Nelly shut down the stage at Z100’s Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden, performing for fans in the midst of the holiday excitement. Before his set, he shared updates with Extra on his one-year-old son, KK, with Ashanti. “He’s terrorizing. He’s walking. He thinks he’s such a big boy… He just loves pushing everything. He takes the luggage, and he just wants to push it with the wheels,” Nelly said about life with his little boy.

The holidays now hold a new meaning for Nelly, now that he has his own family. He reflected on past seasons spent on the road and how hard it was to be home during the holidays. “Been in this business a long time, so a lot of the holidays we haven’t been together as much as we would love to, but now, since I do have my own family, we make sure that’s not an issue,” he said. He also joked that he’s been shopping for Ashanti all year, making sure she’s covered.

Giving back is a big part of Nelly’s holiday season. His Black and White Ball in St. Louis provides scholarships, with a focus on the city’s only HBCU, while also supporting other schools. “We’ve been giving out scholarships for maybe five to six years specifically for that school, but we’ve given to others in different schools too,” he said.

Nelly also shared his excitement about Latto’s involvement with Apple Bottoms. “She brought that Latto swag to Apple Bottoms, and we were able to create a mesh. It’s been great. Shout-out to everybody who supported Apple Bottoms in the beginning and continues to support it. We’re looking to evolve and keep the trend going,” he said.

Between family, giving back, and keeping Apple Bottoms moving, Nelly is balancing work and life this holiday season in a way that shows fans it’s bigger than music.