With a curfew in place and rising tension between Ferguson, MO police and civilians, Nelly hopes to steer protestors away from violence.

“I understand the frustration, but we have to strategize before we overreact … We don’t get no do-over on sh*t like this, so we have to do it right the first time,” the St. Louis rapper said according to TMZ. “Ain’t nothing happen no different that hasn’t been happening … At the end of the day, we should have waited to strategize first and take all the right steps to organize.”

In hopes of creating something positive out of this tragedy, Nelly along with T.I., Kevin Hart and NBA star Al Jefferson will pledge $15,000 a year to a college scholarship fund named after the fallen teen. The Brown family will nominate the recipient of the scholarship.

During Chris Brown’s celebrity flag football game this past weekend in L.A., Nelly called on the crowd and celebrity participants to raise their hands and join him as he chanted “Hands up. Don’t shoot.”

“If I could get everybody to rise and just raise their hands in support for everything that’s going on back home in my city right now at this minute,” he said. “If anybody can sympathize with what my city is going through, it’s this city of L.A. right now. On so many levels.”

Watch Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Bow Wow, Lil Mama, Game, Tyrese and Jermaine Dupri join Nelly in their silent protest in the video on the following page.