The astronomical ascension and collapse of Ashanti’s career have bewildered industry pundits for quite some time. Within a period of just 6 years – from 2002 to 2008 – the former Princess of R&B has fallen from the triple platinum success of her self-titled debut to barely selling 200k copies of her last album, ‘The Declaration’.
Although there is no obvious reason for the decline of Ashanti’s popularity, many agree that it coincided with the explosive arrival of Beyonce the solo artist – who is simply a better singer, dancer and performer – and the crumbling of the Murder, Inc. empire.
However, regardless of all that has happened, there are many who cling to the hope that Ashanti will return to relevance. Still, the key question that arises from this situation is this: what type of sound will she need to accomplish such a career revival?
Ashanti is quintessentially a contemporary R&B artist. Comprising clever Hip-Hop samples, radio-friendly beats and R&B melodies, her music stems from the sound perfected and popularised by Mary J. Blige and Mariah Carey in the 1990’s.
Yet, in an era where Dance/Pop has become the dominant genre and R&B artists including Usher are quickly abandoning their roots in an effort to remain successful, Ashanti may be forced to adopt a new approach. On the contrary, that may not be a wise decision.
The music industry is arguably more competitive today that ever before. Where Ashanti mainly faced direct competition from acts such as Brandy, there is a wave of new artists against whom she will have to battle against for space at the top of the charts. Of course, there is no other arena more heated than Pop music where Britney Spears, Rihanna and her nemesis Beyonce reign supreme.
Hence, the best decision may be for Ashanti to preserve her R&B sound and strive for success in a field where she has known previous glory. Judging by the success of her last top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100, ‘The Way That I Love You’, which peaked at #2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2008, there is certainly some demand for her music in the Urban market.
With improved vocal ability and astute writing skills, there is no reason why Ashanti can’t forge a comeback on the R&B charts. She may not achieve the multi-platinum success of her younger years but if she is able to accomplish another gold album as well as a string of Grammy Award nominations like Monica, she will still be victorious in her quest to impact music in some way and return to a position of prominence.
Ashanti’s “career” is OVER.
She was the ‘hot for the moment’ type, and when Murder Inc crashed, Irv Gotti dumped her off, there went her success.
Many people knew Ashanti wasn’t gonna last. She didn’t have that drive for longevity anyway.
I don’t think a career revival is owed Ashanti and I don’t see a comeback in the works for her.
Yes, Murda Inc. crumbling hastened her downfall, but in reality, I don’t think she was ever headed toward longevity to begin with. Her material was very light, throwaway R&B pop. And unlike some of her contemporaries, Ashanti isn’t very interesting as a celebrity/personality, so there’s not a whole lot to cling to once the hits stop rolling in.
Let’s face it: Ashanti was a hip hop hook singer who found a little shine. Good for her, but that’s all that it was. Maybe she can work behind the scenes in the industry as a songwriter.
a combination of r&b and pop….. she definately stepped her game up vocally and her writing skills are dope….all the best wishes to her….cant wait for the new album
No hope. Just retire gal.
IS THIS ELVIS IMPERSONATOR STILL ON THE MUSIC SCENE ?
GIRRR BYEEEEE.
When fear and drive collide, it totals up to be a great motivator. Fear of unhealthy living keeps us on inconvenient diets and exercise plans; fear of poverty gets us out of bed to work and earn a living. Eleanor Roosevelt once wrote of fear, “you gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face,” and she is undeniably correct. It is only when one faces the fears surrounding a new venture that anyone can accomplish anything great. I have chosen to write about singer Ashanti because, not only I am an admirer musically, but I have been motivated by her drive towards success, even though it has led music listeners to criticize her as an incompetent singer stumbling into rejuvenated formulaic radio singles.
I’ve been following after Ashanti’s career ever since I was 12, when she made her debut back in 2002 with “Foolish,” which seemingly dropped like a melodic atomic bomb, shattering album records way before her time. Along with her success, came great critique and general hate as many dubbed her as an insubstantial singer with little range, because while on some of her live performances, her voice sounds muffled, like she’s doing a poor recitative. But, in my defense as a supporter, I say not every singer has a great day for singing every single day; there is definitely much to learn to accommodate yourself to while singing live on stage. Ashanti may not have that big voice you’re use to, but she has a quality: her voice is sweet, soft, and light. As a first soprano (or in technical opera-esque terms, she is defined as a coloratura soprano), she is capable of hitting those high whistler notes with ease and control while maintaining a clear sound.
But, there’s more to Ashanti than just the good looks and pretty honey-suckled voice: she’s actually has a story of triumph that can relate to many of her young audiences out there who are currently struggling to break in the business. When Ashanti was 14, she was discovered by Hip-Hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, but due to negotiate a worthwhile contract, she eventually signed with Jive. There, the record executives wanted to mold the singer into a pop act. Because she didn’t like the image Jive wanted her to become, she turned the contract down and dived into four years of schoolwork. After graduation, at 18, Ashanti was offered the chance to go college (because of her athletic abilities) with full-blown scholarships at Hampton University and Princeton, but she turned it down to pursue her dream of music. She was propositioned with a contract with Noontime Records (a subsidiary of Epic Records), but due to structural changes, her contract was eliminated. She then returned home to Glen Cove, New York, to give her dream another shot. She started singing at open-mic clubs, and then caught the eye of hardcore Hip-Hop mogul, Irv Gotti. He offered her the dream version of a singer’s apprenticeship, to sing verses of some of his rapper’s work. Fast forward 9 years, 23 million records sold thus far, more than 10 top 40 Billboard entries, and 3 movies later, Ashanti is still at!
Although Ashanti may not be in front of the camera, she definitely stays busy with prior obligations and gigs. Some ask “what is she doing? She needs more songs out.” We must realized that this is a human being, not a mechanical bunny that just goes without stopping. I believe Ashanti has the right to disappear for some time, enjoy herself as she accomplished great goals at a tender age. As far as more singles being pushed, the industry has changed so abruptly: at one point in time, you could release a gazillion singles to keep the consumers happy, but with the recent economic meltdown and recovery, even artists are feeling the pinch. Budgets have been cut in half and in some cases, cut off. But, through the grace of God, Ashanti, who is like the phoenix has risen from the ashes and flown to new heights.
