In 2002, Nelly was at the peak of his career, and his appearance on MTV Cribs seemed like the ultimate celebration of his success. Known for its exclusive tours inside the lavish homes of pop stars and rappers, MTV Cribs gave fans a glimpse into the luxurious lifestyles of their favorite celebrities. For Nelly, it was a chance to show off his St. Louis mansion—an iconic moment that has since become part of pop culture.
However, looking back, Nelly admitted it was one of the worst decisions he made. During a recent appearance on The Cruz Show, the rapper revealed how his appearance on the show ultimately led to unwanted attention and even forced him to relocate.
“It was the worst thing I did, being on MTV Cribs,” Nelly confessed. He explained that certain details from the episode, like a plate with his engraved name, inadvertently made it easy for fans to figure out the exact location of his home. At the time, he didn’t anticipate the overwhelming level of attention he would receive.
“When we did it, I’m thinking this is my end-all-be-all. Now, I’m not knowing that [the St. Lunatics are] just getting started as a group, and we were going to keep having success and things like that,” he reflected.
Soon after the episode aired, Nelly noticed fans gathering near his property and organizing parties close to his home—an invasion of privacy that led him to make the difficult decision to move.
