Ashanti (singer): Difference between revisions

Ashanti Shequoyia Douglas (born October 13 1980), professionally known as Ashanti, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, poet, actress, and fashion designer who rose to fame in the early 2000s.

Biography

Early life

Ashanti was born in Glen Cove, New York to KenKaide and Tina Douglas. Her name is derived from the former African nation, Ashanti Confederacy.

Upon graduation from high school, Ashanti was accepted into Hampton University and Princeton University but turned down a track and field scholarship to pursue a singing career (see [1],[2]).

During her search for fame, she trained as a dancer at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center, learning a number of dance styles. She danced most notably in Disney's Polly, which starred Phylicia Rashad, and also appeared in several music videos and in Spike Lee's film, Malcolm X (see [3]).

Early career

Ashanti was first featured as a background vocalist on rapper Big Pun's song "How We Roll". 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 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"). She became the second artist (after the 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 2002. It debuted at number-one on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart, selling Over - 500,000 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.

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, a Lady of Soul Award for "Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year", and a Grammy Award.

• 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. The album has been certified platinum in the U.S. 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, 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 combine 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.[4]

• 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".

• In November 2003, Ashanti's Christmas album, Ashanti's Christmas, was released. During the release, Ashanti's label Murder Inc. was undergoing investigation by the FBI.

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.

Ashanti appeared on three more collaborations. "Southside" with male R&B newcomer and labelmate Lloyd it was released as his debut single and was a moderate hit while "Wonderful" with Ja Rule and R.Kelly peaked at #3 in the U.S. Ashanti was also featured on Shyne's song "Jimmy Choo".

Ashanti released her third studio album,yes it was the best Concrete Rose, in December 2004. Neither the album nor its singles were as successful as her previous work. The album debuted at #7 in the U.S with first week sales of 254,000. The first single, "Only U", reached the top fifteen of the Hot 100 and became her biggest hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at #2, while the follow-up single "Don't Let Them" failed to chart in the U.S. The album has been certified platinum in the U.S. Ashanti won our hearts with her beatiful voice and pressence

Collectables By Ashanti

In December 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, considered an opportunity for her to fulfill her contract with Def Jam, was not commercially successful, managing to debut at #59 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 35,000.

Ashanti is currently working on her fourth studio album which will include production by many producers outside of her label, The INC. The new album is set for a Spring 2007 release.

Acting career

After success with her music career, Ashanti has also ventured into acting. In 2004, she appeared in the English-language Bollywood film Bride and Prejudice, in which she sang "My Lips are Waiting". In January 2005, she made her feature film acting debut in the film Coach Carter alongside Samuel L. Jackson. The movie entered at number-one at the U.S. box office, eventually grossing $70 million in the U.S. In 2005, Ashanti also starred as Dorothy Gale in the made-for-television film The Muppets' Wizard of Oz. She starred in the 2006 film John Tucker Must Die, which has entered at #3 at the U.S. box office and has grossed $40,060,000 to date in the U.S. [5] Ashanti will Also appear in the 2007 film Resident Evil: Extinction.

Other activities

In addition to singing, Ashanti has emerged as a songwriter, penning songs for pop and R&B performers Jennifer Lopez , Christina Milian, and Toni Braxton. 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 Sears to release her own brand of jeans titled Delicious Curves. In early 2006, she released "Ashanti's OPC-3 Beauty Blend," a nutritional supplement. [6] [7] Ashanti also has a clothing line in Europe for teenage girls titled Princess.

Ashanti is set to showcase her style in a book, titled Ashanti Style, which will be released 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. [8]

Legal dispute

In July 2005, record producer Genard Parker claimed Ashanti dumped him after she became successful ^[1]. A New York court heard Parker's claims that in 1996 he helped Ashanti in his Bronx studio for eight months before allowing her to sign with Jive Records. Parkers lawyer said Ashanti understood that she would pay Parker $50,000, plus his right to create two records for her first album, and royalty fee's on her first five albums. Parker is claiming over $2.3 million, while Ashanti's lawyers, accepting she prised parker in a promo-video, say Parker "couldn't deliver" and she owes the producer only $50,000 ^[2]. In late 2005 Ashanti was ordered by a jury to pay Mr Parker $630,000 (£335,000), but a judge later rejected most of the award, ruling the jurors did not have sufficient facts to determine the proper amount of damages. The case went to court on 17 September, but was dropped in light of the parties reaching an undisclosed out of court settlement ^[3]

Personal life

Ashanti has dated rapper Nelly since 2003, after breaking up with record boss Irv Gotti.

She cites Mary J. Blige, Ella Fitzgerald, and Blue Magic as musical influences ^[4]

Filmography

Films

• Bride and Prejudice (2004)
• Coach Carter (2005)
• The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (TV) (2005)
• John Tucker Must Die (2006)
• Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

Television

• American Dreams (2002)
• Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2002)
• The Proud Family (voice) (2003)
• Buffy The Vampire Slayer (2003)
• Punk'd (2004)
• Oxygen: Custom Concert (2004) (with Kenny Chesney)
• Las Vegas (television program) (2005)
• Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball (2006) [9]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Awards

Grammy Awards and nominations

Career stats

• Career wins: 1
• Career nominations: 8

2002

• Soul Train: Lady of Soul Awards
  • Best R&B/Soul New Artist
  • Aretha Franklin Entertainer Of The Year

• Teen Choice Awards
  • Choice Breakout Artist

• MOBO Awards
  • Best R&B Act
  • Best Hip Hop Act (Ashanti with Ja Rule)

• Billboard Music Awards
  • Female Artist of the Year
  • Top New Pop Artist of the Year
  • Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year
  • R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
  • R&B/Hip-Hop Female Artist of the Year
  • New R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
  • R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year ("Foolish")
  • R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Artist of the Year

2003

• American Music Awards
  • Favorite New Artist in Pop/Rock
  • Favorite New Artist in Hip-Hop/R&B

• Grammy Awards
  • Best Comtemporary R&B Album

• Soul Train Awards
  • Best R&B/Soul Single, Female ("Foolish")
  • Best R&B/Soul Album, Female ("Ashanti")

• NAACP Image Awards
  • Outstanding New Artist

• Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards
  • Best New Artist

• Celebrity Service Award [10]

2004

• Do Something Brick Awards
  • "Do Something" Brick Award ("Rain on Me")

External links

• Official site
• Official MySpace
• Ashanti at IMDb