduating from high school, the band members were working day jobs in the service industry or attending college.[5] St. Lunatics' first local independent hit was "Gimme What U Got", released in 1996. In 1997, DJ Kut on the Beat FM started playing the single locally, generating interest in the group.[5] In 2000, Nelly was signed to Universal Records, followed by the rest of the group. While Nelly was working on his solo album Country Grammar, City Spud was arrested and sentenced to ten years in prison for robbery.[6] After Nelly's breakthrough success in 2000, St. Lunatics released their debut album, Free City. In 2001, the singles "Summer in the City" and "Midwest Swing" were released. Free City was certified Platinum in the United States and Gold in Canada.

In 2002, Ali issued his solo album Heavy Starch while Murphy Lee published Murphy's Law in 2003. Murphy later launched his own label, UC ME Entertainment.[7] Nelly went on to have a successful solo career and in 2011, he partnered with St. Louis-based Vatterott College to open a music production school in downtown St. Louis, called Ex'treme Institute (E.I.).[8]

In 2009, St. Lunatics were reportedly working on a new album, City Free, to be released that summer.[9] The record was later postponed until 2011. A song titled "St. Lunatics" was leaked in early March 2009,[3] along with "Get Low 2 Da Flo", which was produced by Play-N-Skillz.[4] The first official single released from the album was "Money Talks", featuring rapper Birdman.[10] The second single was "Polo". The record was never released, however.

After his release from prison,[11] City Spud issued the solo mixtape Twelve-12, in 2010.[12]

In 2023, City Spud performed "Hot in Herre" with Nelly at the 2023 Grammy Awards for the 50 Years of Hip-Hop' showcase.[13]

City Spud's legal issues

Lavell Webb, known as City Spud, was a small-time marijuana dealer as a young adult. After quitting his job at a McDonald's in St. Louis County, he had little money. Webb and a conspirator came up with the plan to pretend to sell marijuana to someone, intending to rob them instead.

On the night of April 15, 1999, during a robbery, their victim ended up getting shot five times in the back, though he survived. Webb was charged with first-degree robbery, one count of first-degree assault, and two counts of armed criminal action. Despite only being a first-time offender, he was sentenced to ten years in prison.[14]

Discography

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positionsCertificationAlbum
US
[20] 		US R&B
[21] 		AUS
[22] 		GER
NED
SWI
UK
[23]
1997"Gimme What U Got"———————Who's the Boss
2001"Midwest Swing"8841—————Free City
"Batter Up"
(featuring Nelly)		—761979317528
2010"Money Talks" (featuring Birdman)———————non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St. Lunatics Biography, Songs, & Albums . AllMusic.com . July 14, 2022.
  2. Web site: St. Lunatics feud signals an end to St. Louis' original hip-hop dynasty . February 8, 2021 . . February 8, 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210208190606/https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/music/kevin-johnson/st-lunatics-feud-signals-an-end-to-st-louis-original-hip-hop-dynasty/article_ddbaff17-c0c5-5368-aca8-5c398f07c2cb.html . February 8, 2021 .
  3. Web site: City Free St Lunatics Album . 1VIBE.NET . November 16, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111008004520/http://1vibe.net/tag/city-free-st-lunatics-album/ . October 8, 2011 .
  4. Web site: St.Lunatics- Get Low to Da Flo . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/vSjwnHBOeN8 . December 22, 2021 . live. YouTube . April 30, 2009 . November 16, 2010.
  5. Web site: Roberts . Randall . Bad Rap – St. Louis Metro News – St. Louis . Riverfront Times . August 8, 2001 . February 6, 2023.
  6. Web site: Former St. Lunatic pays state for prison room and board . St. Louis Business Journal . https://web.archive.org/web/20020531005845/https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2002/04/22/daily89.html . May 31, 2002 . April 26, 2002.
  7. Web site: Free man Murphy Lee returns with "You See Me" . STLToday . December 10, 2009.
  8. Web site: Tim Bryant . Nelly and Vatterott to open recording school . STLToday . https://web.archive.org/web/20111205210421/http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/music/nelly-and-vatterott-to-open-recording-school/article_860d1a73-5f21-57b5-a931-c7fcb39e0281.html . December 5, 2011 . August 24, 2011.
  9. Web site: Muhammad . Latifah. Nelly and St. Lunatics End Hiatus With 'City Free' . March 24, 2023 . The Boombox. September 24, 2010 .
  10. Web site: Kenya Vaughn . St. Lunatics shoot video for first 'City Free' single . St. Louis American . April 20, 2010.
  11. News: St. Lunatic City Spud back from jail on the music trail . stlamerican.com . 3 September 2008 . 23 April 2023.
  12. Web site: Twelve12 MidwestMixtapes.com Your Number One Source for FREE Mixtapes . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100907020656/http://midwestmixtapes.com/2010/twelve12/ . September 7, 2010 . August 28, 2010.
  13. Lamarre . Carl . February 6, 2023 . 2023 Grammys Celebrates 50 Years of Hip-Hop with an All-Star Performance . February 6, 2023 . Billboard.
  14. Web site: Bad Rap . . Randall . Roberts . . August 8, 2001 . July 7, 2012 .
  15. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=st. lunatics|chart=Billboard 200}} St. Lunatics Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200]. Billboard. Nielsen Company. November 3, 2010.
  16. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=st. lunatics|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums B}} St. Lunatics Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]. Billboard. Nielsen Company. November 3, 2010.
  17. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=st. lunatics|chart=Canadian Albums}} St. Lunatics Album & Song Chart History – Canadian Albums]. Billboard. Nielsen Company. November 3, 2010.
  18. Web site: RIAA – Gold & Platinum – May 19, 2020: St. Lunatics certified albums. Recording Industry Association of America. May 19, 2020.
  19. Web site: Music Canada Searchable Database. July 12, 2001 . Music Canada. May 19, 2020.
  20. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=st. lunatics|chart=all}} St. Lunatics Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100]. Billboard. Nielsen Company. November 3, 2010.
  21. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=st. lunatics|chart=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs}} St. Lunatics Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]. Billboard. Nielsen Company. November 3, 2010.
  22. Web site: St. Lunatics and Nelly – Batter Up (Song). Charts.nz. October 3, 2022.
  23. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 100 09 September 2001 – 15 September 2001. Official Charts Company. September 2001. October 3, 2022.
  24. Australia. St. Lunatics. single. 2002. October 2, 2022.

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