The highly anticipated Verzuz battle between Nelly and Ludacris kicked off at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday (May 16).
Sporting a giant chain, some shades and a Dominique Wilkins Atlanta Hawks throwback jersey, Ludacris began the festivities with, “It’s gon’ be a historic night! I feel the energy from around the world!”
As soon as Nelly joined, Luda mentioned 2020 marks the 20th anniversary for Luda and Nelly’s debut albums — Back For the First Time and Country Grammar, respectively. Although Nelly experienced some minor technical difficulties at the beginning, the back-and-forth went off relatively smoothly.
In fact, the slight delay gave Luda a chance to play some unheard music, specifically the song “Silence Of The Lambs” featuring production from Timbaland and Lil Wayne on vocals.
After Round 1 finally got underway, Nelly started off with “Na-NaNa-Na” featuring Jaze Pha and Luda revisited his Jermaine Dupri collaboration “Welcome To Atlanta.” From there, Nelly played “Tip Drill,” “Pimp Juice,” “Flap Your Wings,” and “Ride Wit Me” featuring City Spud, among others.
Luda returned fire with songs such as “P-Poppin’,” My Chick Bad” featuring Nicki Minaj, “Ho” and “Saturday (Ooh! Ooh!).”
As the battle went on, fans noticed Nelly was in a really spirited mood, while Luda appeared to grow increasingly bored. Naturally, the jokes flew on Twitter.
Check out some of the best reactions below.
Nelly is drunk drunk #versuz pic.twitter.com/b7xNNAevmr
— Penny Proud (@Luhv_Lee) May 17, 2020
Get Nelly drunk ass off this Live & end this battle! Ludacris keep trying to hang up & Nelly wanna keep going ??? #Verzuz pic.twitter.com/r3Tsrrf9YM
— Windi Red (@DaniTheeStalli) May 17, 2020
Nelly drunk and Ludacris just looking like pic.twitter.com/AhQyHHumy3
— Tay (@TayTaughtYouu_) May 17, 2020
Nelly got drunk and forgot about this banger.. man had the sounds of chickens as his adlibs pic.twitter.com/jAOxbbESFy
— Nur (@NurM24) May 17, 2020
And from what I can tell… Nelly looks drunk as fuck but also fuckable. pic.twitter.com/TOCGjiPBee
— Pocahoochie. (@MollyW_TheMost) May 17, 2020
Nelly, nobody knows these records. Go home, you’re drunk. #Verzuz pic.twitter.com/ml4wj03TdW
— Tarkor Zehn (@TarkorZehn) May 17, 2020
This whole battle has shown me Nelly is officially that uncle. He still fine as hell but he’s officially drunk uncle status. This nigga still wearing wife beaters, a thick gold chain and the same earrings. ??♀️ This mans is still in 2006.
— AshleyStevens (@The_Acumen) May 17, 2020
Nelly drunk off this shxt pic.twitter.com/yzLIOxjnkV
— THE REALEST PODCAST EVER (@TRPE2017) May 17, 2020
Nelly is the drunk uncle at the cookout, playing Computer Love on repeat. #nellyvsludacris
— ? (@purpl3elephantZ) May 17, 2020
Nelly is really that drunk, barbecue sandals-havin, bluetooth-wearin nigga pic.twitter.com/cG7IxZixfC
— dan yell (@daniellenovel) May 17, 2020
Luda is done with Nelly’s drunk ass ? pic.twitter.com/kiEyd4JSpN
— ? (@tinayonnce) May 17, 2020
Nelly is gettin his Life and I’m enjoying it!! Just high and drunk in the vault.. pic.twitter.com/qfwbwxrTun
— DystoPapi (@random_weighs) May 17, 2020
Me watching Nelly looking drunk asf fxcking up his selection every time #rootingfornelly pic.twitter.com/fWrA6g8NkS
— heda ? (@allhailnef) May 17, 2020
Miss Jackson standing in the studio door looking at drunk ass Nelly ?????? pic.twitter.com/OjJCfItExA
— #TheBeardCollector (@HOLLYandherEGO) May 17, 2020
Luda's disappointed face is a mood.
Dude sitting there looking like he was preparing for a real old school battle and all he got was Nelly's drunk ass and his 1998 dial-up connection
— Karen Attiah (@KarenAttiah) May 17, 2020
Can you imagine being Nelly shorty upstairs waiting for him to get off and come up drunk as shit pic.twitter.com/AC3Pyo6bAP
— STOP TOUCHING NIGGAS WITCHA FUCKING HANDS (@Charlietheebee) May 17, 2020
How Luda got Nelly looking pic.twitter.com/5LwUJvH82T
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) May 17, 2020
Luda is ready to go home and nelly is the friend that likes to leave the club when the lights come on
— Kim Exotic ? (@SoulRevision) May 17, 2020