Ashanti And Nelly Talk Apple Bottoms, Bling And New Peacock Series

NELLY & ASHANTI: WE BELONG TOGETHER — “Party People” Episode 104 — Pictured: (l-r) Nelly, Ashanti — (Photo by: Bryan Steffy/PEACOCK)
Bryan Steffy/PEACOCK

If you lived through the 1990s, you likely know of style icons Nelly and Ashanti, the hip hop couple who made waves during the best decade of music.

The award-winning musicians had a very public romantic relationship from 2003 to 2013, reunited in 2022 and married in 2023. In 2024, their first child together was born, Kareem Kenkaide.

A new Peacock series documents their life together as newlyweds, called Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together, which premieres today on Peacock. The eight-episode series allows us to follow their lives as parents, celebrities, businesspeople and companions.

We all connect with their love story because it feels real and authentic. The duo first met at the Grammy Awards nomination announcement in 2003, where Nelly coyly asked Ashanti for her autograph. The duo developed a friendship, and rumors sparked whether it was more. They had an on-again, off-again relationship for some time, finally ending the relationship in 2013, due to trust issues.

Grammy Award-winning musician Nelly grew up in St. Louis and first launched his career in music in 1993 as part of the midwestern hip hop group, St. Lunatics, but embarked on a solo career in 1999. His debut album, Country Grammar, was released in 2000, and is best known for his hit songs, “Hot in Herre” and “Dilemma” featuring Kelly Rowland.

Meanwhile, Ashanti grew up in New York City, signed with Murder Inc. Records, and is known for her hit songs “Always on Time” with Ja Rule, and “Foolish,” which samples a remix of “One More Chance” by The Notorious B.I.G featuring Faith Evans (a track which samples the instrumentals of DeBarge’s 1983 track, “Stay With Me.” Ashanti has her own star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and has won a Grammy Award, Soul Train Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards.

“I think people have seen us go through ups and downs, a lot of them,” said Ashanti. “And just to have such an amazing, positive, fairy tale-esque ending, I think is an inspirational thing.”

NELLY & ASHANTI: WE BELONG TOGETHER — “This Lil Game We Play” Episode 103 — Pictured: (l-r) Nelly, Ashanti — (Photo by: Peacock)

“People probably see themselves in us somewhere at some point during a relationship,” adds Nelly. “And being who we are career-wise, people are able to see a lot of it play out.”

He adds: “You got a chance to see us not only just grow in our careers but grow relationship-wise and grow as people. So, to be able to see that much of a person’s life, I think you feel invested.”

Nelly is a fashion entrepreneur in his own right. In 1997, he launched the streetwear brand Vokal, and in 2003, founded a womenswear brand, Apple Bottoms (which had its own perfume), and has branded apparel around his record label Derrty Entertainment. Bling is an integral part of hip hop and Nelly is no stranger to wearing diamond-encrusted jewelry, like dog tags bearing the logo of his record label.

Jeans by Apple Bottoms
apple bottoms

He recently brought back the Apple Bottoms brand and their signature denim looks. “Bringing back Apple Bottoms was something, where it’s having that foundation career-wise where people were invested in you,” said Nelly.

Their summer collection includes tanks, denim skirts and jeans with its trademark apple pockets, bodysuits and signature leather bomber jackets.

It’s also about pre-internet era nostalgia. “We come from a generation of music that was still buying solid albums or solid CDs, so to speak,” he said. “People stood for blocks just to get an autograph, I remember ‘in-stores.’ Who does in-stores now?”

“I remember people ripping open the CDs to see who you were giving a shout out to so people could put the poster on the wall,” said Nelly. “When you talk about that, coming from that type of creativity, it translated over into fashion for me. And Apple Bottoms was one of those things. Fortunately, I had a lot of female fans. I’m not going to complain about that.”

Nelly and Ashanti tied the knot privately in 2023. “It was about just bringing it back, just that taste of something where multi generations can enjoy it,” he said. “A mother can also enjoy the same thing with their daughter or with their niece.”

NELLY & ASHANTI: WE BELONG TOGETHER — “You Can Find Me In St. Louis” Episode 105 — Pictured: (l-r) Nelly, Chanelle — (Photo by: Peacock)

As a Y2K tastemaker, Ashanti’s style evolution is noteworthy. She was a fashion icon through the 1990s and 2000s, stepping onto red carpets and stages wearing glamorous pieces by Stuart Weitzman, Tom Ford and Christian Siriano. And who can forget when she wore a clutch to the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards bearing a portrait of herself and Nelly? She’s also a fan of Alexis Bittar jewelry.

There are epic style moments in the new series, including one segment where Ashanti wears a white faux fur coat. “Honestly, I felt like I wanted to just be me and normal,” said Ashanti. “I think people see me in red carpet looks and on tour and we’ll give a little bit of that when it’s necessary, but you also see me wearing PJs and a bun and no makeup. You know what I mean?”

“She’s from the fashion capital, she’s from New York,” said Nelly. “She’ll be out there like, yo, can’t play me, son. You know what I mean?”

Style-wise, Ashanti wanted to create a balance on the show, from their public to private lives. “We are just living our lives with the cameras navigating through this in real time,” she said. “We are just newlyweds and I’m a parent for the first time, it’s just our real lives unscripted.”

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 12: Ashanti attends the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
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