Nelly with cake shaped like … the Brady Bunch station wagon? (Photo by Hew Burney | SpyOnVegas.com)

Nelly kicked back his 34th last night at Lavo inside Palazzo with dinner downstairs before heading up to the nightclub to get a Ford Flex cake shortly after receiving a Ford Flex as a birthday gift. For our birthday, meanwhile, we got a Funkmaster Flex CD, so it’s pretty much the same thing. Not joining Nelly, was girlfriend Ashanti, who he recently revealed actually was his girlfriend.

Joining the celebration were boxer Vernon Forrest, St. Lunatics member Murphy Lee, Kevin Federline, who was jumping into the booth to share Patron shots with DJ Vice, and poker player Antonio Esfandiari.

By Jason Scavone

(Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

Back when Nelly was at Red Rock Resort in June, there was a little business mixed with his business. Here to launch his Brass Knuckles album on the 10th, he liked the property so much he came back on the 19th to film a video for “Body On Me” with Ashanti and Akon, directed by Benny Boom. We got our grubby mitts on these exclusive photos. Just to recap the players, you have Ashanti (hot), Nelly (hot in herre) and Akon (traditionally, it’s fairly warm in Senegal).

By Jason Scavone

Picking up spares in herre. (Photos by Erik Kabik)

What better way for a hip-hop artist who hasn’t dropped an album in four years to make his grand return than having a huge event in Las Vegas? Nelly — who you know for his ode to in-club disrobing, “Hot in Herre,” our favorite “Air Force Ones,” and nursery rhymes with “E.I.” — is back on the scene with his new album Brass Knuckles.

In order to come back on the scene with a bang, Nelly and Universal Records arranged a private weekend of festivities for the artist, the media and two of his biggest fans at the Red Rock Casino.

Things kicked off with a private bowling session at the Red Rock Lanes on Friday night where he was joined by host Danielle Demsky and the crew of Extra. On Saturday, Nelly invited the media over to listen to his upcoming album. Wouldn’t you know it? This album features yet another ode to sneakers called “Step On My J’s (Jordans)!” Click for more words and pictures »

By Andreas Hale

(Photos by ChiaraPhotoLV)

See, we knew the celebrities weren’t going to end their Las Vegas partying when MAGIC packed up and left town. Oh, no, if The Bank nightclub inside the Bellagio was any indication, they’ve stepped it up for this President’s Day weekend.

Rap stars Nelly and Ja Rule sipped vodka and got down to their own tracks from the VIP balcony along with America’s Next Top Model winner Jaslene Gonzalez, New York Yankee and Vegas regular Jason Giambi and boxer Tarick Salmaci. For some reason, we were not invited to join them. Haters!

By Pj Perez