Despite the negativity that has plagued her, Ashanti remains graceful and focused on what’s most relative in her life: her family, friends and her career. Unlike many of her peers who are manufactured artist that have been corrupted by the hands of the industry, Ashanti is real: she’s intelligent and relatable. She’s inspired as a singer not only to search within myself to connect with the audience on a more intimate connection emotionally and lyrically, but she also has taught me to become more drive and enthused about my own dreams— the similarity is in the determination to get where you want to be. It is this ambition, this decision to stare down the fear of failure that has motivated me because of the belief in myself, through the inspirational music of Ashanti from her viewa on acceding past her own expectations. And for that, I live! This is my declaration of admiration for Ashanti…
i never understood y people hated her so much….she has grew so much as a artist over the years and all her albums was poppin…. #teamashanti
CAN TRENT TALK ABOUT ANYONE WITHOUT MENTIONING MARIAH CAREY SOMEWHERE ?
#PSYCHOTICSTAN
“her music stems from the sound perfected and popularised by Mary J. Blige and Mariah Carey in the 1990’s” – GIVE ME A BREAK. KEEP GRASPING AT STRAWS. SHE HAS NEVER NOR WIL LSHE EVER BE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS MC OR MJB. BLASPHEMY.
she should come back with a deep R&B track that infuses with a massive dance anthem after the second verse
She sold well over 300k in the us alone
She’s mediocre to me, that’s why she was left behind so easily. She couldn’t really dance and she sounded REALLY bad live. The only difference between her and Rihanna is that Rihanna’s team is still intact where as The Inc crumbled. Even though she improved with her last album, when she performs I feel like I’m watching someone try out for American Idol, not a professional.
I find it laughable that she was the “Princess of Hip Hop/ R&B”. Her success was all due to the hit Irv Gotti and Ja Rule made for her. When they fell off, she lost all relevance. Simply put, there really is no place for her in the industry.
I LOVE ASHANTI’S MUSIC. I’VE NOT BEEN A HUGE FAN BUT I’VE LOVED HER MUSIC AND SOUND SINCE HER FIRST SINGLE. I WASN’T IMPRESSED WITH HER EARLY LIVE VOCAL SHOWINGS BUT SHE STEPPED IT WAY UP IN 2008 WHICH I WAS BEGGING FOR HER TO DO. IF SHE SPENT MORE TIME TRYING TO GET A NEW DEAL INSTEAD OF PARADING AROUND WITH NELLY (WHOSE CAREER IS ALSO ON FLATLINE) TRYING TO BUILD BUZZ OFF OF THEIR D-LIST RELATIONSHIP, SHE MIGHT BE AT THE TOP OF THE CHARTS AGAIN. LET’S NOT FORGET, ASHANTI HAD SUCCESS BEFORE BEYONCE WENT SOLO AND SHE HAD IT WHEN BEYONCE WENT SOLO TOO. HER SECOND ALBUM “CHAPTER II” WAS RELEASED A WEEK AFTER BEYONCE’S DEBUT SOLO ALBUM “DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE” AND SHE KNOCKED BEYONCE’S ALBUM FROM NUMBER ONE. THAT CLEARLY SHOWS THE GIRL HAS SOME PULL. HER FIRST TWO SINGLES FROM THAT ALBUM WERE ALSO SMASHES AND THE ALBUM WENT PLANTINUM. I FEEL THAT HER ALBUMS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GOOD AND SOLID. I LIKE SONGS FROM ALL OF THEM. I FEEL THAT IN 2008 JUST WHEN SHE BECAME BETTER HER LABEL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN. THE SECOND SINGLE THEY RELEASED WAS JUST HORRIBLE AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN “YOU’RE GONNA MISS” INSTEAD. “YOU’RE GONNA MISS” WAS CLEARLY A HIT AND WOULD’VE BEEN GREAT FOR THAT SUMMER OF 2008. ONCE AGAIN, WANTING TO PLAY OFF THE THE NELLY THING, SHE HAD HIM IN THE VIDEO WHICH IS CLEARLY WHY SHE PICKED THAT SINGLE. ONE WORD: FAIL. THE FIRST SINGLE WAS STRONG AND AN URBAN SMASH, AND A GREAT VIDEO. FOLLOW UP WITH A SECOND ONE THAT’S JUST AS STRONG OR EVEN STRONGER. IT’S SAD THAT THE ALBUM ENDED UP THE WAY THAT IT DID. SHE DEFINITELY WRITES HER OWN MUSIC, AS YOU CAN TELL SHE USES “BABY” ALOT LOL BUT SHE STILL WRITES GOOD STUFF. HER VOCALS IMPROVED AND SHE EVEN HAD SOME GOOD PROMO GOING ON. SHE WAS ON REGIS AND KELLY AND 106&PARK, MTV, AND A FEW OTHER SHOWS. IT CALL CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT BECAUSE OF HER LABEL. SHE SHOULD STICK HER POPULAR R&B SOUND. AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT THINKS ASHANTI WOULD SOUND GOOD ON SOME KERI HILSON MATERIAL? “PRETTY GIRL ROCK” AND SOME OF HER MORE HIP HOP TINGED RECORDS LIKE “TURNIN’ ME ON” HAVE A LITTLE ROOM FOR ASHANTI IF YOU CAN PICTURE IT. ASHANTI HAS FANS AND THEY WANT HER BACK. SIMPLE AS THAT. BUT UM, BUMP ASHANTI, WHEN SHE FOCUSES ON HER CAREER AND NOT NELLY, SHE’LL BE GOOD. IT’S ABOUT JOJO AND ALL ABOUT JOJO. THIS POST SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR HER! NEXT POST MAKE IT ABOUT JOJO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
shes only had one flop….and the flop she did have, sold more than other artists that flopped…..she just needs the right music and she needs to stop taking those long ass breaks …. im rootin for ashanti this year!
*CLOSES THE LID OF THE COFFIN ON ASHANTI’S CAREER*
@jay if theres a place for fergie rihanna kesha and all these other untalented h***…..theres plenty of room for ashanti #beleedat
Lol at Trent trying 2 bring some attention 2 Ashanti. Trent was definitely reading the lists of the Queens and Princesses from previous post. Anyway i like Ashanti and i dont think her career is over. She has a Strong singing voice and she’s pretty. I think her voice could fit all Genres of music. But her next album should be a combination of Pop & Soul.
