Nelly Announces Tour As Hip Hop Heavies Celebrate His Birthday In Vegas

Kelly Rowland, Teyana Taylor, Too Short, Juelz Santana & Carl Thomas Performed At Nelly’s Birthday In Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS – Music heavyweights from both the past and present helped Nelly ring in his birthday in Sin City at a party that stretched over two days.

Teyana Taylor, Kelly Rowland, Bobby Brown, the Ying Yang Twins, Too Short, Freeway and Chingy were just some of the celebs at Nelly’s two-night fete at Drai’s in Las Vegas over the weekend.

On Friday night, Jermaine Dupri hosted a surprise party for the birthday boy, where some of the biggest names in rap from the 90s and 2000s paid homage to the “Country Grammar” rapper, who looked like a man half his 42 years as he enjoyed the festivities in his honor.

“I wanna thank you mutha****as for not only holding me down but holding my family down as well,” Nelly told the crowd.

The party also was the kickoff of “Nelly and Friends,” a traveling jam session featuring Nelly and surprise performances from his rap and R&B pals.

Nelly’s manager J. Erving said no one else is doing these types of acts except at awards shows.

“This concept is about bringing these amazing performers together to do what they love and their talent and passion comes alive when they perform together and the audience can feel the fun and excitement,” he told BOSSIP. “It is a charged performance and you never know who will show up!”

First up was a two-song set from Bobby Brown, followed by Juelz Santana, the Young Gunz and Freeway – who encouraged the crowd to vote Nov. 8. Then it was time for the Ying Yang Twins, who looked almost the same as they did in their heyday as they performed “Shake it Like a Salt Shaker,” and “Get Low.”

Then Chingy came out for a surprise performance of “Right Thurr” and “Hollidae Inn,” followed by Mr. Cheeks, Mannie Fresh and Khia. Young Joc was up next, followed by Too Short, who nearly brought the house down with his song “Blow the Whistle.”

Last up was the birthday boy himself, who performed “Grillz” with Jermaine Dupri before rounding out the show with “Country Grammar” and “Hot in Herre.”

Later, a gaggle of Drai’s dancers brought Nelly a three-tiered red black and gold cake on stage, and everyone in the club sang “Happy Birthday.”

The stakes went even higher on Saturday night at Drai’s, when Kelly Rowland joined in for the fun, performing a pitch-perfect set that included joints from her Destiny’s Child days and newer songs, like “Neva End.” The singer had a little help from impromptu backup dancers Teyana Taylor, LisaRaye and Eva Marcille, who twerked on stage as she sang “Bootylicious.”

Saturday night’s party ended with Nelly and Rowland’s duet of their hit, “Dilemma,” and Nelly said it was only the fifth time they’d ever performed it together.

“It’s truly a special night tonight,” Nelly added as he introduced Rowland. “As much as we accomplished, not only in my career but in her career, we never got too many times to come up here and do what the f**k we do.”

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