It was a night packed with star power, nostalgia, and nonstop hits as Nelly brought his 25th anniversary Country Grammar tour to Phoenix. The St. Louis legend shared the stage with fellow St. Lunatics members Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, City Spud, and Slo Down, giving the crowd a taste of the crew’s classic chemistry. Rising to the moment, J-Kwon — introduced by Nelly as his nephew — lit up the stage with early-2000s staples “Hood Hop” and “Tipsy.”
From there, Nelly powered through a career-spanning set that never lost momentum. Fans sang along to “E.I.,” “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” “Batter Up,” “Air Force Ones,” “Country Grammar,” “Dilemma,” “Grillz” and “Hot in Herre” before closing with “Just a Dream.” He also dipped into his country crossover catalog with “Cruise” and “Lil Bit” alongside his early collab with Tim McGraw, “Over and Over.”
Pausing to reflect, Nelly reminded the crowd that he was blending country and hip-hop long before it was trendy. “Almost 23 years ago, before it was trendy or anybody was on any road, we were at the top of the country charts,” he said — a line that felt like a pointed nod at “Old Town Road.” He also made sure to thank fans for their unwavering support across the decades, preaching gratitude like a pastor to a roaring Phoenix audience.
The night’s energy built steadily thanks to powerhouse openers. Chingy kicked things off with a crowd-pleasing run through “Balla Baby,” “Holidae In,” “Pullin’ Me Back,” and “Right Thurr.” Eve followed, commanding the stage with her dancers and DJ, mixing heartfelt moments like her tribute to DMX with hits including “Gangsta Lovin’,” “Rich Girl,” “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” and “Tambourine.”
Then came Ja Rule, who raised the bar with one of the night’s most theatrical performances. He opened with a motivational speech and dramatic onstage entrance before diving into classics like “New York,” “Clap Back,” “Between Me and You,” “Down 4 U,” “Mesmerize” and his unforgettable J. Lo collaborations “I’m Real” and “Ain’t It Funny.” His emotional dedication of “I Cry” to fallen producer Irv Gotti and other music legends was a poignant highlight. Ja closed on a high, shedding his suit jacket and finishing shirtless as the crowd erupted to “Always On Time.”
Together, Nelly, Eve, Ja Rule, and Chingy delivered a show that blended nostalgia with pure star power — a celebration of timeless hits that reminded Phoenix why these artists defined an era.