@Kahari: What are you doing? LOL
Back to Shani: I believe Murder Inc.’s crumbling and her lack of progression vocally, lyrically, and performance-wise caused Shani to crumble. Remember she knocked Beyonce off the #1 spot in 2003, but tumbled in the aftermath of no strong back-up single to Rain On Me—even with a glitz up AMA performance. People saw the difference with Ashanti, just like the did when J. Lo took a seat after the Bennifer crisis—–when the machine and media is gone, the smoke and mirrors are gone, you’re not as talented as Beyonce vocally.
I always supported Ashanti, as a songwriter–but she’s even gotten lazy and stagnant in that. Only You gave her a new edge, and The Way That I Love You let others fall in love with her again. I BELIEVE ASHANTI CAN MAKE IT if she reinvents herself into a serious actress.
She doesn’t have “the machine” like Gaga, Bee, and Katy. With the promotion, media, glitz—and let’s not forget performance and vocals—what’s a black girl to do????
P.S. Shani’s vocals are much better and her acting is decent.
I NEVER seen the hype around Ashanti. She can’t dance, sing, or perform. Don’t mean to bring up another artist, but she’s basically an R&B version of Rihanna, with mild writing skills and less hits. And with Rihanna in the POP category, she will have better longevity than Ashanti did.
Ashanti will NEVER be able to garner the amount of interest or success she once had back in the early 2000’s. There is no style of music she could do that would make her back into the (overrated) superstar that she once was. Her annoying, (yet guilty pleasure), anthems like “Foolish” won’t work, IMO. She’s in the same boat as her man, Nelly. NOTHING they can do will sound relevant, it will sound DATED only because their name and voice are attached to it. They both might as well go to their has-been, flavor of the moment retirement home along with Ja Rule, 50 cent, Bow Wow, and others.
She is a BASIC B****!
I’m sorry she was nothing special and she won’t be nothing special in 20 years times who the hell is going to be talking about Ashanti I’m sorry she did not bring nothing amazing to the industry and she did not give nobody a run for there money
Beyonce KILLED her career in a heart beat b**** you are now a HAS BEEN!
Here go one of these post again… so random..
if ke$ha can have all this success…..i kno ashanti should have no problem seeking some…good luck ms.ashanti…..and if yall dont like ashanti,,,y would u take time to click her thread & comment???? #messy
What happen to Ashanti was Beyonce and also Ciara at the time.This girl was the( it girl) and she was suppose to be big it didn’t help that she was on murder inc.Unfortunately Straight R&B artists are not cutting it unless you have a following ie Mary and R.Kelly.Ashanti can still get herself together but she needs a new look and new sound.Best of luck to Ashanti it’s really sad what’s happening to Straight R&B artists nowadays.
“JUST KILLED ANOTHER CARRER ,IT’S A MILD DAY”
OLD DEAD VICTIMS FOR BEY,ON TO THE NEW ONES … 😀
u cant compare beyonce and ashanti becuz bey had a fanbase established before she was a solo artist….everybody kno that beyonce was destineys child…but best wishes to ashanti…i kno she can make a hit
And that picture of Ashanti is HORRIFIC! She looks like the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz.
I FEEL IT’S A BAD CASE OF KARMA
DID’NT SHE GO ON HOT97 SHORTLY AFTER AALIYAH DIED AND STATED
“I FEEL IM THE NEXT AALIYAH, BUT EVEN BETTER”
SHE DON’T NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING SHE CLEARLY NEEDS A NEW MANAGER AND MARKETING TEAM!!!!
Ashanti is a good artist. The Decleration was one of the best albums that came out that year and nobody can deny that “The Way I Love You” was a hit! She released “Good Good” after that…which I disagreed with…but other than that…the album was a solid B+
DID U MEAN ANALYZING
Ashanti turned her back on the illumanti hence career s******
but at least she didnt end up as anyones sacraficial lamb
check out her masonic diss on youtube
Amerie and Ciara all blown out not because of lack of talent
but because they arent interested in political b*******
it seems if you arent prepared to play mind games and stamp on people to get to the top you dont get a look in
(Not that i Believe Beyonce did that but certainly Robyn did)
thing is when you take that path to reach the top it wall all come back on you at some stage because people remember disloyalty
Sadly talent is no longer a guarantee of success in commercial music
more your willingness to be a packaged product boxed up like cereal and part of the music industry commercial food chain
@DHOP
Only Americans spell analyze with a ‘z’. It’s supposed to be spelled with a ‘s’.
yea…new a new team behind her would definately help…. @TT ashanti never said that so pls. dont come up in here starting s***, thank you
Ashanti need:
-GOOD TEAM/MANAGEMENT
-TEENAGE FANS
-GAYS FANS
-TWITTER,BLOGS ATTENTION
-REPETITIVE POPISH SONGS
-NEW STYLIST AND HAIRSTYLIST
-A STRONG GIMMICK
-EUROPEAN(MOSTLY UK) KIDDIES STANS
-A STRONG CREW (young money,roc nation..)
-A MOGUL BEHIND HER(jay,akon,matthew..)
VOILAAAAAAAAAAAA
@ TheAreYouMadShow. What break has Ashanti been on? When an artist has become a has-been, there is no such thing as being on break.
You guys need to stop making excuses, and deal with the facy that Ashanti’s career is history.
I also agree with the person that said, Ashanti doesn’t have the personality to be a star. Just like Nicole S. from PCD, she lacks star power and quality.
Ashanti only got lucky because she had the Ja, and Irv machine behind her and Murder Inc ended up crashing and burning.
Where are Ja, and Irv now? Both are has-beens and Ashanti follows.
“You guys need to stop making excuses, and deal with the facy”
*the fact
stick with r&b.
