Source: WENN

5+ years and a breakup later, Ashanti still likes to go on interview pretending that she was never in a romantic relationship with Nelly. It’s really seems pointless since we all know the deal at this point, but hey, to each its own. The “Never Should’ve Left Me” singer paid a visit to Hot 97 to discuss her new projects, including her upcoming album, Braveheart and her television show, Army Wives. When the time came to discuss her relationship with Nelly, in typical Ashanti fashion, she laughed the questions off and attempted to shimmy around the answers. Fortunately for nosy folks like us, the station’s programming director, Ebro, wasn’t having it and practically dragged the answers out of her. Check out a few excerpts from the interview below.

On if she still keeps in touch with Nelly:

“Yeah, we’re cool. I spoke to him yesterday. We’re good. We’re cool. [...] We were great and are [still] great friends.”

On if her new single, “Never Should Have” was based on their relationship and breakup: 

“I mean, it is very obvious that the song came from a very sincere place. A lot of people are asking, ‘What is that about? Who is that about?’ It came from a very sincere place and I think a lot of people have been in a situation where they’ve been betrayed or lied to or taken advantage of.”

On if she and Nelly ever made plans to have children together: 

“[Laughs] Oh my gosh, I mean me and Nelly talked about a lot of things. We talked about a whole lot. He has kids, he has great kids, his niece, his nephew. We talked about a lot, so much.”

On whether or not Nelly’s alleged cheating caused their split: 

“I mean things happen, people get hurt, people have resentment. People carry old things with them. Things just happen in real life, you go through things. […] He has to do what he has to do right now, and I have to do what I have to do right now because sometimes you can distract each other.”

On if she’d ever consider dating a regular Joe, for example, A UPS guy: 

“Nelly use to be a UPS bus driving dude [laughs]. Let me see, would I date a UPS guy? I don’t know, I guess [there] has to be an attraction in every facet. I have to like you. I have to like what you’re about and what you stand for. What you do, your personality. I’m not going to be able to support you, so there has to be a common balance.”

“I think it’s good to be spoiled in different ways because I can spoil somebody in a different way. I want to be spoiled. I grew up by myself for a long time until my sister came.”

 Flip the switch to see Ashanti get grilled by K.Foxx and Ebro.

For anybody else trying to tone up to look absolutely fabulous in their swimsuit this summer, we’ve got some inspiration for you. And it comes from an unexpected source: Ashanti!

The singer took some time out from trying to put together new music so that she could vacay it up in Las Vegas with her friends and family. Kicking it at the Palms, she took pictures with rapper Flo Rida, and soaked up some sun with her mom and manager, Tina Douglas, who she calls a “best friend” when captioning a photo of the two:

“Not a lot of people can honestly say that their mom is one of their best friends.. We can hang out, talk about life.. & jus kick it.. She gives some of the best advise & will check a ########## in a heartbeat! lmaooo I love my mom she is truly beautiful inside & out!”

When she wasn’t lauding momma Tina, she was showing off some very sick abs. Ashanti is looking very toned and in tip-top shape these days, and we’re not hating! Check out a few more photos that she posted of her super fit frame and all the fun she was having poolside at the Palms in Vegas on the next page. Back to the gym I go!

Have you noticed that black folk are quick to tell you who can and cannot sing? Many of us, who’ve never taken a vocal lesson, will swiftly let you know when someone can’t blow. We are an unauthorized authority on the subject. And any vocal connoisseur will tell you that there are people who are completely tone deaf, people who can hold a note, people who can sing and then there are people who can sang. For those who don’t know the word “sang” used in this context is not poor grammar; instead it’s a word used to emphasize the width and breadth of a person’s vocal ability. We all know who the sangers are, they’re the people with soul. The people who can take you from the Slore house to the church house and back again. You know them: Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle & Luther Vandross of the old school and Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia of the new. (That’s just to name a few.) But just because a person can’t sang like some of the greats, doesn’t mean they don’t have talent and can’t make good music. Don’t believe me? Find out who I’m talking about.

There’s nothing better than when a favored star who’s fallen on bad luck returns to the spotlight energized and renewed. Think Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and even Michael Vick. But the sad reality is that comebacks are harder than we think – and certainly not wholly dependent on talent. Just ask these 15 celebs who failed (miserably) in their attempts. They know the deal.

Jodeci

We lost all of the R&B magic that was Jodeci in 1998 when the group went on hiatus – and it looks like we’ll never get it back. Just two months ago, the group attempted a comeback in London and not 30 seconds in, Mr. Dalvin had jumped off the stage, busted his arse and needed security’s help just to get back on. Then when he did get back on he, K-Ci and Jo-Jo (Devante was a no-show) sang out of tune, stumbled around the stage drunk and got straight up boo-ed. They then begged the audience to let them continue, before another group had to take over and finish their set. How horribly embarrassing.

Oh the wonders a great stylist can work in one’s career. But don’t we all know what the lack of one can do for one’s style. Some of our favorite trendsetters didn’t necessarily start off the freshest, while ones who started off age appropriate and chic somehow ended up dressing like they picked their ensembles out in the dark. Check out a few celebrities whose style improved big time over the years, and a few who even with a bunch of money, downgraded, and still can’t seem to get it right.

Solange

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It’s actually Solange’s style that has helped her create her own lane and identity outside of her very well-known big sister (that and her drastically different music). But she didn’t get to African-inspired prints, fab fros and chic pantsuits overnight. She had to wear a lot of satin, bountiful weaves and things that I’m sure she would probably cringe at now on the way up. Is that a feather purse above? Girl, no.

But luckily for her, her unique change in style has made her one of the best dressed people out there (it’s true, even Vogue said so) and is just one of many things that has helped her finally garner the respect she deserves.

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Back in March, Ashanti released the single “Never Should Have,” a truly emotional jam centering on falling in love with a man, watching them make a mistake, breaking up and then wishing you had never fallen for them in the first place. I know what you’re thinking: Nelly. But alas, she didn’t name any names.

One of the saddest moments comes during the bridge when she really breaks down her pain:

You were all that I wanted/I fell in love with you cause you loved me and I thought that you were ready/I thought that we were gonna be a family/And if you weren’t then you should’ve let me/Keep all of my love to give, to someone worthy

Source: YouTube

I wonder if celebrities who snag hosting gigs ever imagine that they may find themselves in a predicament where they’re required to interview one of their famous exes. This week we all got a good chuckle after watching Bow Wow awkwardly stumble through an interview with ex-boo thang Ciara during her recent appearance on BET’s 106 and Park.  Now singer and actress Ashanti appears to have been met with a similar fate. September of last year Ashanti snagged a gig as excutive producer and anchor of music channel FUSE’s daily music news show, FUSE News. One of her more recent guests on the show happened to be her alleged ex-boyfriend and let’s just say things got rather awkward.

Of course, the interview started off fine with Ashanti questioning the St. Louis rapper of his creative process and the state of hip hop, but things took a pretty interesting turn and even got a a tad flirty once Ashanti questioned him about the types of girls and he likes and dating dealbreakers.  Talk about awkward! Check out some of what he had to say below.

On the evolution of hip hop: 

“I think it’s changed as much as the rest of the world has changed. When you look at mass media everything that’s going on. I’m not here to judge whether it’s in a good situation or a bad situation. Obviously hip hop was created for the youth by the youth. The youth has to make the same mistakes we made.  I think it’s on a braoder scale as far as globally.  It’s the most dominating music around the world.”

On his personal evolution: 

“I’ve been through so much in my personal life, I’m just here to celebrate I ain’t where I could be.  I think when you’re 10+ years in the game, it’s hard to find a balance of appeasing your core audience and reinventing yourself.”

On the type of girls he likes and dating dealbreakers: 

“Oh word? Well, bad breath is a dealbreaker. Someone who lacks the confidence within themselves to understand who they are. I think at some point we would definitely hit that wall and a nice set of thighs always helps.”

It appears that they handled the interview like adults. Something tells me these two aren’t done with each other though.

Turn the page to watch their uncomfortably awkward interview. Have you ever been forced to work with an ex after you guys split?

