Ashanti and Nelly are celebrating the arrival of their first child together, a son named Kareem Kenkaide Hayes, born on July 18. The couple, who first dated in 2003 before splitting in 2014, rekindled their romance in 2023. In April, they announced their engagement and pregnancy.  Ashanti shared her excitement on Instagram, proudly showing her postpartum body in specialist recovery underwear. "I've been waiting to be a mom for a long time now, but nothing could prepare me for EVERYTHING motherhood brings!" the 43-year-old singer wrote, expressing her pride in her body for giving her "baby, baby, baby, baby, baby."

This is Ashanti's first child, while Nelly, 49, has four other children, including a son and daughter from a previous relationship and two adopted children from his late stepsister. Ashanti's publicist shared that the couple is "proud and happy" and deeply in love with their new addition.