Nelly, others uninjured after shots fired at Atlanta party
Nelly, Usher, P. Diddy, and other celebrities escaped unscathed after gunshots were fired early Saturday morning at an Atlanta nightclub party sponsored by Jermaine Dupri, sending thousands of party-goers fleeing.
A security guard was hit in the arm.
Nelly, Usher and Diddy were believed to be performing at the time of the shooting at Club Dream. The shooting was reportedly over guests angry at having to pay to get into the VIP section after already paying to get into the club.
In a statement to People magazine, Dupri said: “I’m sad this incident happened because it interrupted a beautiful and loving party. But I’m happy none of my people or friends got hurt. And the party continues.”
Dupri has produced hits for a number of artists including Nelly, Usher, Mariah Carey, and his girlfriend Janet Jackson.


Kevin C. Johnson has covered the St. Louis' music and nightlife scene for the past decade.
Rap + HIP-HOP = A shootin’ most everytime.
“Beautiful”? “Loving”?!?
The only difference between this bunch and the ones hanging out along Goodfellow is the cost of the booze and the bling.
What a delightfully pathetic culture.
Wow…the comments above just shows how racists some people in the country still are. Especially Missouri…its just sad. So you’re telling me that since there was a shooting in a club in which Nelly, Usher, P. Diddy were in attendance, that make them pathetic? So they’re going around shooting and killing people themselves huh? And what the L does a “pathetic culture” mean? Are you talking about, HIPHOP, R&B, or Blacks???
sucks that racism will get injected into this. Still, this is not a shocking incident by any means. Hip-hop culture is melded with gang culture, and as long as the two remain fused, shootings at rap shows will remain common events.
Ironic that this story appears the same day as one about inner city youths feeling the need to arm themselves…
You know this doesn’t happen at events with Rock or Country artists. Sad to say but Hip Hop and Rap have a violent image, even after strong efforts by Nelly, Usher, to make it mainstream and fun.
However, this crap is happening downtown on the Landing outside Skybox, Buca, House of Comedy. Most everyone is there for a good time except for a few thugs and rednecks that think it’s okay to pull out a gun, start fights, yell hateful/sexist things at someone because of their dress attire, race, origin, or try to run people over in parking lots. I work down there and see it every weekend.
LETS RISE ABOVE THIS! If anyone reading this has done the above, it’s not okay. Change your life. Don’t ruin someone else’s.
You know, it is just sad. I am sure that the first couple of comments had hints of racism in them, however, let’s not be fooled by the reality that the hip hop culture or rap culture or inner city youth or blacks or whatever we are being called this week, today, or year…is a mess! I am black and proud of it but am sickened by the acts of our youth. The MAN has been down on us…has made life hell for us…didn’t give us our promised 40 acres and a mule…BUT he did not place the gun into the hands of the culprits (mad because they didn’t get into a VIP section–not so VIP after all I guess). Nor did the MAN cause a group of our city’s own to attack Metrolink riders at the Forest Park Station. The MAN has done us wrong and the MAN should acknowledge that…just as we should acknowledge that WE bear some accountability for the decisions which we make and the damage it does to our community, in and out of the sight of the MAN! Let’s not cry racism every second…sometimes, WE have to call out our own. Let’s not get distracted by a blogger’s racist comment. Why take a gun into a club? Why fire a gun in a club because you didn’t get into VIP? Why attack a group of people riding public transportation? Because you are mad…upset with the MAN? Come on…let’s get back on issue. Senseless acts of violence committed by us…often against us.
My “pathetic culture” comment obviously needs explaining. Yes, I was referring to the hip-hop thug culture. But I was also referring to African-Americans committing cultural suicide in slow motion. Think, for a moment, about the tropes of young black culture–violent and mysogenistic hip-hop; the idea that somehow academic acheivement is “white”; addiction to meaningless material bling, ranging from jewelery to rims; a nihlistic outlook; the justification of violence as a mean to an end, the end being–more bling. This, folks, is a Klansman’s wet dream, and responsible voices in the Affrican-American community should be ashamed of themselves for not doing more and demanding better.
There it is! Instead, we get caught up on under-explained comments and don’t instead, hold ourselves accountable. Obama has said it several times, we have to do better!
What a World- your ideas are what society wants as a whole. Why the black community doesn’t stand up and speak, like you are here, and call these thugs out, is a mystery. Until the black silent majority starts to apply criticism about these thugs, then the thugs will continue to set the theme of black culture. Who wants a culture like that? W good is it? What purpose does it serve? Certainly not peace and love throughout all the land. Shooting by thugs at music concerts and venues is wrong by any and all measure. Geez, Louise people, is this a hard concept to grasp?
Apparently someone needed to be checking the partygoers for weapons. It is rediculous that someone who was important enough to get into the VIP section would start shooting rather than just cough up the cash. Looks like they were VIPs afterall (VERY Ignorant People)
Greglpc wrote about the “black silent majority” and his point is valid. What about the “white silent majority” that turns a blind eye to police brutality and killings against blacks in America??? Surely you’ve heard about these killings all over the nation. All the major networks run stories on them but I don’t see any white protester on CNN saying shooting a man 41 times is wrong or killing an unarmed man the day before his wedding is not right. Where is the disdain for the Shady Cop Culture or the sleezy underhanded politician culture that exists in America. This isnt an attack, I want to see if you will put some action behind your own words. Wrong is wrong, no matter if it originates in the Hip Hop community or Law Enforcement or Politics.
OMG! A violent, gun toting, black, that is such a rarity. What are the odds of this happening on a daily basis?
Greglpc wrote about the “black silent majority” and his point is valid. And — Mo123 wrote about “What about the “white silent majority” that turns a blind eye to police brutality and killings against blacks in America???”
And what about the “white silent majority” that turns a blind eye to targeted racist attacks, robbings, beatings, rapes and killings of whites byt the black minority that happen on a daily basis that doesn’t get any news coverage at all?
I heard the following statment last week after a similar incident and I TOTALLY agree. There’s definitely something wrong with the human species.
We’re all lucky to have been born but that’s just about it. After that we’re all on our own and at the mercy of a savage and unpredictable world. We can point the finger at everyone else BUT unless we do something I mean REALLY do something about the senseless violence, this conversation will continue for the next 100 years. PEACE PLEASE!
Sabrina: Talk directly to blacks about the violence. No more talking around them for fear that they’ll be offended or start their shouting about slavery. Blacks are to blame and they need to be called on to the carpet. No more apologies for them. Take the talk directly to them and say “Look, you’re a violent sub-culture and we don’t care anymore if you murder everyone of yourselves but KEEP YOUR G.. D… hands off of US! Stop stealing from us! Stop raping our women! Stop robbing us! Stop murdering us!
No Wa Um Sayin Dawg - that’s very harsh. I’m sure for every black act of violence we can find a non-minority act of violence BUT the media’s choice is to report the black violence. Mommy and daddy can afford to pay for the high price lawyer, judge and police offer to “keep this quiet”. Again pointing the finger will not solve anything.