St. Lunatics Members Ask to Be Removed from Nelly Case and Say They Never Authorized Lawsuit

After their historic reunion at the American Music Awards 50th Anniversary celebration this past Sunday, the St. Lunatics say they never authorized the lawsuit against Nelly that alleges he denied them songwriting credits.

In a letter written Sept. 24 and obtained by PEOPLE, attorney N. Scott Rosenblum wrote that St. Lunatics members Murphy Lee, Kyjuan and City Spud “did not authorize” to be named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “They are hereby demanding you remove their names forthwith,” the letter demands.

All three men asking to be removed from the suit were the members who joined Nelly onstage at the AMAs pre-taped performance.

Due to three of the four initially named members withdrawing their names, the suit is now between Ali (né Ali Jones) and Nelly (born Cornell Haynes).

The original lawsuit alleges that Nelly, 49, “had no intention of providing the Plaintiffs with any such credit or recognition” for their contributions to his acclaimed 2000 solo debut Country Grammar. The complaint, which was obtained by PEOPLE, claims that “Not only did [Nelly] fraudulently represent to others that he was a writer and/or creator of the [songs], he also… allowed other individuals within his circle to receive credit and publishing income for songs written by Plaintiffs.”

Childhood friends Nelly, Ali, Murphy Lee (né Torhi Harper), Kyjuan (né Robert Kyjuan Cleveland) and Webb formed St. Lunatics in 1993. The suit alleges that between 1993-1997, the plaintiffs did most of the songwriting, while Nelly performed. Due to their success, both the group and Nelly signed deals with Universal.

The eight songs named in the suit, “Steal the Show,” “Thicky Thick Girl,” “Country Grammar,” “Wrap Something/Sumden,” “Batter Up,” “Iz U,” “Go” and “Gimme What You Got,” were written by the four St. Lunatics members, with Nelly providing “some lyrical arrangement and writing.”

Because of the alleged lack of credit, the complaint said they “have been completely deprived, and continue to be deprived, of any income, monies, royalties or other form of remuneration from the distribution, use, commercialization, sale, public performance or other exploitation of the [songs] via exploitation of [Country Grammar].”

The complaint sought at least $50 million in addition to attorney fees.

Nelly acknowledged the lawsuit In an Instagram post ahead of their AMA performance, writing, “STL INVADES @amas …!!! An anyone who has a problem with that ‘Sue’ me…!!!”