Nelly and Metro Boomin have plans to reignite St. Louis hip-hop in 2026 with the announcement of a brand new St. Lunatics album after a 25-year hiatus.

At his annual Black and White gala, Nelly stated the comeback album might be executive-produced by Metro Boomin, a collaboration bridging generations of Missouri hip-hop. The Country Grammar creator paused this system to handle the group straight.

“It felt like the right moment,” Nelly stated. “This city raised us, and it deserves to hear us together again.”

Minus Ali, The St. Lunatics joined Nelly onstage for temporary performances, drawing loud reactions from attendees. The second signaled unity greater than spectacle.

The album will mark the primary St. Lunatics group launch music.apple.com/us/album/free-city/1434888914″>since 2001. That debut helped launch Nelly’s solo rise and outlined the shiny, melodic sound of early-2000s Midwest rap. Nelly framed the brand new venture as a continuation quite than a revival.

Nelly & Metro Boomin’ Announce St. Lunatics Comeback Album

“We’re not chasing the past,” he stated. “We’re building on it.”

Metro Boomin’s involvement provides up to date weight to the reunion. The Grammy-winning producer has formed trendy hip-hop by means of work with Future, 21 Savage, and The Weeknd. Nelly stated Metro’s function felt pure.

“He understands where the sound started and where it’s going,” Nelly stated. “That matters.”

Nelly described the album as a mirrored image on longevity. “Twenty-five years later, we’re still here,” he stated. “That’s not an accident. That’s work, growth, and love for the culture.”

Nelly stated the group stays targeted on recording quite than timelines. “We want it to feel right,” he stated. “When it drops, it should mean something.”

With Metro Boomin guiding the manufacturing and the St. Lunatics reunited, the venture stands as one in every of hip-hop’s most carefully watched comeback albums. For Nelly, it represents a return residence on his personal phrases.