Ashanti And Nelly Are Really "Good Good" Friends

Posted Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:41pm PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training

One of my favorite parts about interviewing celebrities is listening to their answers. Everyone knows which questions they don't like discussing and we even know the stock responses. But it's still fun to watch them put their Media Training 101 skills to work.

I'm no Wendy Williams or Howard Stern when it comes to interviewing, though I love watching Wendy and Howard calling artists out on their unbelievable stories. My personality is more easy-going and laidback so I just let it flow. I toss the interesting questions out there and let the conversation roll. I am going for the introspective angle.

When I recently interviewed Ashanti for our Pepsi Smash program, I asked her if she and Nelly were engaged and planning to get married. We've all seen that photo of them walking on a beach holding hands. They go to award shows together and blush when asked about each other in interviews. But Ashanti still elected to be evasive when I asked her about her romantic relationship with Nelly.

Ashanti laughed loudly and her eyes bugged out before giving me the rehearsed spiel: "Nelly is a really good friend ..." After watching her new video, in which Nelly portrays her husband, I think she meant to say that the St. Louis rapper was a "really 'Good Good' friend." I wasn't mad. Ashanti's a good interview. (Watch her talk about her "The Way That I Love You" video.)

Of course, playing a husband in a music video doesn't confirm anything. But I find it interesting how celebrity couples dodge the simple questions while also capitalizing off of the interest in their "secret" relationship which is never really on the low.

Best case scenario has been Beyonce and Jay-Z. Before Beyonce dropped "Crazy In Love," I interviewed her and asked her why she and Jay-Z didn't like to be asked about their relationship, but made a song "'03 Bonnie & Clyde (Me And My Girlfriend)." (Read interview.) Beyonce replied, "I thought the song was great. I thought the concept was great. I thought Tupac's original version was great, and I thought the idea of one of the hottest rappers with one of the biggest or hottest whatever you want to call it, R&B artists, was a great concept. It was a great song, great music--everything else doesn't matter. And I think that the video was really great, and I love when R&B artists collaborate with hip-hop artists. I think they complement one another." A month later, the "Crazy In Love" video dropped and the two were singing about being crazy in love and Beyonce was dancing like it.

Watching Ashanti's "Good Good" makes me feel duped again. Oh well. It's a good video though.



 

30 Comments

1. shawn m -
That girl is too fine for them just to be friends. Nelly take my advice don't get caught sleepin u'll be lookin like bow wow on the outside lookin in.lol.

2. FRESH -
I DON'T BLAME ASHANTI FOR BEING A BIT LAYED BACK ABOUT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH NELLY; BECAUSE IF THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS TOO OPEN AND POSSIBLY MARRIAGE IS ON THE HORIZON--THAT COULD BE DAMAGING FOR RECORD SALES. US GIRLS LIKE TO THINK THAT THE MALE ARTIST IS AVAILABLE TO THEM AS WELL AS THE GUYS LIKE TO THINK THAT THE GIRLS ARE TO THEM--GOOD GOOD TO HOT IN HERE--RIGHT! I GOT WHO I WANT AND VERY SATISFIED!

3. afro gal -
WAT EVA THEY DOING LET EM DO IT I DONT CARE JUS LUVING THEIR MUSIC!!!!!1

4. mizz. kisskiss -
I think dey look good together and good good is 1 hot song!!! keep it up ashanti!!!!!

5. ctalatu -
guess they are made for each other

6. shavon936 -
FIRST OF ALL I THINK ASHANTI AND NELLY MAKE A CUTE COUPLE BUT AT THE SAME TIME ITS LIKE THIS I DON'T THINK ASHANTI R NELLY IS BEING 100 WITH THERE FANS DON'T GET ME WRONG I LOVE BOTH OF THEY MUSIC

7. mogotsele -
its gonna be a good good couple, nothing wrong.

8. anda2love -
i guess they will make a good couple.

9. pipijja -
I think they both deserve each other. Thanx Nelly and Ashanti for being so secretive.

10. mzgemini -
cute couple.

11. amzngmoe -
I am not hating. I hope they have a happy and healthy relationship.

12. divasoule -
I thought they were together years ago! They look so cute together. It's about time we have some couples represent "real black love".

13. tialynn08 -
i think they would make an cute couple and to us gurls we want the men to open as well so for now they make A GUD GUD couple and maybe engaged couple ight

14. Yahoo! Music User -
I like them both for different reasons and I respect their privacy. If that's what it takes to get people out of the biz-niz, I say more power to the power couple

15. marva_lynne -
I give props, where props is deserved and I think Ashanti is doing her thang. Go on sista souljah. Sing for us who cant.

16. Tee -
i thought Nelly and Ashanti been together for a while...?!? Anyway they are amazing together and wish them both luck! Ashanti you better keep Nelly close with his sexy new body...lol

17. palmerchanedra -
I think that there is more to it than she is willing to admit.

18. anthonybrown46@ymail.com -
ithinkthatnellyandashatimakeabeautifulcoupletogatherandtheyshoud,ntworryaboutwhatpeoplesayaboutthemaslongastheyarehappytogather.

19. anthonybrown46@ymail.com -
nelly

20. grenadagal94 -
i think dat nelly and ashanti should do a couple of more videos den get married. they are a very cute couple.
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