Nelly and Ashanti Throwback Photos from Their Early 2000s Relationship

2003

Superstars Nelly and Ashanti first met at a 2003 Grammys press conference (above). The rapper even asked for the singer’s autograph — but not her number.

“For the record, it took him a long time to get my number,” she said on an episode of VH1’s Behind the Music.

2005

Nelly helped surprise his love at her 25th birthday party at N.Y.C.’s Glo in October of 2005.

2006

The pair put their heads together in 2006 at a party celebrating Diddy’s Unforgivable fragrance at N.Y.C.’s Stereo.

2006

Ashanti was pretty in peach alongside a white-clad Nelly for the summer 2006 premiere of John Tucker Must Die in Los Angeles.

2006

Courtside at a Charlotte Bobcats vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game in North Carolina in 2006, the two had lots to laugh about.

2006

The musicians brought their star power to the 2006 TAO anniversary party in N.Y.C.

2006

The pair traveled to Nelly’s beloved St. Louis for the 2006 Black and White Ball that July.

2007

Nelly and Ashanti made great dates for the 1st Annual Pre-BET Awards at L.A.’s Boulevard 3 in June 2007.

2007

The singers kept it cool for the Las Vegas premiere of Resident Evil: Extinction on Sept. 20, 2007.

2007

The singer sparkled alongside her boyfriend at the September 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas.

2007

The couple was on the list for the 2007 Rolling Stone 40th anniversary bash at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.

2007

The stars only had eyes for each other in 2007 at Jermaine Dupri’s BET afterparty at The Highlands in Los Angeles.

2007

The couple looked young and in love at the Resident Evil: Extinction premiere afterparty at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas in 2007.

2007

Nelly and Ashanti shared a cute moment at her birthday party at Atlanta’s Cafe Dupri in October 2007.

2008

The stars sat side-by-side during the 2008 Clive Davis Pre-GRAMMY party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

2008

Ashanti was the belle of the ball alongside her suit-clad love at the UMG Grammy Celebration in Los Angeles in 2008.

2008

The couple teamed up to perform their sexy collab “Body on Me” on an episode of The Tonight Show in L.A. in September 2008.

2008

Nelly and Ashanti brought his-and-hers style to the 2008 BET Awards in Los Angeles.

2010

The stars kicked back in Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve in 2010, celebrating at Haze Nightclub on Dec. 31 of that year.

2012

Before their 2013 breakup, the lovebirds raised their glasses during a surprise party he hosted for her at STK in Atlanta in October of 2012.

Cheers, you two!