Rapper Nelly and R&B singer Ashanti appeared to be boo’d up Sunday night (Dec 19) at Nelly’s 2010 Black & White Ball. The 5th annual charity event was held at the Chase Park Plaza’s Khorassan Ballroom in St. Louis (Nelly’s hometown) and featured performances from Ashanti, who later invited her rumored boyfriend Nelly onstage for a duet, and a serenade to a new Ashanti song titled “If I Was Your Girlfriend.”

Other folks at the gala were Nelly’s brother, rapper City Spud, and rapper Jermaine Dupri (who co-hosted and deejayed at the the event. Nelly presented full scholarships to students Lindenwood University, a college nearby.

Check out 10+ pics from the event below, and continue reading for the video footage of Ashanti serenading Nelly…

The word on the sidewalk is that Nelly and the St. Lunatics are coming back together for a new album, which would be their first in almost 10 years. They reportedly began shooting a video for their new single “Money Talks” in their hometown of St. Louis Monday afternoon (Apr 19) and wrapped up the two-day shoot sometime Tuesday (Apr 20).

The St. Louis-based rap artist said for a video all about money, it’s fitting to bring the crew to his hometown.

“When you get a chance to do things like this, shoot videos in the city, it generates the funds, it generates the business here,” Nelly said. “And definitely something we might not be accustomed to happening every day in larger cities. Like the Miamis, the Atlantas, Californias, where they’re probably shooting videos every day. When you get a chance to do that, certain companies get to take advantage of that, it’s good. It’s why we’re here.”

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The St. Lunatics is a rap group formed by St. Louis rapper Nelly and his hometown friends Ali, Murphy Lee, City Spud and Slo’Down. Their big break came after 2000 when Nelly came out with his debut album “Country Grammar.” The Lunatics’ debut album “Free City” was released a year later. And now it looks like after all of those years the group is ready to invade hip-hop once again. Who’s ready for a new album from the St. Lunatics?

Nelly performed Monday night (Jul 6) at The Mirage Hotel and Casino Resort’s Jet Nightclub in Las Vegas. Above he is pictured arriving at the venue with his younger brother, St. Lunatic rapper City Spud. Professional boxer Antonio Tarver and Jade Cole (America’s Next Top Model & Apple Bottom model) also partied with Nelly and City Spud at the club. Continue reading for all of the pix.

PHOTOS: WIRE IMAGE