There are some actresses (i.e,. Halle Berry, Thandie Newton, Kerry Washington) who get all of the glory, and there are some that don’t get nearly as much recognition. Phenomenal acting abilities have gone with a lack of praise while mediocre performances by non-black women are seen as unparalleled (even when they’re just okay…). You can Google lists of top black actresses, and find that while those women are great at what they do, a great deal of them haven’t even had a leading role in years (if at all). Maybe they’ve decided to take a break from acting, or maybe they are just struggling to grab those big roles, but it’s about time that Hollywood is reminded that there are strong black actresses in Hollywood, and these women need to have their faces back in somebody’s movie sooner than later.

Source: WENN

The absence of a marriage proposal is a topic that commonly surfaces when Nelly and Ashanti’s not-so-secret relationship is being discussed. After more than seven years being in a relationship, why didn’t Nelly take the “Never Too Far Away” singer as his wife? During a recent interview with Vlad TV, the rapper addresses those burning questions. He expressed that he takes marriage very seriously and breaks down the differences between entertainment industry relationships and everyday relationships. Check out some of what he had to say.

On if he ever sees himself getting married:

“Yeah I think so. But the thing about marriage is, nobody is going to force me into anything and nobody’s going to rush me into anything. I take marriage very seriously. I only know two ways of marriage. My parents’ marriage did not last at all and my grandparents’ marriage lasted sixty years. So I’m either going to go all the way to sixty or I’m not going to do it. You’re going to know when it’s right. I feel like marriage is just something you know is right. There’s no questions. In order for me to feel like this is going to be it, I have to have no questions. But do I see myself getting married? Hell yeah.”

On if he’s ever been close to marriage: 

“I don’t think you’ve been close until you’ve been engaged.”

On industry relationships vs. everyday relationships: 

“Let’s say you’ve known someone for seven years, but you’ve known them for seven years in this business. Now let’s take a couple that’s a everyday average couple and they’ve known each other for seven years. The regular couple’s seven years is different because they’ve actually been together almost everyday for seven years, this couple [the industry couple] may have known each other for seven years, but they’ve only been together five days out of a month. Although the time has went, it really hasn’t been seven years of really knowing them. It’s probably only equaled out to three and a half years as far as 365 days. If you look at a regular couple, yeah seven years is a long time. In that situation [dating someone in the industry], you don’t learn as much about a person until you get a chance to stop and be with that person. I think people see relationships that industry-folk have and they see the time, but they’re not doing the math on that time.”

What are your thoughts on his response?

Turn the page to watch Nelly’s full interview.

Source: WENN

Back in December, we reported on the rumored split between Ashanti and Nelly. Not even one month later, candid boo-loving shots of Nelly and video vixen/model Lashontae Heckard started to surface. Nelly even began showing up to events with Tae on his arm. After years of both Nelly and Ashanti ridiculously denying their involvement with each other, it seems that we may finally get some insight into their relationship. In a recent interview with Sway In the Morning, Ashanti discussed her upcoming album and even hinted that some of the tracks would be about Nelly. Check out some of what she had to say.

On whether or not songs about her experiences with Nelly will appear on the album:

“Who said we had a relationship? [breaks into a fit of laughter] The name of the album is Braveheart. I’ve been recording for a couple of months now. There’s a lot of heartfelt records on there. I think everybody can relate. I’ve been writing my records since I came out and it’s been from real life experiences [laughs] and that’s how people relate.”

 On dating a celebrity again:

“I think what’s important is to find someone who you have things in common with. So whether you have a 9 to 5 or you’re in the industry or I don’t know, you’re into computers or you’re into doing nails, whatever it is, find someone that you’re kind of compatible with so that you guys kind of understand whatever facet of life you’re on.”

On wanting children:

“Let me tell you something, I’m going to have an army. I love kids. I think I wanna have like six. We’ll see what happens. I know I gotta get started. I got a couple more things to do first and then I’ll really starting thinking about it.”

While Ashanti didn’t come straight out and say that her new album will feature tracks about her “secret” relationship with Nelly, we hear her loud and clear. A couple of songs based on those real-life experiences sprinkled into her latest project could do a lot for her record sales, as inquiring minds would love to finally hear her discuss that relationship.

Turn the page to see footage of Ashanti dancing around questions about Nelly.