Ashanti, Nelly Discuss His Role In Baby Duties & Fans React

Ashanti and Nelly are giving fans an inside look at their happily-ever-after with their new show! Fans are tuned in, and most recently, the couple’s conversation about baby care made its way onto social media. The divide was real as Nelly insisted in the viral clip that he’s cruising through the newborn and infant phase. For now, Papa is leaning on Mommy, down to night cries!

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Ashanti Shares Mixed Feelings About Nelly Going On Tour

As mentioned, the couple is putting us in their business with their show, ‘Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together.’ A recent episode showed them discussing the rapper going on tour, and how that would impact his time at home helping care for their son.

Unlike Nelly, Ashanti is a first-time parent to their little one, Kareem Kenkaide Haynes, who will turn one on July 18, 2025. Since giving birth, Ashanti has kept busy with public appearances, including red carpets. And it seems that busy energy is the same at home! In the TV show clip, Ashanti revealed that she’s happy for Nelly’s opportunity to tour, but admitted that the wife and mother side of her felt “a little sad.” She even joked about calling Live Nation over the scheduling! “Daddy’s gonna be gone a long time,” she said.

After he reassured her, saying he thinks she’ll be fine, Ashanti explained that “with the baby it’s a lot.” But Nelly reminded her it’s all her, even when he’s home. “I ain’t even gon lie,” he said, saying he has “nothing else” for his son. Ashanti seconded his claim, and then the show flashed to Nelly telling a group of men how he was handling daddy duties. While Kareem can’t talk or walk, the rapper said Ashanti is leading.

“But as soon as he start walking, I told her, I said, ‘Enjoy.’ Cause soon as he get to walking and talking, he with the crew,” Nelly told the group in the flashback.

Couple Discusses Nelly Sleeping Through Son’s Crying

Meanwhile, as the scene with Ashanti continued, she talked about his ability to sleep through Kareem’s cries. “I’m trying to understand,” the singer told him. His response: “Do y’all really be up at night?” To that, Ashanti turned her head away from him!

The reactions to that brief televised conversation have been all over the place! In The Shade Room’s comment section, the roommates had all kinds of POVs, from giving them grace to run their household as they see fit to side-eyeing Nelly over carrying his parenting weight.

@tylermnewkirk wrote, “Different strokes, different folks. What works for them may not work for you. Let’s just listen and attend to our own lives.”

Meanwhile, @juicemayn commented, “😂😂😂 This her first kid, He got kids already so he know lol.”

@__morganmaleisa added, “So she’s a married single mom? Lol. Got it.” @wegotyall215 came with similar energy, writing, “She waited all these years to have a baby by a teenager.”

“Like it or not bro old school, and he a PROVIDER LIKE YALL BE WANTING he don’t wanna deal with baby part of it frfr lol but when he older dad gone hands on lol a lot yall parents was like this too yall just don’t remember 💀😂😂,” @themaniac_mcclainiac said.

And @its_tegadominic added, “Some folks can’t deal with new borns, the man clearly said he’ll hire as much help for her and that’s totally understandable, as long as you are making that possible and present, I am good.”

See more reactions and the conversation between Nelly and Ashanti:

Nelly Says He’s On “Cruise” Mode Parenting But Available

Their viral parenting conversation comes after Nelly and Ashanti also spoke with The Shade Room about the responsibility. As mentioned, he’s already a father to older children, Cornell and Chanelle. So when it comes to parenting, he said he’s on “cruise control,” but appreciates watching Ashanti go through it for the first time.

“Just watching her go through it, I know what this truly meant to her. I know she always wanted kids, and I know when you’re in this business, sometimes timing can not work, and some artists have gone their whole lives through this business and never get a chance to see that or experience that.”

While “living vicariously” through her, the rapper also said Ashanti knows he’s here. “She knows I’m here. She knows she has the support, she knows whatever she needs, I provide, and that includes nannies,” he added.

Watch the full TSR interview below: