Original subtitles

[all] Surprise!

[Ashanti] Previously on Nelly and Ashanti, We Belong Together.

I didn't think that we would get back together.

We were long-distance.

I was still, like, permanently in New York.

He was permanently in St. Louis.

So when there was a disconnect,

it wasn't like, okay, come home, let's talk about it.

We were together off and on for 11 years before the final

Ah!

-I hated her. -I hated him.

[rewind]

And then the infamous hug.

[Nelly] I was just breaking ice.

But, you know, she rubbed all on my back.

Oh, my God.

[Nelly] And here we are, me and Ashanti,

back together and have a child.

He's... KK.

Halt, New Yorkers.

But with our lives moving so fast.

$76,000 for a mattress?

It's not perfect.

What about where KK's going to go to school?

If it was in New York, it would be amazing.

[Nelly] I'm not living in New York.

I've been invited to perform for the Motown Christmas special

in L.A. but I definitely don't want to leave KK.

[Tina] I thought it was just going to be two songs.

But there are three songs.

That's not happening. I'm just letting it be very clear.

I'm still undecided if I'm really going or not.

I don't know what's going to happen,

but I know there was a contract that was signed.

So we could be sued.

[uplifting music]

[Raheem] That's how we push, good.

Five, four, three,

-two, one. -[Ashanti exhaling]

[Ashanti] It's been four months since KK was born.

And where I'm at now as far as my baby weight

and all that stuff, I feel pressure on myself

cause I just want to be healthy and in shape.

And, you know, they call me Little Miss Vacation.

It's not for no reason.

I got to be in that bikini and be right.

-What? -[Raheem] You getting lazy.

-[scoffing] -[Raheem] Come on, come on.

You could only call me lazy when you have a baby.

Then called at me with lazy.

[chuckling]

-[excited music] -[Raheem] Two, one more.

Eight, nine.

-Broken down. -Yeah.

Nine, ten, five, four, three,

-Get it ma. -...two, one.

-Good. -[exhaling]

-Well, that was on fire. -What's happening?

-Mmm. -You look like that was good.

-You wanna try? -Did I miss it?

-Yeah. Ah! -Good.

He got my last one.

-[laughter] -He got my last one.

Three more sets for you. He got it.

No. What is this?

-This shit is heavy. -Exactly.

-Did you do this? -Yeah.

It's nothing. What you talking about?

-Eight, nine, ten, -What you want?

-You see that? You see that? -...ten, nine, eight, seven,

six, five, four, three--

-Five, five, five. -Okay. Wait a minute.

Is that that Long Island man?

No, that was tough, though. And you did how many sets?

-[Ashanti] Four sets. -You look good, baby.

Well, thank you. We're getting there.

-The snap is backing. -Is it? [laughing]

-Oh, my God. I'm tired. -We're going to snap back.

[both] We're going to snap back.

-You feeling good? -Oh, my God. Now, I do.

Yeah.

Cause you know I have diastasis.

So diastasis, that's why I have to wear this thing,

is after you have a C-section,

my organs are still way spread apart.

KK decided to come early, and he was transverse,

which means he was laying across my stomach.

So I had no choice but to have a C-section so that trainer is

supposed to hold everything down and back together.

So I got to build up to back to where I'm supposed to be.

So that's why, you know, we're taking it one day at a time.

-Well, I think you look awesome. -Oh, thank you.

I think you look great. You and whatever KK has done,

I think we already snapped it up.

-Bro, oh, my God. -I like all of it.

Right here? Matter of fact, I got to go pump.

It's very inspirational, I have to say.

I don't think nobody's expecting a magic wand around here.

I understand that who we are sometimes could be added

pressure to her in the sense of her getting back

in the gym and doing the baby weight and all of that.

But you're the baddest thing on the planet to me, regardless.

-Am I worthy? -Especially with them

thang-thangin like...

The baby didn't do nothing but came through for daddy.

Try not to lose too much.

[laughing]

Keep a little bit of that thang-thangin?

Yeah, keep some of that thang-thanging.

I think it's working out. Let me know.

[excited music]

-We can work out later. -We'll work out later?

-We'll work out later. -Burn some calories later?

