People magazine retracted its Thursday story that popstars Chris Brown and Rihanna, roiled in controversy for the savage beating Brown allegedly inflicted on her last month, had recorded a duet.

A widely-used source on the private lives of the rich and famous, People had said the duet's producer confirmed he recorded a "sweet and sentimental" track by the couple after the alleged February 8 beating incident.

"Contrary to published reports, Chris Brown and Rihanna did not record a duet after the incident," a record "label source" told People, however.

Brown, 19, appeared in court March 5 for arraignment on assault charges that came after he allegedly subjected Barbados-born "Umbrella" singer Rihanna to the beating in the early hours of February 8.

The incident shocked the music world and left Rihanna nursing cuts and bruises to her face, forcing her to cancel a scheduled performance at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles later that day.

Brown is charged with felony counts of assault and making criminal threats.

Source: AFP