Nelly Talks Fatherhood At Age 50

Nelly is embracing diaper duty and camera crews as he navigates life as a new dad at 50—just in time for the debut of his new reality series with wife Ashanti.

The hip-hop icon and the Grammy-winning R&B singer welcomed their first child together, Kareem Kenkaide, in July 2023, only months after tying the knot. Now, they’re inviting fans into their world with Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together, premiering Thursday, June 26 on Peacock.

During a recent appearance on NBC’s Today, Nelly opened up about adjusting to fatherhood later in life.

“Listen, I told her before we had this baby, ‘I’m here—but chasing toddlers at 50…’” he joked, before laughing. “I said, ‘Have as many as you want, but we’re gonna need as many nannies as we can afford.’ I pay for a professional chaser.”

Ashanti, 44, shared her own experience stepping into motherhood. In the show’s trailer, she admits, “KK is my first child, so I’m a little more frantic.”

Nelly offered a more relaxed take: “My parenting style is just—don’t burn down the house.”

The docuseries gives viewers an intimate look at the couple’s daily life—from raising their son to juggling busy careers. “We’re managing real life together: our child, our work, travel, and now cameras. It’s a lot,” Ashanti said on Today.

Nelly also brings parenting experience to the table. He shares two adult children with ex-girlfriend Chanetta Valentine and adopted his late sister Jackie’s children in 2005.

Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together premieres June 26 on Peacock.