Burn a bunch of them son of a guns.

-Well, that's cool then. -He, you good?

Let's go. I'm ready.

*

-Oh, Lord mercy. -What's happening?

I'm feeling super hesitant and nervous about flying.

So, I've been invited to perform

for the Motown Christmas Special in L.A.

But I was only going to go if I could bring my son.

I was bringing my son. I was going to fly private.

Just because of the germs and just having more control.

And then I started feeling a little bit uneasy

about flying private.

I definitely go with my gut and what I feel.

And I was just like, I feel uncomfortable.

And I don't know why or where these feelings came from.

I have all these knots in my stomach and...

[sighing] I don't know.

Well, I don't think you should make it, um,

something that you're giving yourself a hustle over.

But I think the opportunity is dope.

It's something that you wanted to do.

That's what you told me in the beginning.

I know that I don't feel comfortable.

I know that I don't want to leave him.

So, now I'm caught in, you know what I'm saying?

Okay, you done got this plane.

You done signed off on the paperwork to do this show.

I got--I feel like my back is--

I got to do something. I got to make a move.

Being a new mom, I definitely have like

fixed out a bunch of shows, a bunch of offers.

Um, just not wanting to leave him.

My career has kind of taken a little bit of a backseat.

Nothing is worth, God forbid, we get on a plane and die.

I don't want that to happen.

-Well, no. -You know what I'm saying?

Nobody wants that to happen.

And I definitely don't think that that's going to happen.

But even though you signed the paperwork,

whatever comes from it, if you don't want to go,

we'll deal with that shit. Period.

-You know what I'm saying? -All right.

I really genuinely want to go.

I just, I'm not taking the plane.

So, that's out. Now I really have to--

So, if you're not going to take the jet,

then I would say don't take him

because you don't need to fly with KK.

I encourage what's in Shant's heart.

She's waited a little bit in life to have her family.

So, it's my job--

I feel, is to find out where her heart is right now.

And build that.

Just go. Come on back.

You'll be all right.

Make sure you got enough boob juice.

[chuckling]

Trying to add a little humor to it.

No, I know.

To get that nervousness out of it.

Come with me to the show so I don't have to go by myself.

What about the thing I got to do?

Like, you want to tell the people?

I mean, if you want,

I don't think that money going to offset.

Yo, I ain't going to be rocking with Ashanti

because I have the pleasure of rocking out

at the ONE Musicfest down in Atlanta.

Looking forward to it, of course.

It's a huge music festival.

Listen, like I said again, don't sweat it.

Make your decision. I'm with you either way.

If you in, we in. If you out, I understand that.

Before having the baby, I felt like I can have it all.

But I'm just insanely infatuated with my son.

So it is a little challenging to get back to business.

And I don't want to say pursue my career,

but get back to what I've been building for so long.

Oh, God.

[Nelly] You good?

[Ashanti] I hate feeling like this. I don't know.

But okay, I just have to make a decision.

I don't want you to make yourself sick over it.

*

[Margaret] Oh, yeah. So we're still loading.

-I'm sorry. -Oh, okay.

Cause I was like, girl, this ain't it.

[Margaret] Oh, no, no, no.

I'm here in L.A. early to make sure everything is as perfect

as I can make it for Ashanti when she arrives.

[Margaret] What specifically are you worried about missing?

And we can get that in ASAP.

[Tina] What I'm going to do is I'm going to videotape it,

send it to her.

She was uneasy.

She didn't want to get on the jet.

It was paid for and everything.

And she just felt uneasy.

But she agreed to take a commercial flight

to fly out after me.

KK stayed with the nanny. So I said, okay.

-Thank you. -And our fresh fruit is coming.

We got it from Whole Foods.

We didn't wanted to get it day of.

-Yes, yes. -So it's literally

coming up the hill.

-Freshest fruit you can get. -And it's organic.

All organic. Sticker's on.

We got the wash right there.

Number nine sticker's, you know, if it has a nine in front of it

on the sticker, that's when you know for a fact it's organic.

I didn't know that.

-Yeah, look on the sticker. -Oh, I wish I knew that.

I should have told my girl to look for the nine.

-Yeah, the nine. -I didn't know that.

