Zonnique Pullins is expecting her first child with rapper boyfriend Bandhunata Izzy! The 24-year-old singer confirmed the the news on Aug. 4 that she is already five months along to PEOPLE magazine. “Literally every year, probably for the past three years, this same rumor [that I was pregnant] had come out. This time I actually am pregnant. It’s weird!” she told the publication. This marks the first child for Zonnique, who is the eldest daughter of Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Harris. Tiny’s husband, rapper T.I. is her stepfather.
Zonnique’s pregnancy has been smooth sailing so far. “With it being my first time being pregnant, I had so many expectations and was thinking, ‘Oh, it’s going to be really hard,'” she told the magazine. “I never really had morning sickness.” But being pregnant during COVID-19 has had its drawbacks. “When it comes to going to doctor’s appointments, I go to all of them by myself. I ask every single time, ‘Can I bring my boyfriend?’ And they’re like, ‘No, only you can come,'” the singer explained. “That’s been the worst part. I’m hoping by the time I’m ready to have the baby it will be over with. But I’m sure it won’t be, so I’ll be in there with one person, most likely. I’m just trying not to get my hopes too high anymore.”
Zonnique’s mom Tiny took to Instagram to share the news after her daughter’s big announcement. Next to a her daughter getting her bump pictures taken on a professional photoshoot, Tiny wrote, “I can finally say…My baby is having a baby!! I’m getting more excited by the day!! @zonniquejailee @bandhunta_izzy Congratulations to you both!! I love y’all.”
Despite keeping the news private, Zonnique responded to pregnancy speculation before she confirmed the news. After fans began questioning if she was expecting, Zonnique took to social media with this response: “I wanna be on my Nicki Minaj sh-t. Not gonna be f–king loud answering to y’all like I got to,” she wrote, before telling her followers to mind their business. Zonnique was referencing Nicki Minaj, who kept her first pregnancy a secret, before revealing her baby bump in a series of photos on July 20.
It’s unclear when Zonnique and Izzy began dating, though they’ve been serious for the past year or so. As for whether or not Tip approves of Zonnique’s baby’s father? — That’s a yes, although the rapper isn’t all that easy to please.
While discussing the lives of MCs and rappers on his podcast, expediTIously, Tip and fellow rapper Fabolous, also chatted about their daughters’ relationships with rappers. Fabolous’ stepdaughter, Taina Williams, is dating Chicago rapper G Herbo.
“I must say, the young man that she’s dealing with, he’s a cool cat. He’s a respectable young man,” Tip said of Izzy, explaining, “I even went so far as to check his background, where he’s from, and his pedigree seems to come back without a tarnish. So I don’t have anything negative to say about him. However, I am uncomfortable with what may potentially transpire in the future. Now that’s my discomfort exclusively. I don’t share that discomfort with her or him. I try not to let my level of discomfort bleed over into their happiness,” he said, adding, “I just remain quietly uncomfortable, to myself [laughs].”
Tip later added that he hopes Zonnique makes it to the alter with Izzy. “I’ll admit this, they’ve lasted a lot longer than I expected, so at this point, I’m rooting for them to go all the way,” he said.
Zonnique also purchased her first home in 2018, as seen on Tiny’s Instagram. The Grammy-winner shared a photo of Zonnique, who was pictured holding the keys to her new digs. “Super proud of My 1st,” Tiny wrote in the photo’s caption. “@zonniquejailee she bought her first house today!! Congratulations my beauty Queen… Your mama loves u lady!”