Music

Ashanti and Nelly Raise Money for St. Louis With Black & White Ball

The event raised money to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Harris-Stowe State University.

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 15: Ashanti and Nelly share a moment on stage at Nelly’s Black and White Ball on December 15, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri.
Phillip Hamer Photography/Getty Images

Ashanti and Nelly held a fun holiday giveback over the weekend during the rapper's latest Black & White Ball in St. Louis on Sunday.

Guests including Metro Boomin, Ne-Yo, Jermaine Dupri, Bow Wow and more joined the couple for the occasion, which benefited the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Harris-Stowe State University.

The Black & White Ball raised money to support over 750 wishes in Kansas and Missouri. "They mean a lot, you know what I'm saying. I was one of the kids wishing maybe not as severe as some of our children but that's what makes it that much more amazing,” Nelly told KSDK.

"It's such a beautiful thing to witness, you know," Ashanti added. "He's been doing it for so long and touching so many lives, and we're just happy to be a part of it and witness all the greatness."

The couple, who got married last year, welcomed their first child together over the summer, named Kareem Kenkaide Hayes. Per Page Six, the "Baby" singer is reportedly pregnant with her second child with Nelly.

At the Black & White Ball, Ashanti and Nelly sang a rendition of "Baby" dedicated to Kareem, also known as "KK."

In a November interview with Entertainment Tonight, Ashanti said that she's long felt a "sense of protection" with her husband. "He takes so much pride in being like a protecto, a father a husband and making sure that the family is straight and being very selfless and focused on making sure that we are all good and happy and safe," she told the outlet.

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