Ashanti and Nelly have welcomed their first child together, marking a joyful milestone in their rekindled romance. The news comes just months after the couple reconnected and tied the knot last December.
The singer Ashanti took to Instagram on Monday to announce the arrival of their baby, Kareem Kenkaide Hayes, born on July 18. In a video shared with her followers, she proudly showcased her post-partum figure, stating, “Four weeks post-partum, you have no idea what this body can do,” while wearing labor recovery shorts.
In her post, Ashanti reflected on her life journey, humorously noting that her plans have not always gone “on time.” Before becoming parents, Ashanti and Nelly had an on-and-off relationship that lasted over a decade, culminating in their split in 2013. They reignited their romance in September 2023.
“I’ve been waiting to be a mom for a long time now but nothing could prepare me for EVERYTHING motherhood brings!,” Ashanti expressed in her caption. “I’m so proud of my body for giving me my baby, baby, baby, baby, baby.”
According to a representative for the couple, Ashanti, 43, and Nelly, 49, are “proud and happy parents” who are deeply in love with their new addition.
In other news, Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes II, recently encountered legal troubles. He was arrested on August 7 after police at a St. Louis-area casino suspected him of possessing ecstasy pills. His legal representative stated that the incident arose when Nelly attempted to collect winnings from several jackpots, and the arresting officer conducted what they termed an unnecessary search for warrants.
Court records indicate that Nelly had an outstanding warrant from a citation in 2018 for operating a vehicle without proof of insurance; however, his attorney contended that he was unaware of this warrant prior to his arrest, asserting confidence that the case would not proceed further.
Kareem Kenkaide is Nelly’s third biological child. He has two grown children, Chanelle and Cornell Haynes III, from a previous relationship and also adopted his late sister’s two children after her death in 2005.