 Ashanti is a native of Glen Cove,
Long Island. She burst onto the music scene with her 2002 smash hit debut album self-titled Ashanti. The album landed at the
#1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts, selling a whopping 504,593 units in its first week. Her first
week set a Sound scan record as the most albums sold by any debut female artist in the chart’s history, granting her
a spot in the Guinness book of world records. Simultaneously, Ashanti also secured the top spot on the Billboard Hot
100 Singles Chart and the R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart with her song, “Foolish.” She made Billboard history by having her first 3 chart entries
land in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. She is the first female to accomplish
this feat previously only attained by the Beatles. That year she was awarded 8 Billboard Awards. Her album “Ashanti”
topped the Billboard Album Chart and also won the Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album. In addition, that year she won
2 American Music Awards and the Soul Train Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the year Award. Her follow-up release, “Chapter
II,” debuted in the no. 1 slot on the Billboard Album Chart and spawned two Top-10 singles. In addition to her
Grammy, she’s also won an NAACP Image Award. Numerous Soul Train Awards, A MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Award, A Comet
Award (Grammy Equivalent in Germany), Lady of Soul Awards and a Teen Choice and Nickelodeon’s Kid Choice Award, along
with many other nominations including an MTV movie award nomination for “Coach Carter.” Ashanti’s other
albums include “Ashanti’s Christmas", "Concrete Rose", and a remix album titled, "Collectibles
by Ashanti".
Ashanti is hot off the #1 box office
hit, “Resident Evil Extinction” staring opposite Milla Jovovich for Sony Screen Gems. Previously, she stared in
the hugely successful “John Tucker Must Die” in an ensemble cast composed of Ashanti, Brittany Snow, Sofia Bush,
Ariel Kebble and Jessie Metcalfe. In her feature film debut “Coach Carter,” she co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson.
She can be seen as an Indian Songstress who sings in Hindi and English as she dances in the film, “Bride & Prejudice.”
Ashanti made her telefilm debut helming “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz,” opposite Miss Piggy and Kermit. She
got her start in acting on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” and portrayed
Dionne Warwick on “American Dreams.”
Ashanti is also an entrepreneur who has her own fragrance, "Precious
Jewel" sold at Wal-Mart and other fine stores as well as a Dietary Supplement “Ashanti’s OPC-3 Beauty Blend”.
Her endorsements include: Herbal Essences, where she is the first African American to land a national campaign,
Candies Apparel, as well as MUDD
Jeans, "DELICIOUS CURVES". She has also
written her first book of poetry through Hyperion titled Foolish/Unfoolish: Reflections on Love which
is currently in its sixth edition.
Ashanti has performed before Presidents and Royalty. She has performed duets with the likes of Pattie Labelle, Smokie Robinson, Ronald Isley, Stevie
Wonder and Kenny Chesney to name a few. She has appeared on shows ranging from Oprah, Ellen, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Regis
& Kelly, Saturday Night Live, The View, Conan O’Brien, BET 106 & Park, MTV TRL, VH1 and Fuse TV among others.
She has performed on virtually every music awards show from the American Music Awards to the Grammy’s, the MTV Video
Music Awards, MTV Europe Awards, the Soul Train Awards and the Kids’ Choice Awards. She is an American Favorite,
singing the National Anthem and God Bless America for major events including the World Series. Ashanti also wants everyone to start sending out her GOTCHAGRAM
Ashanti - New Music in 2008 Ashanti brings her best game and more on her fourth studio album, the aptly titled
The Declaration, arriving in June of 2008 as the most complete and compelling offering of her career. A soaring collection
of new tracks, penned by the multi-talented artist, the intricately produced album captures her alluring presence and incredible
vocal range.
 The Declaration is an impressive rollout of A-list producers, including Jermaine Dupri, LT Hutton, Babyface,
Pharrell Williams, Bryan Michael Cox and others. A sizzling snapshot of the heat-seeking Ashanti can be gleamed from the new single; “The
Way That I Love You” produced LT Hutton. The song skillfully plays up the ever-present voice of the star. You
can feel Ashanti reveling in her newfound independence, which she effortlessly displays with a powerful sense of purpose throughout
every song on the new album. “One of the reasons I call the album ‘The Declaration,’ is because
I feel it’s important to present all sides of what being a woman is about,” she says. “Historically,
we’ve always been relegated to the bottom of the totem pole, whether it’s business or the battle of the sexes
or just empowering each other. I want this album to make people feel stronger about themselves. I’ve always
used the ups and downs in my own life as well as others close to me as a motivational tool and I hope my music comes off that
way. I felt a lot of passion making this record. I loved every minute I was in the studio.” |
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