GALLERY + REVIEW: Nelly - Winnipeg, CN (4/18/25)

Apr 19

Nelly
Canada Life Centre - Winnipeg, CN - April 18th, 2025
Photos & words by Nischal Karki (@nischalgraphs)

Back to the 2000s: Chingy, Ja Rule & Nelly Bring the Heat to Winnipeg

April 18, Canada Life Centre — For a few hours on Thursday night, Winnipeg wasn’t in 2025—it was right in the heart of the early 2000s. With Chingy, Ja Rule, and Nelly on the lineup, the nostalgia hit hard and the energy never dropped.

Chingy set the tone early, coming in smooth with throwbacks like “Dem Jeans,” “Fly Like Me,” and “Balla Baby.” He had the whole arena bouncing. It was that feel-good, R&B-laced hip-hop we grew up on—and honestly, it still goes just as hard today. Shoutout to DJ too—his set between performances kept the energy flowing. It felt like flipping through an old-school playlist you didn’t know you missed. Nothing overdone, just solid transitions and that real vibe that made the whole thing feel complete.

Then came Ja Rule, who took his sweet time getting on stage, but when he showed up—he showed out. No lie, the way he started his set was different. Ja literally got out of a staged bed and started getting dressed right there on stage. Who opens like that? Only Ja. It was unexpected, theatrical, and honestly kind of iconic.

But the night belonged to Nelly. The man knows how to put on a show. He pulled up with dancers, smooth transitions, and a playlist of back-to-back hits— “Ride Wit Me,” “Country Grammar (Hot...),” “Over and Over,” and more. His presence was loud but effortless, just like it was when he was blowing up the charts back in the day.

This wasn’t just a concert— it was a reminder of why that early 2000s era is still undefeated. Real music, real energy, and artists who know how to command a stage without trying too hard. For one night, Winnipeg got a taste of that magic again, and it was worth every minute.