This weekend in St. Louis marked Nelly‘s 5th Annual Black and White Ball. Friends Jermaine Dupri and Ashanti came out to support the cause, which served as the start of a scholarship program for a university. JD was the DJ for the evening and Nelly and Ashanti performed together for the event.

Ashanti has decided to put an end to the rumours that she is dating Nelly again.

The R&B singer has said that she is "just friends" with the 'Hot In Here' rapper. While Ashanti featured on the 106 & Park's 10th anniversary episode this week, the 29-year-old took the opportunity to set the record straight.

Ashanti told BET.com: "So one of the rumors that I would like to clear up, the whole Nelly-Ashanti, and Nelly's denying and Nelly's not claiming; let's clear that up right now."

She also added: "Me and Nelly are good friends. I never said I was his girl, I never quote, unquote, 'claimed him.' I never said we were an item and neither has he, so there you have it.

We're good friends. The whole, 'Oh he's denying and she's denying,’ no claiming. Come on, son!"

So what were these two doing arriving to T.I and Tiny's wedding party holding hands etc. when they thought they were out of the view of the media?

Nelly recently called into a Chicago radio station, and denied ever having an official relationship with singer Ashanti.

When asked if he had broken it off with Ashanti and whetther or not they were officially dating, he said the following:

"Who said that? Well what have we always said? Of course I’m single. I’m not married, she’s not married.”

"Here’s the thing. I’ve never said I’m in a relationship, she’s never said she’s in a relationship. I don’t know where they do that at. But we’ve always admitted to being friends.”

He did have something positive to say about Ashanti:

We hang out. She’s a very sweet girl. Very pretty girl. Very talented. She does her thing as far as her career and I do my thing as far as mine."

Ashanti was stunning at this year’s 20th NAACP Theater Awards. The singer, who played Dorothy in the off Broadway rendition of “The Wizard of Oz,” won an award for her role in the play. More pictures of Nia Long, Naturi Naughton, Mekhi Phifer, Lisa Raye, and Hosea Sanchez of “The Game” below. Read the rest of this entry »