Hip-hop power couple Nelly and Ashanti are embracing their reunion, dubbed “spinning the block,” as they delve into their rekindled romance, marriage, and parenthood in their new Peacock reality show, “Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together.”
The show, debuting Thursday, offers an intimate look into their lives a decade after their initial breakup, with Nelly also set to release a country-inspired single titled “Spin the Block.”
While the couple is largely open about their lives, they maintain privacy when it comes to their son, “KK,” whose face is blurred or hidden throughout the series.
Nelly explained this decision was entirely Ashanti’s, acknowledging her “anxiety” as a first-time mother. (Nelly is a father of four, including two adopted children after his sister’s passing in 2005.)
Nelly expressed his belief in revisiting past relationships, provided “the good outweighs the bad.” Ashanti concurred, adding, “You don’t want to go back to a bad situation.”
The artists, who first met in 2003 and were a prominent hip-hop couple before their 2013 split, famously had a difficult breakup.
Fans were surprised in 2021 when Nelly hugged Ashanti during a Verzuz performance, their first encounter since the separation.
Ashanti playfully remarked that “the block was closed for a long time,” but the spark reignited, leading them to confirm their reunion in September 2023, announce their engagement and pregnancy in April 2024, and reveal their secret December 2023 marriage.
Credit: NBC
Their son, Kareem Kenkaide Haynes, was born in July 2024.
Their new series heavily features their family life, with Ashanti balancing new motherhood and her career, and Nelly relaunching his Apple Bottom fashion line.
The couple also tackles challenging topics, including the backlash Nelly received for performing at Donald Trump’s Liberty Ball in January 2025 and Ashanti’s complex relationship with the late music executive Irv Gotti.
Nelly, who has prior reality TV experience with “Nellyville” (2014), stated he wanted viewers to see “a person that I get a chance to see every day that’s not just the business side or the artist side of Ashanti… She’s funny, she’s charismatic… just seeing her in a different light. I thought that would be dope.” Ashanti admitted to being a more private person but trusted Nelly’s passion for the project. “When you get married, you trust your person,” she said.
The couple is also addressing recent speculation about another pregnancy.
Ashanti, focused on “KK’s first birthday coming up on July 18,” stated, “Obviously we want to have more,” with Nelly humorously adding, “I’m doing my part…” It isn’t like we aren’t trying.”
