Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles have not married, despite the increasing number of internet reports suggesting otherwise, a close pal has revealed.

Rapper Jay-Z - real name Shawn Carter - was said to have married the R+b beauty in a secret ceremony at designer Giorgio Armani's mansion in Paris, France, last month.

Reports claimed the superstar couple opted to shun the traditional exchange of wedding bands in favour of discreet tattoos of the Roman numeral 'IV' on their ring fingers - with the claims backed up by photo evidence of the small inkings.

Sources have also alleged Knowles is pregnant - but a member of Jay-Z's entourage has dismissed both the claims, telling AllHipHop.com, "The reports are not true."

This is not the first time representatives for the couple have been forced to put an end to rumours of marriage - the last denial came in late December, while rumours the Irreplaceable singer is expecting first surfaced in October 2005. None of the claims have ever been proven.