Photos: Nelly's Black and White Ball returns to St. Louis in 2023 after hiatus
Nelly's Black and White Ball returned to the Four Seasons for the first time since 2016 on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event raised money for different community organizations and featured live entertainment.
Photos by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Nelly walks across stage with Messiah Rice, 4, at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. Rice has leukemia and is a recipient of the Make-a-Wish Foundation; his wish is to go to Disney World. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Jon Jay, retired Cardinals outfileder, walks the black carpet at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Big Boss Vette, rapper, walks the black carpet at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Nelly finds his seat for dinner and greets other guests with Ashanti behind him at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Blanco Brown, musician and producer, walks the black carpet at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Murphy Lee walks the black carpet with his wife Seviin Li at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Kyjuan and his date walk the black carpet at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Dinner is served at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Female rap group D'NERRO walks the black carpet at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Jim Edmonds and his wife, Kortnie O'Connor, walk the black carpet at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons hotel in St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event raised funds for different causes in the area and featured live entertainment. Â
Nelly greets guests at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
From right, Polow da Don, Bow Wow, Nelly, Ashanti, Monica and her boyfriend walk the black carpet at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Orlando Pace and his wife Carla walk the black carpet at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Monica, left, and Ashanti walk the black carpet together while their dates watch from the side at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
A glowing photo op is set up at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
City Spud walks the black carpet at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Messiah Rice, 4, speaks into the microphone on stage with his family and Nelly at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. Rice has leukemia and is a recipient of the Make-a-Wish foundation; his wish is to go to Disney World. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Ozzie Smith and Yolanda Lankford walk the black carpet at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Isaac Keys and his date walk the black carpet at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
DMC performs at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Nelly presents Harris Stowe State University students, Anglique Williams, left, Taionna Pruitt and Stephon Riggins with new laptops at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The students were also awarded full-ride scholarships from the musician. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Guests at the Black and White Ball raise their arms in their seats during a performance from DMC in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Nelly, right, presents Ozzie Smith with an award at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
DMC walks through the room as he performs at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
Ashanti stands among dinner guests during a performance from Oz Pearlman at the Black and White Ball in the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The event fundraised for different causes in the St. Louis area and featured live entertainment. Photo by Vanessa Abbitt, vabbitt@post-dispatch.com
The rapper's childhood friends say Nelly lied to the group about giving them writing credit and paying them royalties on eight tracks from his first solo album.
Nelly was arrested Wednesday at the Hollywood Casino & Hotel St. Louis after officers said they found him with drugs when they arrested him for an active warrant.