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Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October
13, 1980), professionally known as Ashanti, is a Grammy
Award-winning American singer, songwriter, record
producer, actress, model, and fashion designer who rose
to fame in the early 2000s.
She is most famous for her eponymous debut album Ashanti
which featured the hit song "Foolish", and
sold 503,000 copies (gold) in its first week on release
in the USA in April 2002, a record-breaking feat. In the
same week, she became the first female performer to
simultaneously hold the top two places on the Billboard
Hot 100 singles chart with "Foolish", and
"What's Luv" (with Fat Joe). She broke records
again by having three Top Ten songs (Foolish, What's
Luv, and Always on Time (with Ja Rule)) on the Billboard
Hot 100 charts in the same week. Ironically, Ashanti
wrote and sang background on the song "Ain't It
Funny" sung by Jennifer Lopez which was also in the
top 10 charts at the same time as "Foolish",
"Always on Time" (with Ja Rule), and
"What's Luv" (with Fat Joe). In 2002, she was
acclaimed as the "Princess of Hip Hop and
R&B." By 2007 Ashanti had sold more than 7
million albums in the U.S., and more than 12 million
albums worldwide.
Ashanti cites Mary J. Blige, Ella Fitzgerald, and Blue
Magic as her musical influences. She is currently
working on her fourth studio album entitled Incredible,
which is due out sometime in late 2007.
Early life: Ashanti was born in Glen Cove, New
York. She inherited a love of music from her mother
Tina, a former dance teacher, and her father Thomas, a
former singer. Her mother named her after the Ashanti
tribe in Ghana. In this tribe, the women have power and
influence, and Ashanti's mother wanted her daughter to
follow that model. Her grandfather, James, was a
civil-rights activist who associated with Martin Luther
King, Jr. during the 1960s. Growing up, Ashanti took
dance lessons and joined the church choir. Ashanti went
to Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center where she
studied different dance styles including tap, jazz,
ballet, African, modern, and hip hop. She danced with
the Senior Pro Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, the Apollo
Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Avery Fisher Hall,
and the Black Spectrum Theater. She also performed at
the 1994 Caribbean Awards and dancing with Judith
Jamison of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. With actress
and choreographer Debbie Allen at the helm, Ashanti also
performed in the Disney television film Polly alongside
stars Keshia Knight Pulliam and Phylicia Rashad.
Ashanti displayed a knack for singing when she was six
by singing in a gospel choir but her mother discovered
her full singing potential when she overheard Ashanti
singing Mary J. Blige's "Reminisce" to herself
at age twelve. By the time she hit puberty, her mom was
sending out demo tapes of her daughter's vocal and
dancing talents. The family couldn't afford to go to a
studio and record a formal demo so when labels called,
Ashanti would have to sing and dance in front of the
record company executives. Her love of music continued
to rise as she attended high school and began to write
songs. As a teenager, she performed in a local talent
show and at the Soul Cafe, China Club, Madison Square
Garden, Caroline's Comedy Club and Greek Fest 2000. In
her first major singing performance, Ashanti blew the
Apollo Theater audience away with her rendition of
Yolanda Adams's "More than a Melody."
Early career: When she was fourteen, there was a
bidding war going on for her by Jive Records, EMI and
Bad Boy Records. Initially, she went to Bad Boy Records
and sang one of Mary J. Blige's songs in front of
P.Diddy and Biggie Smalls. After being impressed by her
singing ability, Diddy then challenged her character. He
pulled out a bottle and told her it was his new
fragrance, which he loved. After one sniff, Ashanti
exclaimed, "Oh pew, it stinks. I hate it!"
Diddy just started laughing stating it was just a test
to judge her character. In the end, she didn't sign with
Diddy. This ultimately led to a record deal with Jive
Records in 1994. Unfortunately, this relationship soured
when Jive tried to make the soulful singing teen into a
run-of-the-mill pop star.
Ashanti regrouped by throwing herself into schoolwork,
cheerleading, and running on her school's track team.
She was an honor student in English and belonged to the
English club where she began writing poetry. She was
also in the Drama club and performed in a few plays.
However, her skills in the 100- and 200-meter dash as
well as the triple jump, her specialty reaching as far
as 35 feet, earned her athletic scholarships to
Princeton & Hampton University. But she put college
pursuits aside when Epic Records came calling with a
contract in 1998. However, the label's management
changes quickly left Ashanti out in the cold. Undaunted,
she continued to croon at local New York clubs and began
hanging out at the Murder Inc. recording studio, hoping
for another big break.
