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Ashanti and Nelly welcome their first child and reveal the name

The singer and the rapper rekindled their relationship last year.
Ashanti and Nelly.
Ashanti and Nelly on Feb. 2 in Miami.Alexander Tamargo / Getty Images for E11EVEN
/ Source: TODAY

Ashanti and Nelly just dropped their ultimate hit: a baby they can rock with.

On Wednesday, the 43-year-old “What’s Luv?” singer confirmed the birth of her first child with the 49-year-old “Ride Wit Me” rapper, a boy.

She told “Entertainment Tonight” that they welcomed their son, Kareem Kenkaide Haynes, on July 18.

Ashanti also appeared to acknowledge the birth of their son in an Instagram post.

“Funny how life’s plans aren’t…always on time.. lol,” she captioned the post. “I’ve been waiting to be a mom for a long time now but nothing could prepare me for EVERYTHING motherhood brings! 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.”

This has been a big year for the couple, whose relationship traces back to the early aughts and was rekindled last year.

In April, Ashanti confirmed via Essence that they were expecting their first child together. Months later, in June, the Los Angeles Times reported that they had quietly married in December 2023.

Ashanti seemed to confirm that she and Nelly had renewed their relationship on the red carpet for the 2023 VMAs. Ahead of the award show, the singer posed for photographs while wearing a clutch that featured a throwback picture of the two loves.

“This is where we first exchanged numbers. I was like, ‘Oh, this would be cute,’” Ashanti said on the red carpet.

“Everything is lining up in the universe,” she added. “So I’m happy.”