Nas and Kelis tie the knot in private ceremony

Jet, Jan 31, 2005

Rapper Nas and singer Kelis were recently married during an intimate ceremony in Atlanta.

The musical couple had been dating for two years. They were married in ah Atlanta church and their reception was held in the city's upscale Buckhead neighborhood, according to Sony Urban Music publicist Tony Ferguson.

"Definitely, if you were there, you were a friend or family member," Ferguson said. "They really wanted to keep it out of the press. They wanted to make that day for just them."

Nas' brother, Jungle, was best man. His father, jazz musician Olu Dara, also attended.

Kelis, 25, is best known for her recent charttopping dance single, Milkshake, and her 1999 debut hit Caught Out There, with Kelis screaming the lyrics, "I hate you so much right now."

The couple met at Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' after-party for the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, but Nas was already smitten with Kelis after hearing about her and seeing her on television, the publicist said.

Nas, 31, snared the hip-hop world's attention with his 1994 debut album, Illmatic. He won a large following of more fans with his 2003 hit I Can, an upbeat tune encouraging listeners to believe they can achieve their dreams despite obstacles.

His latest CD is Street's Disciple, featuring the hits In the Meantime and Bridging the Gap with his father Olu Data. Nas also has appeared in the movies, Belly and Ticker.