Irv Gotti and Murder Inc.: It was when she was
noticed by Murder Inc. mastermind Irv Gotti that Ashanti
began to blossom. Gotti noted her dancing and acting
abilities in addition to her vocal skills. In 2001,
Ashanti was first featured as a background vocalist on
rapper Big Pun's song "How We Roll". In the
same year, Ashanti was featured on fellow labelmate
Cadillac Tah's singles "Pov City Anthem" and
"Just Like a Thug". She also appeared on the
2001 The Fast and the Furious soundtrack as a featured
artist on Vita's 2001 hip hop remake of Madonna's
"Justify My Love" and on the solo track
"When a Man Does Wrong". She appeared as a
background vocalist on "I'm Real" (Murder
remix), a collaboration by labelmate Ja Rule and
Jennifer Lopez (she also appeared in the music video for
"Aint It Funny" (Murder remix), the second
duet between Lopez and Rule, for which she also sang
background vocals on), and was featured on Fat Joe's
"What's Luv?" and Ja Rule's "Always on
Time". "What's Luv?" and "Always on
Time" were released simultaneously and became two
of the biggest hit songs of 2002. Ashanti became the
first female to occupy the top two positions on the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100 chart when "Always on Time"
and "What's Luv?" were number one and number
two respectively.
Debut album: Ashanti: Following the success of
her collaborations with Ja Rule and Fat Joe, Ashanti
released her debut single, "Foolish", which
contained a sample of the 1983 song "Stay With
Me" by DeBarge (also utilized by The Notorious
B.I.G. in his 1995 hit "One More Chance").
This is her biggest song to date, spending 10 weeks atop
of the billboard hot 100. She became the second artist
(after The Beatles) to have their first three chart
entries in the top ten of the Hot 100 simultaneously.
Ashanti's self-titled debut album, Ashanti, was released
on Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. record label in April 12,
2002.
It debuted at number-one on the U.S.
Billboard 200 albums chart, and stayed there for 3
weeks, selling over 503,000 copies in its first week
(the most successful first week sales for a debut
R&B female artist). The album has been certified 3x
platinum in the U.S and platinum (300,000 copies) in the
UK. The album has sold over 6.5 million copies
worldwide. Ashanti penned all 12 songs on the album,
most written on the spot in the studio.
Ashanti's follow-up singles, "Happy" and
"Baby", were not as successful as her debut
single but did peak in the top ten and top twenty in the
U.S. respectively. During the summer of 2002, Ashanti
appeared on Ja Rule's "Down 4 U" with
labelmates, female rappers Vita and Charli Baltimore.
The song appeared on a Murder Inc. compilation titled
Irv Gotti Presents The Inc. Ashanti's debut album earned
her many awards including eight Billboard Music Awards,
two American Music Awards, and a Grammy Award.
However, the most prestigious award she won in 2002 was
also the most controversial. When it was announced that
Ashanti would receive the Soul Train Aretha Franklin
Award for "Entertainer of the Year" a high
school boy in California took offense and started an
on-line petition against her. He explained to The
Seattle Times that she was too new to deserve the award
and "she lacks stage presence in the majority of
her performances." Nearly 30,000 people agreed with
him, signing the petition. Many pointed out that
established artists such as Mary J. Blige and Missy
"Misdemeanor" Elliot or critically acclaimed
singers like Alicia Keys and India Arie were more
deserving of an award that carries the name of a musical
legend.
Despite the petition, the Soul Train
committee and Don Cornelius stuck by their decision and
Ashanti. Ashanti was applauded by her musical peers as
she entered the Pasadena Civic Auditorium to accept her
award and she was supported onstage by legendary singer
Patti LaBelle who stated "she's a baby and we have
to support our babies."
In September 2002, Ashanti and her sister Kenashia
appeared on the first DisneyMania cd, which was released
under Walt Disney Records. The album featured
contemporary Disney classics. Ashanti & her sister
sang "Colors of the Wind" from the Disney
movie Pocahontas. The album was considered a commercial
success, achieving Gold certification in February 2003.
