Nelly and Ashanti know how to have a good time.
The pair stepped out on Sunday, Dec. 15, for Nelly’s annual Black and White Charity Ball at the Four Seasons Hotel in his hometown of St. Louis. Louis, Missouri.
“They were playful and loving and told everyone what a good baby KK was,” a source told PEOPLE exclusively of the new parents, adding that their son “lights up when he’s around his dad.”
At one point in the evening, Ashanti, 44, joined Nelly, 50, on stage to perform her 2002 hit “What’s Luv.” They then sang Ashanta’s “Baby” and changed the lyrics to “we made a baby, baby, baby, baby, baby.”
“Make some noise for my bloody beautiful wife,” he said on stage.
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Throughout the evening, Nelly raised money for Make-A-Wish, granted a 14-year-old’s wish by gifting him a brand new home theater system, and awarded a scholarship to a sophomore at Harris-Stowe State University.
The “Hot in Here” rapper also received the key to the city from St. Lunatics. In response to the honor, he teased a festival in collaboration with Metro Boomin that will take place in 2025.
Ashanti and Nelly.
Getty
Other guests at the ball included Ne-Yo, Metro Boomin, Jermaine Dupri, Bow Wow, Jordan Binnington, Oli Marmol, Masyn Winn, J-Kwon, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, City, Slo’Down, Blanco Brown, Isaac Keys, Polow Yes Don, Richard Fortus, Sydney Thomas, Connor Perry, Jim Edmonds, Orlando Pace and others.
In November, the couple revealed to PEOPLE their lives as new parents to son Kareem Kenkaide Haynes, whose arrival was announced in August via Instagram.
“It’s amazing,” Ashanti said of having KK in their lives. “He’s a blessing. He’s an angel. My life is amazing right now. I’m super blessed, so happy. I’m madly in love with him.”
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Reflecting on how his personality has blossomed, Ashanti said he definitely “has his dad’s temperament.”
“When the bottle isn’t ready—oh, man,” she said.
The Grammy Award winners first announced they were expecting their first child together in an Instagram video shared in April. The singer of the song “Foolish” also shared the news. Essence soon after discovering not only that she was pregnant, but that she and Nelly were engaged.
“This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope and anticipation,” Ashanti told the newspaper. “Motherhood is something I’ve been looking forward to, and to share this with my family, fiancé and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an incredible experience.”
The couple married on Dec. 27, 2023, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE in June.
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Source: HIS Education