Ashanti has given birth to a baby boy

A representative for the couple told People: "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!"

The 'Foolish' hitmaker also took to Instagram as the news broke to share candid snaps of her body a month on from giving birth.

She dec lared: "Four weeks postpartum. You have no idea what this body can do!"

In the caption of the post, Ashanti noted that plans are not "always on time" and that has realised that "nothing could have prepared" her for being a mother, no matter how many years she had longed for it.

She said: "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! 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."

Nelly already has daughter Chanelle, 30, and Cornell, 25, with his his ex-girlfriend Channetta Valentine and adopted his nephew Shawn, 27, and niece Sydney, 20, following the death of their mother in 2005.

Ashanti - who was initially in a relationship with Nelly from 2003 until 2013 but reconciled with him a decade later - recently confessed she was "shocked and happy and emotional" all at once when she found out she was pregnant because becoming a mother was what she had wanted for so long.

She told 'Entertainment Tonight': "I was so shocked and happy and emotional. I always dreamed about it.I wanted it so, so bad and I just feel like the timing was perfect."