Young Money stars Nicki Minaj and Drake are two of the hottest MCs in hip-hop, and their relationship has some thinking that the pair are hooking up in ways beyond a label affiliation. The stars were candid about their feelings for each other in recent interviews with MTV2's "Sucker Free Countdown" -- and addressed rumors that their relationship isn't strictly platonic.

"Me and Nicki have a really playful relationship," Drake told DJ Envy. "When I was on tour ... I saw Nicki for the first time and, like, literally fell in love. She had this snap-back hat on that said 'Minaj.' She used to wear that every single day. She was like a theater student and she was so cold at rapping."

Drake -- who [article id="1641022"]rushed to Minaj's defense[/article] last week after Lil' Kim said some untoward things about her -- said that before breaking through, he had to contend with her somewhat icy demeanor. "I remember one of the first nights that we were out in Miami and I went to Jerry's [Famous Deli]. I was like [to Minaj], 'You want food, you hungry?,' and she was like, 'Yeah, I want some food.' I was like, 'I'm in, we gon' eat food together.' I came to her door and she took the food and shut the door in my face! I was just like, 'Man, this is gonna be a long road for us.' "

But Drake maintains that his feelings for her have always been genuine. "I've always really, actually, really had a crush on her, always really loved her, and she's always just looked at me as, like, her little brother."

Envy pointed to a line on the track "Miss Me" from [article id="1639694"]Drake's Thank Me Later LP[/article] -- which is released Tuesday -- where he says he wants to put a ring on it as proof of his true feelings for Minaj. "I love Nicki Minaj/ I told her I'd admit it/ I hope one day we get married just to say we f---ing did it/ And girl, I'm f---ing serious/ I'm with it if you with it/ 'Cause your verses turn me on and your pants are mighty fitted," Drake spits. But Drizzy insisted the lyric is not that deep. "That line on the album is just me playing with her. I'll be playing with her for years until she's ready to go, and then I'm ready," he added.

For her part, Minaj shrugged off any notion that she and the Young Money heartthrob are more than friends. She giggled when Envy broached the subject but then immediately shut down rumors.

"Drake does not have a crush on me," Minaj assured Envy. When Envy brought up the "Miss Me" lyric, Minaj responded, "Drake knows how to get you guys' attention."

As one of the most sought-after MCs in the game right now, Minaj is probably getting stepped to all the time. But when Envy asked how dudes should approach the diva, she dismissed the idea of a relationship.

"I don't want to be hollered at right now. I just don't. I wanna go and hibernate and coop up somewhere and be alone," said Minaj, adding that she's waiting until after her debut hits shelves before she gets scooped up. "Then maybe we can talk."

Catch more Nicki Minaj with DJ Envy on the "Sucker Free Summer Countdown" from Boston's 94.5 Summer Jam, this Sunday, June 20, at noon ET only on MTV2.