Ashanti and Nelly's Sensational Reunion: Sizzling Chemistry Resurfaces with Sultry Rendition of Usher's 'Nice & Slow'

Ashanti and Nelly. John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock

Ashanti and Nelly appear to be indicating that they are proceeding with their relationship on their own terms.

“I simply desire to proceed at a leisurely pace,” Nelly and Ashanti sing in the video, with the “Foolish” vocalist gently resting her head on his. “You see, I have yearned for this moment for quite some time.”

Courtesy of Nelly/Instagram

"We're on some brotherly sh*t," the rapper wrote in the caption.

Reconciliation rumors between the duo began in April after they were seen holding hands at a boxing match in Las Vegas. Two months later, they attended the 3rd Annual Birthday Ball for Quality Control CEO Pierre Thomas in Atlanta, posing with their arms around each other.

Nelly and Ashanti initially crossed paths in 2003 during a Grammy Awards press conference, but they chose to keep their romantic involvement a secret for the following decade. Instead, the public saw them solely as collaborators and close friends. Their joint music ventures took off in 2008 with the release of two duets: "Body on Me" and "Switch."

In 2010, Nelly revealed to Rap-Up TV that both he and Ashanti were fully dedicated to their professional pursuits.

"I am completely devoted to my work, focusing on achieving specific goals," he stated. "Currently, Ashanti is devoted to pursuing her own objectives. However, we genuinely enjoy our time together and have a strong affection for each other."

Following their separation in 2013, Ashanti openly discussed their relationship and the subsequent end of it.

In a 2015 appearance on The Meredith Vieira Show, she expressed that when individuals have their own insecurities, it can lead them to act out of character. She has personally experienced betrayal but believes in the importance of personal growth and taking responsibility for one's actions. She also emphasizes the significance of self-awareness, knowing what one wants, and going after it. Currently, she mentions being in a different place.

After Nelly's separation from Shantel Jackson in July 2021, Ashanti and Nelly reunited on stage in December 2022 to perform "Body on Me" in Arizona. A few days later, Ashanti disclosed her relationship status with Nelly at that time.

"I came across numerous comments and my immediate reaction was, 'Wow.' There were so many comments and a considerable number of people expressing their desire for us to reconcile," she shared during an interview on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. "However, I can confidently say that we have reached a point of improvement in our relationship. We are now on good terms... We've had some discussions, so everything is now cool."

In February, Nelly publicly addressed his reconciliation with Ashanti after going through a tumultuous breakup in earlier years.

"Time has a transformative effect on various aspects," he said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. "It provides us with an opportunity to contemplate and gain a fresh perspective on matters, including recognizing our own shortcomings. As a result, we have both done that and it's nice that we are simply friends now."