There was a buzz downtown well before the doors opened to the Scotiabank Centre. Through cheers and plenty of smoky haze, a crowd was swelling in anticipation for Nelly in Halifax, who was stopping by as part of his “Where The Party At?” tour. Ja Rule joined the shenanigans for this part of the tour, while Jermaine Dupri quietly exited the lineup before the Canadian leg began. DJ Aktiv had the room heating up from the start, prepping the crowd for an epic night of dance and drink.
Ja Rule’s stage setup was simple but theatrical: a mobile wardrobe featuring a Yankees cap, denim jacket, jeans, and a fresh pair of Timberlands, alongside a gurney topped with a body bag. Once the beat dropped, Ja Rule emerged from the bag, slipped into his outfit, and got straight to work.
For an artist nearing his 50’s and who has been relatively quiet over the last decade, Ja Rule looked and sounded surprisingly sharp. He commanded the stage as he ran through a hit-heavy set that reminded everyone just how deep his catalogue runs. Midway through, he switched into a teal suit and eventually made his way onto the arena floor, performing among an adoring crowd that stayed locked in from start to finish. It felt like proof that he could step back into the hip-hop arena whenever he chose.
While Ja Rule’s set kept the spotlight firmly centered, Nelly’s performance took a different approach. After the stage transformed into Club Derrty, donned with velvet ropes, security, and dancers galore, Nelly hit the stage and also looked fantastic for someone closing in on 50. Members of The St. Lunatics shared the stage for a significant portion of the night, shifting the dynamic from solo celebration to collective nostalgia.
Given that this tour was billed as a Country Grammar anniversary, it was surprising that only three tracks from the album made the setlist: “Country Grammar,” “E.I.,” and “Ride Wit Me.” All three landed early and hit hard, alongside other staples like “Where the Party At,” “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” and “Air Force Ones.” It was a powerhouse opening stretch, but one that burned through many of the night’s biggest moments right out of the gate.
Midway through the set, Nelly welcomed his nephew J-Kwon to the stage for “Hood Hop” and the ever-enduring “Tipsy.” Murphy Lee followed, running through a handful of tracks including “My Shoes.” It was during this St. Lunatics-heavy portion that the momentum noticeably dipped, with dancing bodies settling back into seats, allowing the room catching its breath.
The energy began to rebound once Nelly returned solo. After thanking the crowd, the opening notes of “Dilemma” sent the packed arena into a roar. Cellphone lights shot up instantly, a sea of glowing loyalty from fans who’ve been riding with him since the beginning.
A handful of solo cuts followed, including “Grillz” and “Move That Body,” before the night shifted back into a DJ-driven montage of massive club bangers — kicking off with DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win” and weaving through “Low,” “Get Low,” and “Party Up (Up in Here).” The night closed with “Hot in Herre” and “Just a Dream,” sending the crowd home sweaty, smiling, and satisfied.
Looking around the room, it was obvious people were having a great time reliving the songs that soundtracked their teens and twenties. While Nelly’s set leaned more toward a club experience than a traditional concert, with nearly 30 tracks delivered in bite-sized bursts, none of that seemed to matter. The music landed, the memories flowed, and the room was full of good spirits. Nelly in Halifax brought the nostalgia and big party vibes, and we can only hope we don’t have to wait so long for the next big arena jam.
