St. Louis Rap Atlas: Nelly, Murphy Lee and Their Recorded Connections
This record follows Nelly and Murphy Lee through Country Grammar, their shared Grammy credit for “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” and local reporting on the St. Lunatics. It brings together selected milestones from 2000 to 2016.
The focus is their documented connections to St. Louis; this is not a complete regional history.
Nelly, Country Grammar and St. Louis
The Recording Academy describes Nelly as St. Louis-raised and identifies Country Grammar as a 2000 album. The RIAA record lists a June 27, 2000 release date and a 10-times-platinum certification dated July 21, 2016. Recording Academy: Country Grammar in the 2000s RIAA: Country Grammar release and certification record
A Shared Credit and a Local Perspective
The 2004 Grammy-winning performance of “Shake Ya Tailfeather” connects Nelly and Murphy Lee in the Recording Academy’s records. The St. Louis American also places both artists in the St. Lunatics context. Recording Academy: Nelly awards Recording Academy: Murphy Lee awards The St. Louis American: 2010 St. Lunatics reporting
In an April 22, 2010 report from a St. Lunatics video shoot, The St. Louis American quoted Murphy Lee describing the group’s breakthrough as drawing the world’s attention to St. Louis. This was his account of the group’s success and its relationship with the city. The St. Louis American: 2010 St. Lunatics reporting
Documented Milestones
- June 27, 2000 — The RIAA record gives this release date for Nelly’s Country Grammar. RIAA: Country Grammar release and certification record
- 2003 — The Recording Academy records Nelly’s wins for Hot in Herre and Dilemma. Recording Academy: Nelly awards
- 2004 — The Recording Academy records Nelly and Murphy Lee on the winning Shake Ya Tailfeather performance. Recording Academy: Nelly awards Recording Academy: Murphy Lee awards
- April 22, 2010 — The St. Louis American reports from a St. Lunatics video shoot, including Murphy Lee’s account of the group drawing attention to St. Louis. The St. Louis American: 2010 St. Lunatics reporting
- July 21, 2016 — The RIAA certifies Country Grammar at the 10-times-platinum level. RIAA: Country Grammar release and certification record
Representative Acts
This selection is not a ranking.
Nelly
Included for a documented St. Louis-raised relationship, Country Grammar and an official award record. The Recording Academy lists three wins and twelve nominations as reviewed September 7, 2026. Recording Academy: Country Grammar in the 2000s RIAA: Country Grammar release and certification record Recording Academy: Nelly awards
Murphy Lee
Included for the shared 2004 award with Nelly and a St. Lunatics connection documented by local reporting. The Recording Academy lists one win and one nomination as reviewed September 7, 2026. Recording Academy: Murphy Lee awards The St. Louis American: 2010 St. Lunatics reporting
Coverage Boundary
The U.S. Census Bureau treats St. Louis city and St. Louis County as separate entities. This article therefore preserves a source’s broader “St. Louis” or “St. Louis-raised” wording unless that source identifies a specific jurisdiction. U.S. Census Bureau: St. Louis city and county geography
East St. Louis is identified by the Census Bureau as a city in Illinois and is not silently recast as St. Louis, Missouri. “Metro St. Louis” or “Greater St. Louis” is used only when a cited source uses that regional label. U.S. Census Bureau: East St. Louis, Illinois
Selection requires a documented musical work, award credit, group connection or local-scene statement; birthplace alone is insufficient. An omitted artist or place is unresearched here, not absent from the wider scene.
Evidence Scope
This selection covers two acts and five milestones from 2000 to 2016, drawing on six official or institutional source URLs and one independent local report.
Last verified: September 8, 2026 (the Murphy Lee passage in The St. Louis American was rechecked that day; the remaining sources were reviewed on September 7, 2026).
The record does not establish either artist’s birthplace, the St. Lunatics’ founders, founding year or full membership, or the group’s influence on every later St. Louis artist.
Main References
- Recording Academy: Essential Hip-Hop Releases From The 2000s — Describes Nelly as St. Louis-raised and identifies Country Grammar as a 2000 debut.
- RIAA July 2016 Gold & Platinum Awards — Lists Country Grammar by Nelly, release date June 27, 2000, certification date July 21, 2016 and 10-times-platinum level.
- Recording Academy: Nelly awards — Lists 3 wins and 12 nominations, including 2003 wins for Hot in Herre and Dilemma and the 2004 shared win for Shake Ya Tailfeather.
- Recording Academy: Murphy Lee awards — Lists 1 win and 1 nomination, both represented by the 2004 winning entry for Shake Ya Tailfeather with Nelly.
- U.S. Census Bureau: Missouri state and local geography guide — States that St. Louis city is independent of any county and that St. Louis city and St. Louis County are separate entities.
- U.S. Census Bureau profile: East St. Louis city, Illinois — Identifies East St. Louis as a city in Illinois.
- The St. Louis American: St. Lunatics share spotlight with Spud in new song, video — Reports from a 2010 St. Lunatics video shoot, identifies Nelly and Murphy Lee in the group context, and records Murphy Lee’s view that the group’s breakthrough drew attention to St. Louis.
Editorial Criteria
Read the Rap Atlas editorial criteria for the selection, evidence and attribution rules used across this project.
Corrections and Evidence Submissions
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