I WILL SAY THIS, MANY STATED THAT MARIAH WOULD NEVER COME BACK AND HER CAREER WAS OVER, BUT WITH THE SUCCES OF THE “EMANCIPATION OF MIMI” AND “E=MC2” SHE BLEW EVERYONE AWAY AND CAME BACK ON TOP. EVERYONE SAID THAT MONICAS CAREER WAS OVER WITH LACK LUSTER REVIEWS OF “THE MAKINGS OF ME” (ONE OF MY FAVES) BUT SHE BLEW EVERYONE AWAY AND SILENCED THE CRITICS WITH THE MAJOR SUCCESS OF “STILL STANDING”…I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD REALLY QUIT DOUBTING AND DOWNING THE POTENTIAL OF ARTISTS WITH MAJOR TALENT THAT IS REAL AND FOUNDED…AND STOP PRAISING THE “PROCESSED SUCCESS” OF ARTISTS SUCH AS “RIHANNA” OR “BRITNEY SPEARS” WHATEVER HAPPEN TO THE NEED FOR REAL MUSIC, REAL ARTISTS, AND REAL ENTERTAINMENT…AND THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WONDERS WHY ALBUMS DONT SELL LIKE THEY USED TO…GIVE US SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TOO…I THINK ASHANTI WILL MAKE A COMEBACK AND HER LONG AWAITED RETURN WILL BE FOR GOOD REASON..SHES LOOKIN FOR HER NITCH AND REBUILDING ON HER OWN..AND DISPELLING THE INDUSTRY “NORMS” I THINK ITS A GOOD THING!! I WISH HER ALL THE BEST…
CHASE
@nichole ashanti only had 1 album that underperformed and ashanti has one of if not the best personality in the music biz (seek youtube)…. and she did take a break….pls. dont try and state facts if u dont kno wat ur talkin about #thankyou
@Chaslen. Mariah is very talented, and Ashanti ain’t no Mariah. Gimmicks with no musical talent, can’t outshine real talent at the end of the day.
@TheAreYouMadShow. Who cares if she has one of the best personalities in music? That wasn’t my point. My point was her personality lacks star power. She’s a dud.
You keep stating that she only had one album that underperformed, but each of her album sales have decreased with “The Declaration” being the lowest seller.
Ashanti’s time is up.
@ TRENT
Shut the f*** up!
Don’t try to start drama in this post by labeling Beyonce as Ashanti’s nemesis. And you OPINION about Ashanti not being able to achieve success or her “demise” attributed to Beyonce’s success is far beyond off.
Ashanti started to blow up in 2002, that was when her debut CD was released. yes Beyonce was not officially solo then, but a year later in 2003 Beyonce was out, and guess what ASHANTI WAS TOO. And to recant your absurd OPINION, Ashanti managed to hit number 1 on the Billboard 200, and stay for an extra week (2 weeks total) the week AFTER BEYONCE’S DEBUT ALBUM WAS RELEASED.
So as I said TRENT SHUT THE F*** UP!
@nichole all her albums are platinum but one???i said the declaration was her lowest seller so wat r u sayin??? but its your opinion….but i think she’ll do fine with and without your negativity #next
Ashanti is great beautiful voice and she writes her own s*** been feeling her since the first album came out i hope she can make a come back i mean look at lloyd he doing it if he can without murda inc so can she
once beyonce came on that bet stage in 2003 ,every rnb ,pop star disapper…bey kills everyone …FACT…only the brave survive sorry ashanti and co
So Beyonce snatched your wig? It was inevitable, Ashanti was never an artist of stature. But, I wish her much success.
Beyonce was never Ashanti’s nemesis, Murder Inc., Irv Gotti, Ashanti, and people’s short-term memory was her nemesis.
@Number1K9 You’re right. Again, people have a short-term memory.
well if she is planning a comeback my advise to her is that she should not come out the same time with beyonce cos she will go unnoticed like she is right now.
CJ and the delusional stans: When Beyonce came out, Ashanti was the bigger solo artist and Bee was new—and that proved when their cd’s debut when Ashanti outsold her the first week.
The difference was Beyonce’s projects had “legs” and a machine behind it, and Ashanti’s didn’t. Again, Ashanti’s didn’t have a strong second single after “Rain On Me” and she sure has hell didn’t have the promotion. Eventually, people began to take notice of Beyonce’s “talent and ubiquity.”
The death of Aaliyah (her fans in particular) and 50 Cent also contibuted to Ashanti’s demise.
The timing of Ashanti’s arrival was just wrong. Here we had one “Princess of R&B” dying in a plane crash and you declare another so soon? Aaliyah fans were having none of that and went in HARDCORE on Ashanti for YEARS. Beyonce’s arrival as a solo star just put the nail in the coffin for poor Ashanti. Then you had the beef with 50 Cent and JaRule and the feds after Irv Gotti and *poof* …GAME OVER.
Ashanti is one of the best soul/ R&B singers of the 00’s, but like others, she is struggling to sell CD’s (mariah, toni, janet, leona). I think it’s because of the material she put on the albuns. But generally people are not recognising real talent and real VOICES, they prefer crap music. It’s a consequence of the digital market, the decline in music industry and the need to promote singers in reality shows .
Sorry my english!
I think she just needs a hit like the 1st hit she had that put her on the map!
Her Music isnt missed by anyone! she should just retire and take Nelly with her!
LMAO yes Ashanti still had clout when Beyonce came out, but eventually Beyonce overshadowed her completely because she IS better overall. There was no need for Ashanti. Then Ciara blew up with the Evolution and Rihanna started gaining attention. GAME OVER!
@Kevin That was so true! Aaliyah and even neo-soul fans hated Ashanti from the get-go!
We all remember that Lady of Soul petition, which was egged on by BET. I never understood the hate. She’s not great, but she wrote hits for others and worked hard. Her mom was her manager, so she had to have the business chops.
Back then, one of my friends was bragging about signing that hate petition against Ashanti. The only thing that disappointed me with Ashanti was her Grammy performance, when she sang that (El Debarge rip-off) song Dreams and brought those kids to the stage like Mariah—that’s when I felt she was channeling delusional and she was stuck in her own hype—no progression.
@Jay – Beyonce had to work HARD to overshadow Ashanti & J. Lo. Her publicity was on overload.
It took J. Lo to have a Bennifer crisis and go into hiding for Beyonce to take her thrown—because her whole debut promotion was based off of Jennifer’s (movie releases with single releases). Even Beyonce’s stying, makeup and wardrobe was similar to J.Lo.
J.Lo took a seat. Ashanti took a tumble with Murder Inc.
oops…throne..
What a dumb article. What was the point of it, does Ashanti have a new album slated for a definite release, or did Trent simply dig up his ass for a random editorial to post? What next, an article on if Bobby Valentino can make a comeback in the era of Chris Brown and Justin Bieber?
Ashanti is over. She’s “2002.” It’s damn near ten years past her peak, and in the time sense she hasn’t maintained enough of her commercial audience to still do respectable business. You can only flop so many times in the world of popular music before you get put out to pasture and your time as a hit maker becomes a marker for what USED to be, but will never happen again (just ask Janet Jackson and Ciara.) It’s what happens when you let Irv Gotti and Ja Rule manage your career.
