Ty and Nelly’s love story began in 2003, and they stuck together for quite a few years. After spending nearly a decade apart, it seems like Ashanti is ready to give it another shot with him, and word has it that they’re back together.
Even though Irv Gotti was legally married to his estranged wife, Deb Lorenzo, at the time, he found himself in a complicated situation with his R&B star, Ashanti. Eventually, Irv admitted he had feelings for her. So, when he learned that she was dating Nelly, he couldn’t help but feel a bit foolish and hurt.
The first encounter between Ashanti and Nelly happened in 2003 at a Grammy Awards press conference. Ashanti recalled that Nelly asked for her autograph, which she initially thought was a joke. However, she eventually gave him her signature on a program. She admitted to playing hard to get and didn’t give him her number right away.
When they eventually started dating, they decided to keep their relationship under wraps. They collaborated on music together, and in Ashanti’s song “Good Good” from 2007, she sings about her confidence in their bond. Notably, Nelly appeared in the music video. Allegedly, tensions arose with Irv as their romance blossomed.
In an interview with Angie Martinez, Ashanti spilled the beans about Irv’s sour attitude, recounting how he barred her from the studio and allegedly discouraged other industry players from collaborating with her. She claimed he even went as far as instructing DJs not to spin her records, hindering her success. According to Ashanti, he suggested that if she wanted to mingle with Nelly, she should sign with his label. Ashanti couldn’t wrap her head around his behavior, especially considering Irv’s tangled romantic life, with multiple girlfriends and a wife in the mix.
In 2009, Ashanti bid farewell to Murder Inc, while her romance with Nelly blossomed behind closed doors. Despite their closeness, Ashanti downplayed their relationship in the media, characterizing Nelly as a great friend with whom she spent plenty of time. But Nelly hinted at something more to People magazine, acknowledging their shared love for a good time without fully confirming their romance.
The couple kept the public guessing about the true nature of their relationship. Ashanti teased about engagement and future plans for a big family, expressing her desire for ten children, valuing motherhood over any number of platinum records or awards. But Nelly seemed less eager to take the plunge into marriage. In a 2010 interview with Wrap Up TV, seven years after they first crossed paths, he admitted to being hesitant about marriage and reiterated that he and Ashanti were nothing more than friends deeply committed to their careers.
They didn’t just shy away from acknowledging their relationship publicly; things began to unravel between them in 2011 when Ashanti collaborated with Keisha Cole on the track “Woman to Woman.” So, what’s the deal with that song and the relationship drama between Nelly and Ashanti? Well, word on the street was that Ashanti had a thing with producer [bleep] Santana back in 2005 when she and Nelly were an item. And to add fuel to the fire, [bleep] even appeared in Ashanti’s music video for “Don’t Let Them.” Stuff really hit the fan when [bleep] reportedly started dating Keyshia Cole.
This alleged love triangle caused a rift between Ashanti and Keisha that lasted for years. According to reports from Bossip, Nelly confronted Ashanti about her involvement with [bleep], but she denied anything beyond a platonic relationship. It wasn’t until Ashanti and Keisha buried the hatchet and teamed up for “Woman to Woman” that Nelly supposedly began connecting the dots. He started suspecting Ashanti’s connection with [bleep].
But wait, there’s more. A reliable source spilled the tea to Bossip, claiming that Nelly had evidence suggesting Ashanti had been seeing other guys on the down-low. Despite ongoing rumors linking Ashanti to big names like Jay-Z and Nas, as well as lesser-known producers like [bleep] Santana, Nelly chose to turn a blind eye to them for quite some time.
It’s been said that during their time together, Nelly was the one who strayed in their relationship, with Ashanti seemingly confirming this through the lyrics of her song “Never Should Have Happened.” Later, she admitted the song was inspired by real-life struggles, including feeling deceived and let down. When asked about rumors of Nelly’s infidelity on a radio show, Ashanti responded with honesty, acknowledging the pain and complexity of relationships, and how past hurts can linger.
As 2013 wrapped up, Ashanti opened up on HOT97, revealing that while she focused on her career, Nelly seemed preoccupied with other things. She admitted that the end of their relationship was tumultuous, with both parties playing a role in its downfall. As for rumors of Nelly owing her a hefty sum post-breakup, Ashanti shut them down during an interview with Andy Cohen.
But was their story really over? Not entirely. In 2014, Ashanti shared on Sway in the Morning that she and Nelly had crossed paths a few times since their split. She confessed that Nelly held a special place in her heart as her first true love in adulthood, still cherishing a beautiful ring he gave her during their time together.
Meanwhile, Nelly had moved on. In 2014, while appearing on Dancing With the Stars, he was in a relationship with Chantel Jackson, expressing his deep love for her and even hinting at marriage plans.
After Nelly admitted to cheating on Chantelle and amidst several serious allegations, which we discussed in our Nelly video linked in the description box, Nelly and Chantel decided to end their seven-year relationship in 2021.
Months later, during Fat Joe’s versus battle against Ja Rule, he invited Ashanti to perform some of their hits. However, Fat Joe forgot to inform Ashanti that Nelly would also be attending the battle. Towards the end of the online event, Nelly nearly stumbled over to Ashanti, asking her amidst laughter, “Can I get a hook?”.
Ty later shared on the Angie Martinez show that it had been the first time she had seen or talked to Nelly in almost six years, making the moment very awkward for her. She also confirmed that she confronted Fat Joe about not giving her a heads up that her ex would be there. Fat Joe apologized, stating he didn’t inform her to ensure she would still attend, fearing she might refuse if she knew Nelly would be present.
Amidst all the buzz swirling around the potential reunion of Ashanti and Nelly, Ashanti herself set the record straight with Angie Martinez. She made it clear that getting back together wasn’t in the cards, citing her happiness in a new relationship. However, it seems things have changed since then, as evidenced by their joint appearances on the My 2000s Playlist Tour, where social media captures Ashanti getting cozy with Nelly.
In a chat with Entertainment Tonight back in February 2023, Nelly opened up about their time apart, revealing that it allowed them to reflect on their past and reevaluate their connection. This newfound perspective paved the way for them to rebuild their friendship, and recent sightings suggest that things have progressed beyond that. Fast forward to May 2023, and a source confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that Ashanti and Nelly have indeed rekindled their romance after almost a decade apart. Another source told People magazine that they’re taking things slow as they navigate this second chance.
While Ashanti has been vocal about her readiness to settle down and start a family, as she expressed in a 2022 interview with People magazine, the question remains whether Nelly shares the same aspirations. With his kids grown and him nearing the big 5-0, Nelly has hinted at the idea of engagement but hasn’t exactly been gung-ho about marriage.
As fans root for their reunion, there’s a subset that wonders if Nelly is truly committed or just stringing Ashanti along.