I'm so proud of her because this will be

her first time performing since KK.

She didn't know about the sticker.

I was afraid she wanted to cancel.

It was just too much for her.

Like, I'm worried about KK. I'm worried about flying.

I'm worried about the jet. I'm worried about if

I'll be able to get a flight.

But I think once she decided

how she was going to make it happen, she made it happen.

*

[indistinct chatter]

[Debbie] Five, six, seven, eight.

* Ta-da-da, the fun I've missed *

* Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed *

[laughing]

* Ta-da-da-da-da Christmas tree *

* Where is the teleprompter? *

* Put it on right now *

[laughing]

With me having a lot going on and having Mommy Brain

on top of that, I'm like,

I can't memorize new records that are not mine right now.

[Ashanti] Okay, thank you.

I'm performing two songs,

"Santa Baby" and "Dancing in the Street."

[production] Okay, re-set, we do that one more time.

[Ashanti] It's a huge honor to participate.

But performing for the first time after my pregnancy,

it's a little bit much.

* Hurry down the chimney tonight *

* Hurry, tonight *

[laughing]

[production] And now will be applause, applause, applause.

[all cheering, applause]

When Ashanti was rehearsing, the stage manager came over

to me and said, she's expected to do the finale.

And I was like, well, if she's doing the finale,

are they moving parts around of the way that they're filming?

Because to my knowledge,

she's not going to be here for the finale.

They're doing another number, I don't know.

Now, if the finale is being shot out of order,

we can make that work.

But we never agreed to stay to the end

because she had a flight to catch.

*

[Nelly] ATL, what happening!

ONE Musicfest, Atlanta.

Huge music fest. Definitely for, you want to call it,

black artists or hip-hop, R&B.

People come from all over.

Proud and thankful to be a part of that.

And Atlanta is a dope spot culturally and for college,

HBCUs, strip clubs.

I didn't come up with that.

It's just a fact.

-I ain't been playing. -I try to pace it out.

So I guess I have to start all over

since I got like, young ones now.

Tre is my oldest son.

He also has the same name as me and my father.

He's the third, that's why we call him "Tre."

And yeah, that's my cat. He produces music now.

I definitely encourage him to do his deep dive into this.

And he's good, too.

I stopped playing him when he was like 11.

I used to beat the shit out of him.

He never beat me. Then he beat me when he was like 11.

-Never played him again. -No.

I can't beat him. I'm off.

Not being there sometimes when they do certain things

for the first time.

I went through those things with all of my children.

Sometimes those things get sacrificed.

But you know that you're doing the right thing.

Because you can't do all.

[Nelly] That shit crazy.

I thought for sure.

Chasing toddlers?

Not yet, but what I'm saying is he coming.

And when he come, he'll be older.

I definitely knew that if me and Shant

got back together, that having children

was definitely something that I knew she's always wanted.

And I wanted it with her as well.

So I didn't know that I was going

to be pushing 50 when it happened.

But I mean, you know, it is what it is.

I was like, yo, listen.

Whatever you need me to do, but I promise you,

until he can say, "I'm hungry,"

until he can say, "I need to use the bathroom,"

there's going to be a lot in your lap.

But we can get as many nannies as you want.

I mean, hey, I'm being honest.

Get the nanny.

Hey, man, I'm rich, man. Listen.

Oh, my God.

I ain't afraid to say it.

Which camera is on?

I worked my ass off. Listen.

Where the nanny at?

But as soon as he started walking,

I told her, I said, enjoy.

I did the same thing with Tre.

What you mean?

She's not leaving him for nobody.

She's barely let me hold him.

First of all, she's a great mother.

It's freaking amazing watching her get down.

But my baby be ODing.

She's like that commercial, you know, they had their first baby.

Then by the time you had a second baby,

you handing them to the mechanic.

When are you starting to shoot for real?

At 6:30.

So I need to be camera ready by 6:30.

By 5 o'clock.

By 5 o'clock.

How far is LAX from here?

35 minutes.

[production] So we need the host mic'ed.

Timing...

Just when we're starting,

and when my parts are done.

She's looking at the clock.

Okay, let me look at the flights.

We have to be on that plane at 9 o'clock tonight

because she was afraid

she wouldn't have enough breast milk.