Ashanti and Ja rule made some beautiful music back in the days.They should hook bak up and bring that magic back!
i think some people here need desperately a new ear.. ashanti sings WAY BETTER than rihanna, that’s a fact.. youtube on you, guys! 🙂
and ashanti’s career isn’t over.. i know is a lack comparation, but enrique iglesias got a HIT on USA after several years without anyone and u guys can’t predict anything..
imo, she needs to stay on R&B, the pop music/industry in too much competitive for her
THAT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AND REMEMBER MONICA HAD TO BEG TO GET THE SELLS SHE GOT!
She can come back, yes the music industry has changed, but she can do it. She should also work on songwriting for others and even script writing cuz we all know that’s where the real money is at.
I have faith in Ashanti but I can’t really see her breaking big like she did when she first came out; she just doesn’t have that star power. One of my biggest complaints about her is that she doesn’t have stage presence. Every performance I see of her it just leaves me wanting something more. Regardless though, I agree with Trent with the fact that I still think there’s room for her in the urban market. It worked for her in 2008 so there is no reason why she can’t deliver something hot in 2011. Since the music industry is still suffering, she shouldn’t worry about albm sales…just drop something for her hardcore fans because believe me they’re still out there. I will always support her. I have all her albums and even though I am never 100% satisfied with them, there are a handful of tracks that I always put on repeat.
False hope isn’t anything cute ashanti fans. Ashanti’s first album was good for that time. Chapter 2 was the beginning of the end. She lacks vocals and stage presence. Those are the key issues. Not to mention her writing isn’t even all that good, simple and repetitive at the most. I don’t think Beyonce killed her on purpose it just happened and also ashanti relesed Concrete Rose and The Declaration four years apart. She never had the fanbase to do that. 1 Multi-Platinum album along with 2 Platinum albums and about 30 singles with 2#1’s 5 Top5’s and 3 Top 10’s and a grammy. She has had a decent career better than many others. But she’s done. She’s no Mariah! We all know mariah’s comeback was a miracle anyway.
Ashanti is a great artist.. I was one of the main people hollerin she can’t sing blah, blah, blah when she first came out.. and true enough she didn’t sound too hot. But I got my life from “Always on time” and she wasn’t even giving a big vocal. She made good music and she always gave the hood somethin to bop to or talk about in her songs and videos. The hate for her is somethin like the hate for ciara.. I think it’s unwarranted and both of those ladies work hard. They care about their fans.
I’m confident that with good production Ashanti can give us what we need.
In retrospect, the success of Ashanti’s debut album was all about luck and fortunate timing.
1) If anyone remembers, 2002 was a really SLOW year for commercial R&B. Aaliyah’s death signaled a change of tides, leaving the scene disoriented and confused on where to go next. The overstated “Git it gurl” style of R&B that had dominated the 90s and first year or so of the 2000s was fizzling out, and many of the over-produced R&B/Pop acts of the years leading up to it now felt dated. By 2002, most of what was dominating black radio was Neo-soul and Hip Hop.
2) It happened at the tail END of the hurricane that was Alicia Keys’ debut album the year before…and itself preceded Beyonce’s solo debut by a year.
Because of these factors (her having been a hook singer on Ja Rule’s and Fat Joe’s songs during their peak also helped), Ashanti was able to squeeze into that very narrow space there and blow up for a fleeting moment, during the tiny window of time when there was little competition. The Pop/R&B world just arbitrarily rolled with her because she was new, and because — like I said — she had few competitors.
In the fall of 2003, things got heavy again. Beyonce, Alicia and Ashanti all came out with albums at the same time. Beyonce and Alicia’s machines were strong and their projects had legs. Ashanti’s didn’t. Soon as she stopped being the only one on the field, she was done. She, nor her team, couldn’t handle the competition and very quickly she became uninteresting/forgettable.
That, children, is the story of Ashanti’s rise and fall.
Ashanti needed to keep writing either for herself or other artists. From what I can recall during her debut she had a strong following of young Black, White & Hispanic girls but that base kind of melted away once Beyonce debuted as a solo artist. Grown r&b fans ridiculed her to death because of her weak vocals, weak dance skills and weak live performances (anybody else remember the infamous Lady of Soul petition?).
Since she hasn’t charted high on the mainstream/pop side I think she should stay in her lane & keep trying the r&b/hip hop mix – if she does it well, she could still have hit singles because really I think the “pop” window is closed to her at this point.
1st all a OPINION is like a asshole everybody gotem
2nd ashanti knows what she has to do
3rd HAterz kill ya self
and 4th @nichole get a life stupid b****
p.s. BeYAWNce aint kill know ones career
Just duet with someone whos doing well and she’ll be back in the game.. simples
please stop saying it was because of Bey, as many have pointed out, they were out at the same time and Ashanti was still winning.. The murder Inc backlash took a huge toll on her career, but the way that i love you shows that she can still make a hit record. just like all these other artist she just needs the right machine behind her.
I think ashantis downfall was either the 50cent ish beys arrival and poor single choices or illumnati! I think for a comeback ashanti needa fire track and to be very humble on her return trail just himble&smash & it will put this girl back on the map love her and she’s upped her game in her yrs away
ASHANTI NEED A COLLABO WITH DRAKE AND NIKI AND ALL WILL BE WELL….LOL!
I STILL CAN GET WHY SHE WAS SO HATED FOR NO REASON……THE WORLD IS JUST SO MEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FOLLOW BRANDY ON TWITTER….@4EVERBRANDY
WUSS TAKING U SO LONG TOO POST ABOUT USHER?
