Hit-maker Nelly has opened up about the possibility of putting a ring on the finger of his long-time girlfriend, Ashanti.

The rap star claims that he only wants to get married one time and one time only, but will Ashanti be the one?

He told Rap-Up TV: "Our relationship is the same it's always been. We're really good friends, you know? I think that's the thing people don't understand. I say that because you know it's like society puts a pressure on you 'cause they want to see it turn into a certain relationship. You see what I'm saying?

"But if that relationship doesn't work, then society doesn't take the responsibility of when it doesn’t work (laughs). You know what I'm saying? It's kind of like, 'Oh, oh, okay, we'll move on to the next couple we want to see.' I think what people don't understand, is that I think you really have to be friends first. I think that's the thing."

He added: “It's not about how long it takes because there's no time limit on this. I'm not a person that wants to get married more than once. You see what I'm saying? If I'ma do it, I'ma do it and that's it. You're dying if you leave me.

"Right now we're friends, man; I'm married to my work, my new album ‘5.0.’ You see what I'm saying? I'm married to getting things in a certain situation right now and she's married to getting things in a certain situation right now. So again, man, we enjoy each other's company and love it."

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Ashanti will be making an appearance at Crown Nightclub (Las Vegas) on Friday December 31st (2011 New Years Eve). For tickets call 702.733.8229, click the image below to view the full flyer.

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Reports are now saying that rapper Nelly and singer/actress Ashanti were never a couple.

At this point I don’t know who to believe because both of them seemed more than friends to me. The two were always pictured by the paparazzi together having dinner, at award shows and even on some exotic vacations.

Are they trying to tell us that they were just friends with benefits – because that seems to be the new trend in Hollywood these days.

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Jermaine Dupri has launched his own internet reality show, called Living The Life, where he documents his everyday life for everyone to marvel at. In this recent episode, the cameras were not on him but on the action on stage as Nelly was hosting his 5th annual Black and White Affair.

Nelly was treated to a seductive, on stage performance from “gal pal” Ashanti. The performance from Ashanti was very friendly – if you’re pickin’ up what I’m puttin’ down – and Nelly certainly seemed to be enjoying the show.

The public denials and constant appearances together seem to always keep the media guessing, but maybe in this situation that is what the two musicians actually want – to keep teasing us with their relationship. At the end of the day, they are people who prefer to keep their private lives private. In the music industry, it’s hard to get that type of respect so until we hear about a random secret wedding – let’s leave them alone for once.

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It seems like every time a supposed celebrity couple denies any type of relationship, a new reason surfaces for us to believe they are just covering the whole thing up. Once again, Ashanti and Nelly are at the center of dating rumors after a steamy video of the two on stage hit the internet – courtesy of producer Jermaine Dupri.

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While Nelly and Ashanti remain coy about their on-going relationship, the twosome came together for a good cause performing at the rapper's annual Black and White Ball in St. Louis on Sunday (Dec. 19). The charity event, now in its fifth year, was held at the Chase Park Plaza's Khorassan Ballroom.

Ashanti first hit the stage to perform some of her hits including 'Happy' and 'The Way That I Love You,' before pulling her beau up for a serenade of 'If I Was Your Girlfriend.' The two later re-teamed for 'Body on Me, which was featured on both of their fourth albums, Ashanti's 'The Declaration' and Nelly's 'Brass Knuckles.'

Residents of the city turned out in droves to support the organization which also awards scholarships to students attending nearby Lindenwood University. The 2011/2010 Black and White Ball Scholarships will provide recipients with full scholarships covering all four years of their education.

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Ashanti attended Nelly's 5th Annual Black and White Ball in St. Louis, MO, on Sunday looking sexy in a black and white gown.

The pair split last year, but speculation about a reunion grew after they were seen together in August.

Last month Nelly launched a scathing attack on his record label following disappointing sales of his new album - insisting poor marketing and distribution are to blame for the lowly chart position.

The hip-hop star's latest offering, 5.0, entered the Billboard 200 chart at number 10 following its release earlier in November, selling 63,000 copies.

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It was all love at Nelly’s 2010 Black and White Ball. The “Just a Dream” rapper and his girlfriend Ashanti stepped out together for the 5th annual charity event at the Chase Park Plaza in his hometown of St. Louis on Sunday (Dec. 19).

In addition to Nelly, the night featured performances from hip-hop vet DMC and Ashanti, who was joined by her beau onstage for a duet. Jermaine Dupri co-hosted and Nelly presented college scholarships to two women.

Nelly recently told Rap-Up TV why he’s waiting to marry Ashanti. “I think you really have to be friends first. It’s not about how long it takes,” he explained. “I’m not a person that wants to get married more than once. If I’ma do it, I’ma do it. You’re dying if you leave me.”

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Rapper Nelly and R&B singer Ashanti appeared to be boo’d up Sunday night (Dec 19) at Nelly’s 2010 Black & White Ball. The 5th annual charity event was held at the Chase Park Plaza’s Khorassan Ballroom in St. Louis (Nelly’s hometown) and featured performances from Ashanti, who later invited her rumored boyfriend Nelly onstage for a duet, and a serenade to a new Ashanti song titled “If I Was Your Girlfriend.”

Other folks at the gala were Nelly’s brother, rapper City Spud, and rapper Jermaine Dupri (who co-hosted and deejayed at the the event. Nelly presented full scholarships to students Lindenwood University, a college nearby.

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After being under the radar so to speak for a number of years, Nelly confirmed his relationship with Ashanti this week.

"I think it's always serious when you hang with a person continuously and still have fun" says the Hip Hop star.

Rumored to have been a couple since 2003, Nelly and Ashanti have been having 'fun' for sometime without confirming their relationship publicly.

"That's the thing between me and her, we just like having fun," the star said Sunday at his 34th birthday celebration in Las Vegas.

While Ashanti has only named the star as a "good friend" in interviews, she has left hints that an engagement could be coming soon.

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Rapper Nelly and R&B singer Ashanti has maintained a strong united front about their relationship in the media but lately, Nelly, who stressed that their “good friends,” has been dropping certain hints.

“Same as it’s always been, where really good friends. I think that’s the thing that people really don’t understand…it’s like society puts a pressure on you cause they want to see a certain relationship,” Nelly says in an interview with Rap-Up TV. “But if that relationship don’t work then society doesn’t take that responsibility of when it don’t work. What people don’t understand…I think you really have to be friends first. It’s not a bout how long it takes because there’s no time limit.”

Like his music, Nelly indirectly talks about his commitment to one thing or woman in this case.

“I’m not a person that wants to get married more than once…I’m not a person who wants to be in a relationship more than once,” he says, jokingly adding, “your dying if you leave me.”

As far as really getting married, Nelly says right now we’re “friends” and that he’s “married to his work…5.0.”

“I’m married to getting things in a certain situation and she’s married to getting things in a certain situation,” he says. “Again, we enjoy each other’s company…we love it."

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Nelly talks to Rap-Up TV about his return to the music scene with his latest album 5.0 and what he thinks of people calling it a “comeback” after the success of “Just a Dream.” “I understand why people do call it that because when you’re not on the charts and you’re not visual with current music that is basically relevant at the time, you’re kinda missing out,” says the St. Louis rapper. “So without me being in that mix, it’s a comeback basically.”

He also opens up about his relationship with girlfriend Ashanti and why he’s waiting to put a ring on it. “I think you really have to be friends first. It’s not about how long it takes,” he explains. “I’m not a person that wants to get married more than once. If I’ma do it, I’ma do it. You’re dying if you leave me.”

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