Because she had some stored in the freezer.

I have to pump now, actually.

She wasn't sure that was going to be enough.

-[indistinct] ...first, -Okay.

...you can go to Santa Baby,

come off stage, change clothes,

we go to one other thing and then we do... the finale.

So the finale is not first?

It can't be first...

because there is a change in cameras set up.

I don't know how to get you out of here

much faster than 8--8:15.

I can't do it.

So, we just have to figure it out.

Because I'm definitely not missing my flight.

Can we do a later flight?

I'm just trying to ask. Nobody says... [indistinct]

Can we do a later flight?

I'm just trying to ask. Nobody says... [indistinct]

I'm sorry, I didn't know.

I thought baby was coming with you.

-Originally, that was the plan. -That was what I thought.

Originally, that was my opinion too.

[Debbie] The thing is, even with it being--

[Tina] That's not the point is what she said.

Yeah, you know what I'm saying?

[Tina] Yeah, that's not the point.

And so you wanna be there for the morning.

-Exactly. -Yes, I understand.

It's been a super stressful day,

but I'm in a way better mood now because...

And we're able to switch my numbers to make them earlier

in the show so I can get them done and hop on the plane.

All right, now get this shit started.

'cause it's hot in here.

I ain't been doing nothing but constantly work.

I did a show last night,

on the bus, come down here, show today.

Then I turn around, drive up there to get her,

and drive back down here when

she could just slide and let me be quiet.

I'm going to get her.

That's what I'm supposed to do.

Everybody got to sacrifice somewhere down the line,

you know what I mean?

My birthday party's coming up,

the Halloween birthday party here in Atlanta.

My wife, she's going to be in New York,

and she doesn't want to fly with the baby,

so she has this idea of getting on the bus

and coming down to Atlanta, which is no problem,

but she insists that I come up and get her and bring her down.

Now, I don't know why she can't get on the bus

and come down herself, but this is not where

I'm going to plant my flag.

Be a good husband.

*

It was heart-wrenching to leave in the morning,

but I had to kiss him quick and just go.

And I had to pump in the car.

But how are you, baby daddy?

It always matters.

That babe--we care about you, of course.

You are the most important.

Babe.

Baby, you're not second fiddle.

Um.

Second piano, second trumpet.

Second guitar.

Maybe whatever instrument you want to put, I am second.

I love you.

All right, babe, have a good show.

These trunks is about to explode.

Oh, baby!

Bring those bottles right here.

[Tina] Before the baby came, she was all about work and making

sure that her glam was on point,

but KK changed her life.

Oh, God. These guys is heavy. All right.

What, your boobs or them things?

Both.

Oh. All right, y'all gotta go.

I gotta pump. Bye!

*

-Ah! -How you doing?

I'm performing with the 'Tics.

We've been on the road a lot coming out of COVID.

We've been on the road damn near ever since.

I definitely still love performing.

I mean, to me, that's one of the best

parts about being an artist.

I pretty much like to say I'm booked for life.

I'm thankful for that.

I know what it's like not to have,

so in the back of the mind, I think

that's the gas that keeps you running.

Ooh, what you did?

Dirty ass.

Well, if you didn't have bronzer on your boobie.

Yeah, that's not bronzer.

Throw some, throw some beads on it.

Totty tot tot. Oh, so h--Oh!

They're gonna have to put this on.

-Unless they put it on outside. -The mic?

Yeah, the mic pack, we should have put that on.

I'm already so anxious to get back home to KK.

I don't have time for these mistakes.

What are they doing?

We gotta, we gotta go.

What is he doing?

But like, what is he doing?

He gotta move. We gotta go to sing.

Tell him we gotta go, we can't sit here like that.

Can we go? I have to go to the stage.

She gotta go to the stage. Just hit him.

Go, go, go.

[man] I'm gonna take you back over. We're at the stage.

As soon as you're ready, girl, we're gonna go.

-Okay. -We're gonna put you in place.

Okay.

Can the teleprompter go where it was earlier?

Hi, where's the teleprompter?

It can't be where it was earlier today?

Can we put it in the same spot as it was today?

I need it where it was today.