Beyonce and 50 cent debuting in 2003 ruined Ashanti’s career. 50 Cent coming out and single handedly annealing Ja Rule lead to Murder inc’s demise, which Ashanti fell victim to. And Bey coming out onto the scene as bigger, hotter, more talented version of Ashanti deff played a role. She completely stole her R&B/pop lane. Ashanti and Murder Inc were a fad in the early 2000s that just run their course. If they were really that goo, they would’ve sustained over the years but they didn’t! it’s possible for her to make a comeback but she’s never going to be as big as she was. She was sub-par at best, always talking about “baby, baby, baby” with a catchy beat…
The fact is, everyone looses momentum and it’s all about how you pick up the pieces of what’s been shattered—shattered by the record label, shattered by the hate mail (*cough, cough* bloggers) and discouraged by fans jumping on and off the bandwagon. I written that article on Ashanti last year and posted it to my Tumblr and Facebook blogs to show my appreciation to her artistry. I enjoy Ashanti’s music and I don’t think that her career is over. People have a funny way of sensationalizing facts and insist that their opinion is right. I respect everyone’s views on ThatGrapeJuice, even if their personal opinion can be a bitter sour to swallow…however, all this Beyoncé vs. Ashanti competitiveness was a way for the media and stans to pitch an unnecessary rivalry that wasn’t there. We have to recognize that Beyoncé already had an established fanbase prior to Ashanti’s budding career because of her credentials with her all time best selling group, Destiny’s Child. Ashanti stays in her own lane: she isn’t about the glitz and the glamour of Hollywood—she shows up, does her job and disappears. But, you have to question what exactly is relevancy? Beyoncé is a force to be reckoned with. Her ability to become the best is what keeps her in the public eye. With if it’s dealing with entertainment venues (acting or singing), or expanding her brand through feminine products (hair product endorsement deals, perfumes, female clothing), Beyoncé is always doing it. I respect both of the women equally. Ashanti can do better, performance wise. I do agree that she can amp it up a bit with the dance skills because people do want more than just a pretty face, smooth voice, and a emotional ballad. Like I stated in the blog I posted above, “star power” is not a prerequisite in becoming an international sensation anymore. We’re in a world where everything is translucent and fluid, where it’s hard to find substance, and our music is becoming more watered down. Even in the cracks, we managed to stay afloat because of different artist deliver material that blends in contemporary music without sacrificing their signature sound (a soulful delivery, a heartwarming song…). Either way, I can relate to what some of you guys are saying in regards to the comparison, but only Ashanti can help Ashanti. When you know better, you do better. She stated on her Twitter that her upcoming project will be released in 2011. Hopefully, she can get it together because a lot of people are behind her since the black cloud formerly known as Irv Gotti is off of her back. I’m done for today with this. Love y’all! Be inspired and remain positive! ^_^
@RoyalKev is a Homosexual
U R SO RIGHT!!! U SUMMED IT UP
i like ashanti she just need to find the right time to come out with a banger
I can tell you her first problem – that WIG!!!!!
OHLORD. That wig is dated and obviouss take it off why ashanti rockin that lion s***! #shamefulll..
#beyonslay
am i the only one who noticed trent spelled “analyzing” wrong?
I was never that big of an Ashanti fan but I did enjoy many of her songs and there no reason to behave as if she didn’t have a sucessful career. What I don’t understand is the pointless bitterness many of you throw at these women I mean its not politics…its music.
1st, Ashanti’s carer was killed by no one; 2nd, she was not dropped by Gotti, she told him ((long before he put the word out that he was dropping her)) she didnt want to be a part of the label anymore; 3rd, im sick of people comparing artists in general, not just Ashanti and Beyonce. each artist has a diff sound and if there was someone who came along with the same sound, they wouldnt last b/c its already there; 4th, its the fans fault (in general, for all artists) for lackluster sales. if we actually BOUGHT music instead od downloading it all the time, maybe they could sell; 5th, people need to stop acting like Ashanti cant sing/dance/act/or anything else. She has broken records that others haven’t and never will, she has won awards that others haven’t/never will, and on top of that, even if she never sang again (which i would personally hate), she still ghost writes, produces, and does a lot of stuff behind the scenes, she’s making her money off her talent no mater what we say about it; 6th look at all the awards she’s gotten, NOT JUST FROM MUSIC, while most ENTERTAINERS are worried about getting Grammy’s, true ARTISTS like Ashanti are more concerned with giving back, showing the people who put them in the positions they are in now that they appreciate it and that is what makes people love/support her; 7th, for all the people saying she isn’t relevant anymore, all the talk keeps her name out there,>increases hype>increases her relevance. so thanks to the haters, and to the fans, keep supporting ya girl!!! as far as the question on what lane she should choose, she should choose to stay in the lane labeled ASHANTI, nobody can do Ashanti but Ashanti, and that’s why she is, was, and will always be the PRINCESS of Hip-Hop and R&B
Beyonce killed Ashanti’s career and we all know it. Ashanti stans will STAY bitter and upset about it. Lol! Bey, J.Lo and and Ashanti were all in the same musical category. Only one could win and clearly Shanni didn’t.
Her singing is average at best, her dancing is horrible, and she has average looks. No one is here for that. Now, you Ashanti stans WILL deal with it.
OK,if beyonce didnt kill her career let her release an album the same time as bey again.
If bey did it once,she can do it again ..and I am a Kat deluna fan
Beyonce DID NOT kill anyone’s career expect Kelly and Michelle. People failed to realize Ashanti still had hits singles and platinum album AFTER Dangerously In Love was released. Ashanti and Beyonce only released albums together ONCE and Ashanti still got her number one spot. Yes Beyonce is more successful than her but don’t act like Ashanti didn’t have any success afterwards. I think Ashanti can be very successful on the r&b charts with the right single and promotions. No one in this world knows what the future for her so don’t ssay she can’t comeback. It just shows that you are unhappy with yourself if you can’t wish someone else well or admitt that they are very successful.
Now keep the Ashanti stage lite b******!!!!!1 🙂
As usual, the Bey stans just love giving their favorite fake songwriting, thieving girl, too much credit. Beyonce killed Ashanti’s career, really? I would definitely say no to that one.
The majority of us are aware of what killed Ashanti’s career, and it for damn sure wasn’t Bey.
I will repeat. Ashanti’s career ended when Murder Inc burned to the ground, and she no longer had that machine behind her. Lets face it, Ashanti isn’t s*** without Irv and Ja. Look at her career now. It’s in the dumps.
Plus, many of her fans have turned their back on her.
Nichole kill yourself for coming at Beyonce and Ashanti. You should spend your time doing something else instead being on the blog.
Someone mentioned Ke$ha, we all know she wont really last that long…
OKAY……. I understand and will comply generously to the numerous Ashanti fans on this post but ROFLMAO!!!!!!!…….
– Ashanti, no longer holds ANY commercial prospect!!!!!!!
