Ashanti Shares Insight on Raising Baby Son While Touring for the First Time

Ashanti openly acknowledges that raising a baby requires support. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the 44-year-old singer and actress discusses embracing motherhood alongside her 7-month-old son, Kareem Kenkaide, affectionately known as KK, with husband Nelly. As she embarks on her first tour as a mother, she is already thinking ahead.

"This will be my first time going on tour as a mom," Ashanti mentions. "We definitely need extra hands, and there will surely be extra bags since I already travel with a lot of luggage." She emphasizes the importance of preparation, stating, "We have to be more aware of our time and more prepared. Life with a baby can be unpredictable.

In April, Ashanti is scheduled to perform on the Bring It On Tour in the U.K. and Ireland, alongside Sean Paul and Fat Joe. Later that month, she will join the R&B Forever Tour in Brooklyn, featuring Ginuwine and Tyrese. In early May, she heads to California for a concert with Fabolous and Lloyd.

Traveling with baby KK necessitates meticulous daily planning and a structured schedule, according to Ashanti. "I plan to be conscious of time and my environment. I won’t allow a lot of people around, and I’ll enforce no shoes indoors to minimize germs," she shares. "I’m in protective Mama Bear mode, aiming to safeguard my child."

Fortunately, Ashanti's mother, Tina Douglas, whom she affectionately calls her "momager," will assist her on the tour. "Momager is serious about her role. She prefers to be called Tima — not grandma — but Tima since that’s her name," she jokes.

Ashanti expresses her overall satisfaction as she adapts to her new role as a mother. "I feel great; everything has healed, and I’m healthy. It feels wonderful to be able to hold my baby and stay active," she says. However, she also recognizes the need to make time for fitness. "I must prioritize my gym time to get back to what I do."

Earlier, SSP wrote that Samantha Hanratty revealed the name of her first child with Christian DeAnda.