Ashanti and Nelly have joyfully welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Kareem Kenkaide Hayes, born on July 18, 2024. The couple, known for their influential R&B careers in the late ’90s and early 2000s, shared the news with PEOPLE, expressing their excitement and love for their newborn. A representative for the couple revealed, “Ashanti and Nelly welcomed their baby boy, Kareem Kenkaide Hayes, on July 18, 2024. The proud and happy parents are so in love with KK!”
Ashanti and Nelly first dated in the early 2000s but parted ways before rekindling their romance in September 2023. In an interview on Boss Moves with Rasheeda, Nelly reflected on their time apart, stating, “Sometimes, being apart helps you understand each other better. You start to see things from their perspective.”
Ashanti, known for hits like “Dilemma” and “Into You,” has recently embraced motherhood for the first time. Nelly, already a father of four, adopted Shawn and Sydney Thomas from his late stepsister and shares Cornell and Chanelle with his previous partner, Channetta Valentine. Ashanti shared a postpartum update on Instagram, showing off her four-week postpartum bump and reflecting on her new journey into motherhood. She captioned the post, “Funny how life’s plans aren’t always on time… lol. I’ve been waiting to be a mom for a long time, but nothing could prepare me for EVERYTHING motherhood brings!”
Ashanti also shared her appreciation for her body’s role in bringing her baby into the world, adding, “This is what postpartum looks like. I’m loving these super cozy @fridamom shorts! I’m so proud of my body for giving me my baby, baby, baby, baby, baby.”
The couple’s joyous news follows earlier reports of their December 2023 marriage. Despite the speculation, Ashanti shared with Essence in April, “Motherhood is something I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience.”