Her albums may very well be critically positive (professional critics and fans alike) but I #FAIL to see growth or musical substance…AS OF JANUARY 2011!!! And it is such a shame with all of the multiple records that she help break= “The first female artist to occupy the top two positions on the billboard hot 100 respectively (‘Always on time’ and What’s luv’), three platinum selling albums (with her debut being a *triple* platinum seller), and the distinction of being named the “reigning princess of R’n’B/Soul” from many national news and magazine publications – starting from January 2002-Febuary 2003.
Still, she is a very talented songwriter and producer – but on a musical note:
1. Voice
2. Artistry
3. Performing skills/mannerisms…….
THERE LIES A HUGE NO!!!!!!!
And LMAO @ *certain* people on this post writing ‘6000,000’ word type essays on this post!!! Save it boo!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashanti_(entertainer)
A link to support my ideas/opinions on her records and sales!!!
2 WORDS:
Beyonce & Itis.
http://wigcrypt.b*******.com/
Ashanti asnt been particularly relevant since CRAZY IN LOVE!!!
She came out when there was no competition, Aliyah had died & Beyonce was Busy In the Era of 02 & she was merely FILLING THAT EMPTY VOID & gracefully holding down the fort for just a little while. Poor Girl, HURRICANE BEYONCE is nothing to play with, Ask Skeri Whilson & C-ERROR 🙁
@Sparkd, Kevin and RoyalKevIAH…, you are each right. Aaliyah fans hated Ashanti from the jump because Urban music had just lost the most progressive and unsung female Hiphop/RnB siren of the past 15 years, an artist we’d watched ‘grow’ into RnB royalty deservedly so and here came Murder Inc. with Ashanti, her sloppy dance moves, basic vocals and dated Mary J circa ’92 inspired Hiphop/RnB sound and declared her ‘The Princess of RnB’ like it was remotely earned…., it was offensive to the pioneering steps made in RnB in the recent past but so insensitive that such a basic b**** be declared as worthy of the title or having any similarities or comparison to an act as satisfying as Aaliyah (with the added presumption that her shoes could be so easily filled), that it caused a hate campaign that has never really let up.
It’s worth mentioning Beyonce in Ashanti’s story but only as a sideline as she can’t really be credited with killing off Ashanti’s career. The real question was how Ashanti managed to ascend so quickly in the first place? @RoyalKevIAH is right in saying RnB was lost for a while after Aaliyah’s departure because she was the only act at the time taking it somewhere fresh…, the spot was vacant so Ashanti was suddenly relevant for having three songs on the Billboard chart at once (solo and collaborative) but I remember at the time thinking ‘so what?’, anyone could achieve that with the right combination of networking and luck.
The real issue however was RnB in general was beginning to pale talent-wise and acts such as Ashanti were simply young enough to be fans of the better acts who’d just recently come before them but unfortunately unable to offer anything new themselves. Aaliyah’s death signalled the death of qualitative progressive Hiphop/RnB…, Ashanti might have been basic but her ascension however ushered in the ‘talent not necessary’ era and in her wake quickly followed acts who had even less obvious talent than even she did i.e. Lumidee, Eamon.
IMO acts like Rihanna, Kesha, Katy Perry (and Kanye and Drake etc. as singers) are at the tail end of that era so I would hazard a guess that this next decade will see a move away from image and hype and move back toward skills and God given talent.
i remember in like 2003 or 2004 access hollywood was doing a behind the scenes look at ashanti’s new video only you and they asked her about beyonce and her better album sales and she was lke its not about sales its about music …….and then they said(not to ashanti face) that ashanti’s sales dont even compare to beyonce’s ………no shade just memories but what happened to ashanti’s career was beyonce took over the game in 2003 and there was no need for ashanti but ashanti never had a big album like her debut…….in music stores all i ever see under ashant i her first one and the last one …….plus ashanti was pretty boring…she did the same o thing every album midtemp r&b songs………..beyonce changed it up…….first she had a very modern R&B album then a more 70’s inspired 2nd album and a more pop 3rd album.
Well Basically. Ask J.Lo, Brandy, Skeri Whilson, C-ERROR, Monica, CrackNey, & hell Tranet Too!! All those Current FLOPS!!
*****WARNING*****
Threat level: ORANGE
QUEEN CREOLE SCALPING B1TCHES IN AN AREA NEAR YOU!!!!!
**assorted wigs hairpieces clip-ons toupees & partial scalps of your favorite artist can be claimed at The Wig Crypt, 1 Boss Bish Way, Eatonton, GA 31024.
by appointment only!
Its really f***** up to call anyone a has been..
Some people just last longer than others.
& how do we know ashanti LOVED music?
She could have just did it because she was offered and thought it would be a fun run..
Everyone passes their prime at some point..its just some artists are legends and actually leave a mark on the industry..ashanti isn’t one of them..
I doubt she even cares about her music anymore..shes clearly been acting.
This post was pointless..slow day trent?
& dont forget to ask BOO-Riah Scarey. 🙂
als0 to be a successful black artist and last you have to have an internatinal fanbase ………….not just u.s.a because we get bored easily
notice the only big black female artist that we have this generation is beyonce, alicia, and rihanna!!!!! and thats because they are just as big (or bigger) out of the united states.
(when i say this generation i mean artist that started in 2000s)
sooo i dont expect a big ashanti return because her fanbase has basicailly moved on …i never understand when artist have a “not a big selling album “(ex:concrete rose sold like 1million copies which was far less than her previous albums) and then decide to go away for 4-5 years and expect big success when they return …..um no sorry you are going to flop……..example rated r(by rihanna) sold like 1 million in the u.s and 3million w.w(barely) ………..if rih would have gone away and been completely silent for 4-5 years after rated r she would flop hard when she returned and thats why we now have loud
so ashanti was just stupid too go away and let beyonce, then ciara, then rihanna dethrone her …..(even though later ciara was dethroned too)
ashant will never have a big comback because the clique rules the indusrty (jay-z,beyonce,kanye,and rihanna) and if they dont want you to be successful …….you wont lol
@Teflon Boy
notice how nobody called pop music a big trend to about 2008-2009
especially 2009-2011 where everything has to be pop/dance music to be a hit
because from about 2000 to 2008 ……….artist that were not pop just pop or hip -pop had hits ………..and people like rihanna and kanye(two of my top 5 favorite artist) were popular and had hits prior to 2009 sooooooo they wont be going anywhere …………….go check kesha,nicki,drake,katy,and maybe even gaga
That’s Queen Bey for you h***. Next
Yup Ashanti needs to focus on that R&B audience! And all them hatin b**ches above saying se can’t sing…go look up “The Way That I Love You” and “In These Streets”. chiiiilllleeee please…
She’ll still be able to succeed in the R&B lane, but it’s gonna be a tough battle of choosing the right singles. Maybe if the R&B works out, then try and release a mainstream single.