Ashanti's global appeal became very apparent, as FHM
credited her as the "Sexiest Woman in Music"
in 2002. In 2003, Ja Rule and Ashanti collaborated on
another hit song, "Mesmerize." Its music video
was a parody of a scene from the film Grease.
Chapter II: In July 2003, Ashanti released her
second album Chapter II. It debuted at number-one on the
Billboard 200 with first week sales of 326,000 in the
U.S. According to Billboard magazine, the album has been
certified Platinum (1.5 million copies) in the U.S. and
Gold (100,000 copies) in the UK. Chapter II's first
single, "Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)", became a
hit, peaking at number-two on the Billboard Hot 100. Its
steamy video, which showed Ashanti in a bikini
frolicking on a beach and riding an elephant named
Bubbles, was nominated for two 2003 MTV Video Music
Awards. A remix of the song contained interpolations of
Michael Jackson's "Rock with You".
The second single, "Rain on Me," reached the
top ten of the Hot 100. In the "Rain on Me"
mini-movie music video directed by Hype Williams and
co-starring Larenz Tate, Ashanti portrays a troubled
young woman in an abusive relationship. Ashanti's
powerful song and lyrics combined with William's visuals
to impart the power and horror of the cycle of domestic
violence. Ashanti partnered with LidRock to distribute
this mini-movie using LidRock's unique platform. This
promotion, in conjunction with heavy rotation on MTV,
BET, and other music video programs, has brought this
film and her cause to the attention of millions of fans.
It has also helped to raise money for the cause with
proceeds from the $5 mini-disc going toward helping to
stop domestic violence.
The album has sold over three million copies worldwide.
Ashanti was scheduled to join Mariah Carey on her
"Charmbracelet" US tour but due to schedule
issues she was the opening act for R.Kelly's five-date
tour in summer 2003 instead.
In May 2003, Ashanti appeared on VH1 Divas and performed
her single "Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)." She also
participated in duets with Stevie Wonder (who later gave
her the nickname Little Libra) performing "Do I
Do," and the Isley Brothers performing "Who's
That Lady".
Ashanti's Christmas: In November 2003, Ashanti's
Christmas album, Ashanti's Christmas. The album
contained almost an equal amount of new songs to cover
songs. The album debuted and peaked at number 160 on The
Billboard 200 and number 43 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop
Albums chart selling just around 100,000 copies by the
end of 2003.
Concrete Rose: In 2004, Ashanti was invited back
to perform at VH1 Divas 2004. She appeared on stage with
Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Jessica Simpson, and
others. She performed Diana Ross' smash hit "I'm
Coming Out", and she performed a soulful rendition
of Chaka Khan's funk driven hit "Ain't
Nobody."
Later that year, Ashanti appeared on three
collaborations. "Southside," with male R&B
newcomer and labelmate Lloyd, was released as his debut
single and was a moderate hit. "Wonderful"
with Ja Rule and R.Kelly peaked at number five in the
U.S and at number one in the U.K. "Jimmy Choo"
with rapper Shyne was another modest hit reaching number
55 on the billboard Hot R&B songs chart.
Alongside artist such as Wyclef Jean, Mary J. Blige,
Eve, Brandy, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Missy Elliott, and many
others, Ashanti participated in a cover of the classic
"Wake Up Everybody" in support of ACT, the
left-leaning political action committee.
On December 14, 2004, Ashanti released her third studio
album, Concrete Rose. The album debuted at number seven
in the U.S with first week sales of 245,000, making this
her first studio CD to not debut at number one. The
first single, "Only U," reached thirteen on
the Billboard Hot 100 charts and became her biggest hit
in the United Kingdom, peaking at number two. Exactly
one month after its release, the album was certified
platinum and the single "Only U" was certified
Gold In March 2005.
In Mid March, Ashanti released her
second and final single from the album entitled
"Don't Let Them". Although Ashanti was praised
by critiques for improved vocals on this solid ballad,
she didn't garner much fan support after Def Jam refused
to pay for the video for the fan favored and original
second single, "Don't Leave Me Alone" due to
the murder inc. money laundering trial. The singer came
out of pocket to deliver this second single and video to
her fans. The single was only released in the U.S.,
where it failed to chart, and the UK, reaching the
Number 35 in the first week, but soon disappeared off
the U.K. charts.
