Ashanti and Nelly’s latest collaboration has arrived — and it’s their cutest yet.
The longtime couple welcomed their first baby together on July 18, Ashanti’s rep confirmed to People on Wednesday.
… I’m so proud of my body for giving me my baby, baby, baby, baby, baby.
😆” Ashanti and Nelly, who have worked together on “Body on Me,” “This Lil’ Game We Play” and more songs, met in 2003 at a Grammy Awards press conference.
Nelly, 49, confirmed in September 2023 that he was dating Ashanti, 43, in a reconciliation that was not “planned” and “surprised” them both.
A report surfaced three months later that the couple had a baby on the way, but they did not comment on the news until April.
“This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope and anticipation,” Ashanti, who reportedly wed Nelly in secret in December 2023, gushed.
“Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to.” While the announcement marked Ashanti’s first pregnancy, Nelly was already a father when the news broke.
The newest project Ashanti and Nelly have worked on together is the cutest yet.
The devoted couple welcomed their first child together on July 18, as Ashanti’s representative confirmed to People on Wednesday.
Nelly chose Kareem Kenkaide Hayes’ name “with a lot of pride,” the “proud and happy parents are so in love” with their son, they said to Entertainment Tonight. “.
“Seeing his face for the first time in the delivery room with all of us, I cried. It was just so emotional and spiritual at the same time,” the new mother exclaimed. It was such an exciting feeling, having spent so much time envisioning this moment. “.
On Friday, Ashanti posted a mirror selfie she took after giving birth to her Instagram followers.
It’s funny how things don’t go according to plan in life. “This is what postpartum looks like! I’ve been waiting to be a mom for a long time, but nothing could prepare me for EVERYTHING motherhood brings,” the woman wrote. I’m extremely proud of my body for bearing me a baby, baby, baby, baby. “😆”.
Ashanti and Nelly first connected at a Grammy Awards press conference in 2003. They have collaborated on songs like “Body on Me,” “This Lil’ Game We Play,” and other hits.
The couple dated for ten years before splitting up in 2013, but last year there were rumors that they were back together.
In September 2023, Nelly (49) revealed that he was seeing Ashanti (43), stating that their reconciliation was “surprised” by both of them and was not “planned.”.
At the time, he insisted that Kirk Frost and Rasheeda from “Love and Hip Hop” weren’t putting “pressure” on themselves, saying, “We both were pretty much doing what we do, but sometimes being separate you understand one another more.”.
The couple did not comment on the news until April, despite a report surfacing three months later indicating they were expecting a child.
The singer of “Foolish” told Essence that she was engaged and expecting a child.
According to reports, Ashanti secretly married Nelly in December 2023. “This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation,” Ashanti exclaimed. “I have eagerly anticipated becoming a mother. “.
Nelly was a father when the news broke, even though Ashanti’s first pregnancy was announced.
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The “Ride Wit Me” rapper is not only the adoptive father of Sydney and Lil’ Shawn, the children of his late stepsister Jacqueline “Jackie” Donahue, but he also welcomed son Cornell and daughter Chanelle from previous relationships.
Nelly is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., in real life. declared that it was a “no-brainer” choice, adding that family “pick[s] up the pieces,” in an interview with “Tamron Hall Show” in September 2020. “.
The “Hot in Herre” performer then gained notoriety in November 2023 when he joked, “I’m on it,” in response to a question regarding having another child with Ashanti. “.
For her part, the “What’s Luv?” singer expressed to People last year that she wanted to “slow down” and have a family.