I thought that's why we rehearsed it like that.

No, no, I said, I said, that is only because it was daytime.

It's gonna be towards the back.

That ain't gonna work.

But the confidence prompter is down below, on the floor.

They weren't 100% sure if they would be able to do it.

Get that hair out of her earrings, please.

I said, you'll do it.

All right, that's the order.

Kelly, it's dark, we gotta go, you gotta go fast.

If you're going first.

I work for my daughter.

I'm her momager.

Mom-anger.

I'll put you in place.

Well, hello everyone. Merry Christmas.

*

I think for a lot of artists, including myself,

this show kind of, you know, it rides on the vibe

of the people that came to see me.

It's my job to go up there and light they ass on fire.

You know what I'm saying?

Like, the crowd don't just accept anything.

Like, you gotta go and put on a show.

What's that? I can't hear that.

I said, ATL, what's happening?

First off, I wanna take this time to thank each

and everyone one of you all from the bottom of my heart.

One time in the stand, you gotta know that.

I only want to talk to the folks out there

who've been riding with Nelly since day one.

* I'm going down, down, baby *

* Your street In a Range Rover *

* Boom boom baby, uh-uh, ready to let it go *

* Shimmy Shimmy *

* Listen to it *

* Light it up And take a what? *

* Pass it to me *

I'm thankful that I have music and projects

that have stand the test of time.

* Getting hugged, daps and hugs *

* Mean mugs and shoulder shrugs *

You remember this when you didn't

have responsibility, when music guided you through

non-responsible times, and that was the soundtrack.

* Say it loud, what? *

* I'm from the 'Lou and I'm proud *

* Run a mile for the cause *

* I'm righteous Above the law *

* Player, my style's raw *

* I'm born to Mack like Todd Shaw *

Anytime you're on stage, it's just the energy.

That's one of the best parts about being an artist.

I'm gonna go as long as I got it.

* I'm going down, down baby *

* Your street In a Range Rover *

* Boom, boom, baby, Ready to let it go *

* Shimmy, shimmy cocas, what? *

* Listen to it pow *

* Light it up And take a what? *

But when Ashanti's away,

when I'm away, I think missing her

and her missing me is something that we definitely

go through, probably go through it more than a lot of people.

But that's what this business is,

and you know what comes along with

being an artist and creating.

[announcer] Please welcome back

the Grammy Award-winning Ashanti.

Hello, everyone. Merry Christmas.

* Santa, baby just slip a sable under the tree *

* For me * * For me *

* Been an awful good girl *

* Santa, baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight *

* Hurry *

* Tonight *

She killed it.

She killed it.

I'm so proud. I really am. Very, very proud.

It was a challenging day.

-Good job! -[people cheering]

Considering all the pressure and everything that happened

going into it, they picked me up in the white fur.

It was very winter wonderland-ish.

-Hi, thank you. -You killed it, Ashanti.

-You killed it, Ashanti. -Oh, my God, thank you.

It was good being back on the stage,

but it's going to take a miracle to get to the airport.

Hurry up. Let's put this shit in the bag.

-I gotta go. -I'm putting it in here.

*

Hi, baby. What's happening?

Ah!

I love what I do. I love my career.

I love music.

But nothing outweighs my child.

So I was definitely conflicted,

just making the decision to kind of get back to it or not.

Oh, mommy missed you so much.

I love you, baby.

Hi.

It's going to be a challenging journey.

I'm going to have to adjust.

Oh, mommy loves you so much.

But yeah, after this experience,

I will be bringing my son everywhere, for the most part.

Next time on Nelly and Ashanti We Belong Together.

If you was going to spank me,

I would have proposed, let me say it.

TMI.

How do you think KK got here?

No, I'm just kidding.

* Gave proof Through the night *

She's done national anthems before,

but this is the World Series.

-We gotta go? -Yep.

[woman] Let her through, let her through.

[announcer] Please welcome Ashanti.

I don't think I'll be invited back.

He done shitted.

So we are finally getting

the family together since KK was born.

I'm just happy we're all together.

-It's been a while. -You know what I'm saying?

Obviously you want someone that gets along with your children.

Let me get you two right here. That's perfect.

But you can't force it.

We got it.