Also, for a limited time after the release of Concrete
Rose, Ashanti released the DVD Ashanti: The Making Of A
Star. This deluxe DVD includes exclusive photo and video
shoot footage, music from her multi-platinum albums
Ashanti, Chapter II plus Concrete Rose, special concert
footage, unreleased childhood school performances and
behind-the-scenes interviews with family, friends, and
fans.
Collectables by Ashanti: On December 6, 2005,
Ashanti released a remix album of Concrete Rose titled
Collectables by Ashanti. The album features six remixes
of previously released tracks and four newly recorded
songs, including the single "Still on It",
which featured rappers Paul Wall and Method Man. The
album, was only an opportunity for her to fulfill her
contract with Def Jam (and have the option of working
with another label), managing to debut at #59 on the
Billboard 200.
Incredible: Ashanti's next album has been
confirmed by a BET interview as being entitled
Incredible. This will be Ashanti's fourth studio album.
On Monday, November 27, 2006, Ashanti appeared on BET's
106 & Park to promote the posthumous release of the
song Pac's Life, which features herself and rapper T.I..
During the interview, Ashanti mentioned that her new LP
would be coming out some time in 2007 and that some of
the producers of her 2007 release included L.T. Hutton,
Jermaine Dupri, and Pharrell Williams. She also stated
that she recorded a "crazy" record with rapper
Snoop Dogg.
In January 2007, a buzz track has leaked called
"You Can't Deny It", featuring Jim Jones as
did a feature with super producer 7 Aurelius titled
"My Number Babe", which is scheduled to be on
the producers' debut cd entitled Channel 7. On Friday,
April 06, 2007, HUFF Events & PR (Ashanti's P.R.
Group) confirmed that Ashanti has just finished
recording some hot joints with super producers Pharrell
Williams, Polow Da Don, Dr. Dre, Ron "Neff-U"
Feemstar and L.T. Hutton. It was also confirmed that she
has collaborated with fellow singers Robin Thicke,
Babyface, rapper Nelly, and producers Bryan Michael Cox
and Swizz Beats.
Irv Gotti recently appeared in an interview with DJ
FlexMaster where he mentioned Ashanti's album will
"definitely be out this summer". He was also
quoted addressing the fact that Ashanti has ventured out
and acquired producers and collaborations primarily
outside the inc for the first time by saying,
"she's having her little Janet Jackson
"Control" moment. Every artist has their
moment when the feel they need to take over their own
music. This is hers."
Acting career: Ashanti got her first taste of
acting as a child extra in the Spike Lee directed movies
Malcolm X starring Denzel Washington & Who's Da Man.
She also started as a dancer in the Disney TV film
Polly.
After success with her music career, Ashanti ventured
back into acting and in 2004, she appeared in the
English-language Bollywood film Bride and Prejudice, in
which she sang "My Lips are Waiting" and
"Touch My Body'. Ashanti's appearance in the film
was meant as homage to a tradition in Bollywood films
where a celebrity would make a cameo appearance to sing
a song that has no direct involvement in the plot. The
rest of the characters do not interact with the
celebrity but are seen in the crowd enjoying the show.
In January 2005, she made her feature film acting debut
in the film Coach Carter alongside Samuel L. Jackson.
She played a pregnant teenager named Kyra who has to
decide whether or not to abort her unborn child. The
movie opened at number-one at the U.S. box office,
eventually grossing $70 million in the U.S. Later in
2005, Ashanti beat out Hilary Duff and Jessica Simpson
to star as Dorothy Gale in the made-for-television film
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, which pulled in nearly 8
million viewers.
In 2006, she starred in the teen comedy John Tucker Must
Die, which opened and peaked at #3 at the U.S. box
office (competing with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead
Man's Chest and Miami Vice) and grossed $67,989,780
million worldwide. Ashanti played Heather, the head
cheerleader who participates in a vengeful scheme
against John Tucker, her unfaithful boyfriend and the
school's biggest heartthrob.
In 2007, Ashanti will appear in the Sci-Fi horror
thriller "Resident Evil: Extinction" as a fire
powered Florence Nightingale named Nurse Betty. Ashanti
is also scheduled to star in the Michael
"Boogie" Pinckney (Spike Lee's protégé)
action flick, "You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills
You," which started shooting in New York City in
May 2007. Ashanti will appear alongside The Sopranos'
Michael Imperioli and rappers Jadakiss, and Treach.
