Ashanti and Nelly Welcome First Baby Together — and Share His Name

Ashanti is a mom!

The singer, 43, and her husband Nelly, 49, have welcomed their first baby together, sharing the exciting news on Instagram. In the photo, Ashanti posed in her Frida Mom disposable underwear, snapping a photo of herself in the mirror as she shared what her fourth trimester looks like.

“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!” a rep for the couple tells PEOPLE.

In the carousel of photos on her Instagram, Ashanti also shared a video of herself in a blue robe, showing off her body as she said, “Four weeks postpartum. You have no idea what this body can do.”

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“Funny how life’s plans aren’t…always on time.. lol. I’ve been waiting to be a mom for a long time now but nothing could prepare me for EVERYTHING motherhood brings!” the newly minted mom wrote in her caption.

“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 Grammy Award-winning artists first announced they were expecting their first baby together when the R&B songstress shared a video on her Instagram.

As Ashanti got ready for a performance, her mom Tina Douglas asked her how much time she needed. “Uh, I’m gonna need about nine months,” Ashanti answered, prompting her mom to look shocked.

The singer shared the news with Essence, revealing that not only is she pregnant, but she and Nelly were engaged.

“This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope and anticipation,” Ashanti told the outlet. “Motherhood is something that 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.”

Nelly and Ashanti tied the knot on December 27, 2023, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE in June. TMZ was first to report their wedding news.

When the famous couple celebrated together at the 11th Black and White Ball at the Four Seasons Hotel in December, they first sparked pregnancy rumors during a moment when both were onstage.

The singer rested her hands on her stomach and as the rapper noticed, he did the same. The two made eye contact before bursting into big smiles and laughter, which many fans took as a hint that there was baby news to share.

In September 2023, Nelly confirmed the couple was back together during an appearance on the Boss Moves with Rasheeda show, saying the reconciliation “surprised both of us.”

“It wasn’t anything that we planned. We both were pretty much doing what we do,” he explained. “But sometimes, being separate, you understand one another more. You could be like, ‘Well yo, let me exactly see maybe what they see.’ We all can be defensive sometimes in our own relationships. We know we wrong but we going to stand on it, you know what I mean? But we all a victim to that.”

Nelly is already dad to son Cornell III (who goes by Tre), 25, and daughter, Chanelle (who goes by Nana), 30. The rapper also helped raise niece Sydney and nephew Shawn after his sister, Jackie Donahue died of leukemia at 31 in March 2005.