NEED TO KNOW
Nelly is opening up about how touring life is different since welcoming his 1-year-old son, KK, with wife Ashanti
He tells PEOPLE watching Ashanti as a first-time mom is “a joy”
The rapper’s Apple Bottoms brand is currently teaming up with Bubly sparkling water for an Apple Bubly Jeans campaign
Life changed for Nelly when his son, KK, was born in July 2024.
The “Hot in Herre” rapper (whose full name is Cornell Haynes Jr.) shares the 1-year-old baby boy with wife Ashanti — and while welcoming his fifth child hasn’t stopped him from touring the world this summer, road life looks different now.
“They joined me. They’ve been on the road a lot,” Nelly, 50, tells PEOPLE of the “Foolish” singer and KK, whose full name is Kareem Kenkaide Haynes.
Phillip Faraone/Getty
Ashanti and Nelly in February 2025
“When Shan has a show or something she has to tend to, obviously I don’t have a choice, she takes him with her,” he adds of his wife. “She’s an incredible person already, so to watch her go through motherhood for the first time is really a joy to watch, man.”
Neither of them taking parenting for granted. “Everybody doesn’t get a chance to be a mother, everybody don’t get that chance, and that’s something that I did not realize until me and her got back together, so to speak,” says Nelly.
The “Dilemma” musician initially dated Ashanti on and off from 2003 to 2013 before splitting up. They confirmed rekindling their relationship in September 2023 and quietly wed in December of the same year.
“There’s so many women out here that do not get a chance to become mothers, and it’s not by their decision. Things could be medical, it could be health, it could be some other different things as well,” continues Nelly. “But to watch her eyes light up every day and the joy with him — he’s the splitting image of her, too — it’s great.”
Shortly after this interview, Ashanti and KK joined Nelly on the road. “It’s dope, man,” he says. “It’s different on the bus, I’ll tell you that. There’s no more weed smoking and no s— like that, you know what I’m saying?”
“That’s gone,” quips the “Ride Wit Me” artist.
Scott Dudelson/Getty
Nelly in April 2025
Aside from touring, Nelly is focused on his iconic Apple Bottoms denim brand, relaunched last year. The company is currently teaming up with Bubly sparkling water for a limited-edition collection of Apple Bubly Jeans.
The collaboration celebrates the limited-time comeback of Bubly’s crisp apple flavor. On the denim brand’s website, fans can purchase a bundle featuring an exclusive pair of Apple Bubly Jeans and the soft drink drink as well as a tank top, keychain, mini denim clutch and iron-on patch.
“You want to be able to pair up and double brand with companies that have similar structure in what it is that you’re doing, meaning they’ve been able to have unbelievable success in an area where I would have never thought people would be making money,” Nelly says of the Apple Bubly Jeans campaign. “Sparkling water, who knew?”
Read the original article on People