There are many rumors circulating about Ashanti's
upcoming movie roles. One rumor is that she will work
with Quentin Tarantino (who had a cameo in The Muppets'
Wizard of Oz) to revive the 70's show Get Christie Love
as a film. The second rumor is that she among the tops
picks to star as Eartha Kitt in a biopic. In an
interview Ashanti stated: "I can't say too much
about them because we haven't signed on the dotted line,
but there are a lot of interesting irons in the
fire," she says. "Hopefully, by the next
conversation, we'll be talking about the next two
flicks."
Other activities: In addition to singing, Ashanti
has emerged as a songwriter, penning songs for Jennifer
Lopez, Ja Rule, Christina Milian, Nas, Toni Braxton,
& many more. She released a book of poetry titled
Foolish/Unfoolish Reflections on Love in 2002 and a
fragrance, "Precious Jewel by Ashanti," in
October 2005. In 2005, she signed an exclusive deal with
MUDD to promote their brand of jeans titled
"Delicious Curves." In early 2006, she
released "Ashanti's OPC-3 Beauty Blend," a
nutritional supplement. Ashanti also has a clothing line
in Europe for teenage girls titled "Princess."
On May 2, 2002 Ashanti received the key to the city of
Glen Cove, New York (her hometown), and the day was
named Ashanti Day; Ashanti also received a key to the
city of Atlantic City, New Jersey (she was crowned
princess of hip hop and R&B).
Ashanti is set to showcase her style in a book, titled
Ashanti Style, which will be published in late 2007. The
book, which is being touted as Ashanti's "life and
style guide" will offer fans a behind-the-scenes
look into her style, both in her personal and
professional life. Ashanti Style will be published by
Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Disney's Hyperion Books
for Children. Another venture Ashanti has enlisted in is
her own handbags and pocketbook to be revealed in 2007.
Philanthropy: In 2003, Ashanti partnered LidRock
and the San Francisco-based Family Violence Prevention
Fund (FVPF) to raise awareness about the issue of
domestic violence during National Domestic Violence
Awareness Month and to distribute the "Rain On
Me" mini-movie using LidRock’s unique platform.
Proceeds from the $5 mini-disc went towards helping to
stop domestic violence.
Ashanti also recorded a public service
announcement that appeared in more than 4,000 film
screens and reached millions of people. Ashanti also
gives back by raising money for sickle cell research and
she is active in helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation
stating, "I’ll go and do just about anything for
them." In 2005, Ashanti helped by recording public
service announcement and raising money for the Southeast
Asia tsunami disaster. Later that year she helped raise
money for the Hurricane Katrina victims and storm
evacuees.
Legal dispute: In July 2005, record producer
Genard Parker claimed Ashanti owed him money for records
that never were completed or distributed. A New York
court heard Parker's claims and ordered her to pay
Parker $636,000.
But as the court stated no time records
were ever produced. Parker is claiming over $2.3
million, while Ashanti's lawyers, say Parker never
delivered any records and no records were ever
distributed. In late 2005 a judge later rejected most of
the award, ruling that there were not sufficient facts
to determine the proper amount of damages. The case went
to court on September 17th, but was dropped in light of
each party voluntarily dropping pending lawsuits against
each other.
Personal life: Since mid-2003, Ashanti has been
dating rapper Nelly, but she has denied reports that
they were engaged.
Identity theft: In May 2007, Ashanti and Nia Long
were discovered to be just two of several other people
defrauded by Henrietta, New York couple Charles Curry,
Jr. and Shameika Drain Curry. To defraud Ashanti, whose
MusicFest appearance helped set an attendance record,
the couple allegedly ordered a replacement driver's
license in her name from the state Department of Motor
Vehicles in August 2006 and claimed she had moved from
Nassau County to Wilkins Street in Rochester, New York,
the complaint alleged. When they received the new ID,
Shameika reportedly impersonated the singer to purchase
a 2003 Infiniti and secure a $36,789 loan from M&T
Bank. The bank has since seized the car and Ashanti has
filed an affidavit "stating that she was the victim
of identity theft and did not give anyone permission to
use her personal information to obtain credit and/or
financial loans in her name," court documents said.
In another incident, Shameika also impersonated Nia Long
to write a check for upwards of $8,000 to Shameika’s
cleaning service. The couple also was also receiving
mail at their residence in Mariah Carey’s name, though
it wasn’t immediately clear whether or not they had
attempted to defraud her as well. |
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