Nelly's Black and White Ball July 2

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Crowd

photos by Blacktie St. Louis

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Dan Slavin; Courtney and Mike Hopson

photos by Blacktie St. Louis

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Carrie Leinicke, Sgt. Hugh Tychson

photos by Blacktie St. Louis

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Lillian Jones, Ali

photos by Blacktie St. Louis

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Minga and Johnny Furr

photos by Blacktie St. Louis

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Susan Sherman and Don King

photos by Blacktie St. Louis

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Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri

photo by Synergy

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Paul Ha, Nelly, Evander Holyfield

photo by Synergy

A high-contrast celebration of independence: black and white garb, hors d’oeuvres, furniture; comedy, pulsing hip-hop and a motion-sensored video wall; the stark concrete and new art of the Contemporary Art Museum. Extreme celebrities, too—Janet Jackson, Allen Iverson, Ashanti, Evander Holyfield ... Even the after-party at the Pepper Lounge was intense, with Nelly, Jermaine Dupri and Murphy Lee performing on the spur of the moment. They played for an hour, binding the spell.

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