Brandy Opens Up About Her Relationship With Flo Rida

When Brandy was spotted canoodling with rapper Flo Rida during her 31st birthday party in Miami this past February, the rumor mill began churning almost immediately. As photos of two continued to appear online, the R&B singer did her best to remain mum on the subject, but she finally addressed the relationship on her Vibe.com blog last week, explaining that she wasn't ready to put a title on it.

"I've seen the photos of me and Flo Rida," she wrote. "It doesn't matter how we met. We met. I don't want to say that we're a couple. I can definitely say that he's somebody in my life, and I'm definitely interested but I'm not serious with anybody. I'm a little bit afraid to give my heart away right now. It's very scary. I'm open to it, but I just want to make sure that I'm taking my time."

Brandy, who ended her marriage to producer Robert Smith in 2003, explained that she wants to proceed cautiously with dating new men, to protect herself and her 7-year-old daughter Sy'rai. "My daughter hasn't seen me with anybody in five years," she wrote. "I'm very, very selective when it comes to that because I want to make sure that it's real. I don't want her to see me with just anybody because she means everything to me."

Brandy posted the note to her fans on Wednesday, April 7, just four days before the premiere of her new VH1 reality show with her brother Ray J, 'Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business.'