Nelly Clarifies His Comments About Not Changing Son KK’s Diapers (Exclusive)

Nelly would like to issue a correction.

Earlier this year, the “Hot in Herre” rapper (real name Cornell Haynes Jr.) sparked controversy by claiming he “ain’t changing” son KK’s diapers during an episode of Peacock’s Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together. But in real life, he’s down to help whenever KK, 14 months, needs him.

“Excuse me, I’ve always changed diapers,” Nelly, 50, who shares baby KK (real name Kareem Kenkaide Haynes) with wife Ashanti, 44, tells PEOPLE. “I think people took a joke and made it into a debate.”

He understands, however, why viewers thought he was serious. “It was on our show, so if it didn’t come off as a joke, then we are the ones to look at for that,” he says. “But yeah, of course I’ve changed diapers.”

Nelly explains, “My thought process wasn’t like, ‘Yo, I’m not changing the diaper.’ Our conversation was like, ‘Listen, I’ll do whatever needs to be done, but what I’m saying is that I’m giving you the best help I can get with me and a 24-hour nanny.’ See, everybody forgets that part.”

Ashanti’s cousin, Bri, serves as the couple’s nanny. “If anybody has changed the most diapers out any one of us, it’s Bri,” says Nelly.

The “Ride wit Me” musician is no stranger to parenting, as he also shares daughter Chanelle and son Cornell with ex-girlfriend Channetta Valentine and adopted his late sister Jackie Donahue’s kids, Shawn and Sydney Thomas.

Needless to say, Nelly knows a thing or two about raising kids — and changing diapers. “I just got to be careful with boys. Boys will pee on you,” he quips. “You’ll get shot.”

While viewers may have missed his joke on the Peacock series, Ashanti is quite used to his sense of humor. “If you can’t make the woman you love laugh, what are you doing, bro?” says Nelly.

In December, Nelly and Ashanti will mark their two-year wedding anniversary. “I might be cooking up some stuff,” he teases of how they plan to celebrate. “She loves surprises.”

Currently, Nelly’s Apple Bottoms brand is teaming up with Bubly sparkling water for a limited-edition collection of Apple Bubly Jeans.

The collaboration celebrates the limited-time comeback of Bubly’s crisp apple flavor. Fans can purchase a bundle featuring an exclusive pair of Apple Bubly Jeans and the soft drink drink as well as a tank top, keychain, mini denim clutch and iron-on patch.

“You want to be able to pair up and double brand with companies that have similar structure in what it is that you’re doing, meaning they’ve been able to have unbelievable success in an area where I would have never thought people would be making money,” Nelly says of the Apple Bubly Jeans campaign. “Sparkling water, who knew?”