In the early 2000s, Nelly and Ashanti were one of the most popularcouples in music.
It was the end of an era.
Or so we thought.
As the old saying goes, time heals all wounds.
They’ve proved that it’s not too late to rekindle an old flame.
So how did they go from lovers to exes to lovers again?
Without further ado, here is Nelly and Ashanti’s breakup 2 makeup journey.
In 2003, the two music stars crossed paths at a pre-Grammy event.
The chart-toppers were both there to announce the nominations for the upcomingGrammy Awards.
According to Ashanti, it was during that ceremony that Nelly made his first move.
However, Ashanti has since set the history books straight.
For the record, it took him a long time to get my number," she said.
The two walked the red carpet and posed together, looking very much like a couple.
“Me and Nelly, we’re good friends.
We kick it hang out a lot,” she said.
“The industry is very hard, so it’s good to have fun and lighten it up.”
As for the engagement rumors that’d been swirling around about the pair?
No engagement, she said.
“But definitely in the future.
When asked about their relationship that same year, Nelly sang a similar tune.
The rapper told People they love spending time together, but more or less left it at that.
“That’s the thing between me and her, we just like having fun,” he said.
Ashanti’s 2007 track “Switch” features a little cameo by Nelly.
That same year, Nelly showed off his acting skills in the video for “Good Good.”
The video featured the on-again, off-again couple singing and rapping to each other.
“You know, he taught me to always try and push further,” she toldThe Grape Juice.
TheNew York Daily Newswas the first to report that Nelly and Ashanti had parted ways.
However, the supposed breakup didn’t last for long.
A year later, the two attended rapper T.I.
and Tiny’s wedding together and were seen holding hands.
In October 2010, Nelly released his album “5.0.”
A source who attended the party toldPage Sixthat the two arrived and left together.
“They seemed to be enjoying each other.”
Despite all signs pointing at a possible reconciliation, Nelly kept things vague when talking to the press.
A month later the rapper reiterated toRapUpTVthat he wasn’t ready to marry Ashanti.
“It’s a very small industry.
Are we gonna see each other?
I’m not bitter,” she said onHot 97.
“I feel like in a relationship, it’s like ping-pong,” she said.
“Sometimes you love them, sometimes you hate them.
That’s a real statement, everyone goes through that.”
In a 2015interview with Meredith Vieira, the singer discussed how a lack of trust caused the breakup.
“I’ve been betrayed.
You just have to grow.
You have to grow up.
You have to accept responsibility for the things that you do.
I’m not a big fan of people being cowards.
It’s really important to know yourself and know what you want.”
The singer also noted that she was in a different place in her life.
Nelly was also in a different place in his life.
The rapper had moved on with actor Shantel Jackson.
By all accounts, both Ashanti and Nelly had shut the door on their relationship.
And this time around, it seemed like that door was shut and locked for good.
At one point during the battle, Nelly beelined across the stage to give Ashanti a hug.
With Nelly recently single and Ashanti returning the hug, fans began buzzing over a possible reconciliation.
Hey, how could we not?
“Listen, there’s nothing happening,” the singer said during an Instagram Live (viaRevolt).
“Now look, this is the crazy part.
Six years or something?
So, I didn’t know what to expect.”
To really drive the point home, the singer revealed that she was currently dating someone else.
Nelly also downplayed the interaction.
“I said what up to everybody, bro,” he said with a laugh.
“I didn’t want no uncomfortable feelings.
I just said what up.
It was all good.”
Ashanti also confirmed that there wasn’t any tension or lingering resentment.
“The anger is long gone,” she toldTamron Hall.
In February, the “Country Grammar” rapper suggested that being patient paid off.
“Time does wonders for a lot of different things,” he toldEntertainment Tonightin February.
So I think we both did that and it’s cool that we just friends.”
“[They] have been touring and performing together and just hanging,” the insider said.
They walked the red carpet together and even wore coordinating sparkling outfits.
If matching glittery ensembles doesn’t scream “we’re back on,” what does?
The following month, both Nelly and Ashanti put all speculation to rest.
“Yeah, we cool again,” he responded.
“I think it surprised both of us, though.
It wasn’t anything that …[was] planned.
I think we’re both pretty much doing what we do.”
While they were on stage talking to guests, Ashanti subtly placed her hands on her stomach.
In theTMZvideo, the couple didn’t say a word, they just laughed and hugged one another.
Later that day,Us Weeklyconfirmed the pregnancy rumors.
This will be Ashanti’s first child and Nelly’s third.
This baby is a dream come true for the singer who has publicly shared her plans for motherhood.
“I wanna have kids next year!
Hopefully homie does the right thing,” she tweeted.
“I want my kids to have such an open mind.
