Ashanti has hinted she wants to marry Nelly. The 27-year-old singer refused to confirm she is dating the 33-year-old rapper, but insists she spends a lot of time with him and would love to settle down soon.

When asked if she was engaged to Nelly, Ashanti held up her left hand to show a bare ring finger and laughed: ?Oh no. Noooo! No engagement. But definitely in the future. Ha ha!?

She added: ?Me and Nelly, we’re good friends. We kick it – hang out a lot. The industry is very hard, so it’s good to have fun and lighten it up.?

Ashanti also revealed how the couple relax after a hard day’s work. She added: ?The one thing we do a lot of lately is listen to my new album, ‘The Declaration’.?

It was reported earlier this year the couple had got engaged, but the story was later denied.

Ashanti promoted her latest album and participated in a handprint ceremony during an appearance at Planet Hollywood Times Square on Tuesday in New York City. The 27-year old singer is back on the scene with her fourth studio album ?The Declaration?, which hit stores earlier this week. Ashanti commented on why her album is called such saying ?One of the reasons I call the album ?The Declaration?, is because I feel it?s important to present all sides of what being a woman is about.? Her first single off the album is called ?The Way That I Love You? and became her 14th top ten hit on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart. She?s the only female artist to have achieved that goal within the last decade. Congratulations!