What happened to her was her 4 almost 5 year break and lack of promo ( Period)
IDC what anyone say as long as she makes music Imma be checking for her
@jojo
“to be a successful black artist and last you have to have an internatinal fanbase ………….not just u.s.a because we get bored easily”
Exactly, I couldnt have said it better myself. Beyonce is like the only BLK Artist that can EASILY go 2 to 3 XS Platinum in the States & sell ATLEAST that same amount outside of the states(UK, Europe, Australia, Brazil ETC). & Same for Rihanna, The U.K seems to be HER U.S. Unless you’re Beyonce, Alicia, Usher or Rihanna, or POTENTIALLY Chris Brown. If you’re a Blk Singer out Today Its best you just through in the Towel & give up(Ie Jasmine Strugglin).
LOL I love the real and true shade thrown at Usher….LOL!
She has a wonderful voice. I hate the new music industry that is pushing everyone to do generic pop music. It is a sad day when an artists can’t succeed in the music industry by singin and dancing…….you know the essence of the music industry! The games and gimmicks that must be played today is just sad to witness!
I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WHEN ASHANTI CAME OUT. I BELIEVE I WAS IN THE 7TH GRADE, AND HER MUSIC WAS SOOOOO CUTE TO 13 YEAR OLDS LOL. BASICALLY HER FANBASE GREW UP AND SHE DIDN’T GROW ALONG WITH THEM.
I really do miss Ashanti. She had great music & potential. In today’s music market I think she needs to do R&B fused with Pop.
Anyone who’s saying that Beyonce and Ashanti don’t have the same fanbases is dumb. Clearly they are very similar, especially after Ashanti tried to do that little routine in the end of that “Only U” video.
No one is saying that Beyonce killed Ashanti’s career. People just flocked to who they deemed to be the better artist with the better product. Ashanti’s success was marginal after Beyonce went solo.
I also agree with Nichole, without that Murder Inc. machine behind her she didn’t even stand a chance. There’s really no shame in it, the same thing happened to Jennifer Lopez, Mya, Brandy, and Monica to some extent. All of them are talented they just don’t have the team that Rihanna and Beyonce does.
The Declaration is a great album. People just straight slept on or bootlegged it. I don’t know where the hate is coming from. Ashanti is very talented. I’m looking forward to new music from her.
Honestly…I don’t see Ashanti every making a successful comeback. Don’t get me wrong, Ashanti was my girl back in the day and her first two albums are still two of my faves and I still listen to them till this day but she has looong since fell off and I really do think that her time is up. Just like her former label mate JaRule. Both of them were the ish back in theday, but I just think they were fads. None of their music will stand the test of time
Like several people have said also, my girl Bey came and stole her shine! I think even the diehard Beyonce haters can admit that Bey is just simply the better. Bey can dance, sing her ass off and put on a hell of a show! Ashanti was just a mediocre singer and she for damn sure couldn’t dance and her performances were always less than stellar. Also when 50 murdered Ja, who was the other breakmaker at Murder Inc., the label fell apart and she didn’t have anywhere to go.
I don’t feel to bad for her though. She was really successful in the beginning of her career and I am sure she still has some dough left over. Plus her boo Nelly (whose career is also faded) is still one of the most successful rappers so I am sure when she becomes Mrs. Nelly (don’t know his last name) they can live happily ever after together. She is also a writer so maybe she can continue to do that. *shrugs*
However, if she does decide to try and make a comeback, I would definitely recommend that she stick with r&b and not try pop cause Lord know Shanti can’t dance and I don’t want to see her stiff ass try to dance in a video to some pop video. I don’t really think she has the voice for it either. *shrugs* Good Luck Shanti.
I dont think none of u retards realize the things Ashanti has accomplished in her WHOLE career liftetime…Maybe u should look it up…Ashanti, unlike some artist, actually writes her own music and is still good at it…She can sing her ass off…And 3 of 4 of her albums wen Platinum….Ashanti is one of the only REAL R&B Artist there is in the industry the rest of these Birds need to be shot out of the sky…The Artist get over looked cause the dummies that listen to music now think Soulja Boy is a genius SMH…U limit yourself to one type of music and dont recognize REAL music when you hear it…I really feel sorry for this generation..You all have alot to learn
ASHANTI HASN’T FAILED ! HER RECORD LABEL SITUATION AND SUPPORT TEAM BEHIND HER HAS FAILED! IRV GOTTI FAT ASS F***** UP!!! ASHANTI HAS HAD ONE ALBUM DO BAD & YALL ACTING AS IF SHE HAS PUT OUT MANY FLOPS! ASHANTI IS A GREAT SINGER & PERFORMING/ACTRESS. SHE SHITS ON ANY FEMALE WRITER ALSO. STOP ACTING AS IF SHE CAN’T COME BACK! IF MONICA CAN COME BACK, SHE SURELY CAN COME BACK! PEOPLE ARE IN LOVE WITH ASHANTI’S PRESENCE, PERIOD!! I THINK EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE HER BACK, DON’T RUSH HER, SHE’S COMING! & MUCH LUCK TO THE PRINCESS
Beyonce is a pop star I dont see why people consider her R&B her music dont even Match what R&B artist do .So stop comparing her to Ashanti WTF.Yall dont even know music when u hear it…SMH to those who think Ashanti is gone…Sorry No she is not U may not support it but guess what her career did and will still last longer than most of these artist in the industry now…I.E. Drake he’s not going further than where he is now…Ashanti Is considered an Artist she has many talents she can do what she wants when she wants to and still will never be broke cause shes Ashanti END OF STORY NEEXT
Ashanti is going to produce and be behind the scenes…Where the real money is. So eat that haters
There is so much wrong with what you all are saying.
First thing first Ashanti is very down to earth and likeable. Chapter is supposed to be certified 2x platinum. That is her 2nd album. Her first 3x platinum. Her 4th one platinum, and her last one did’nt sale. Her vocals have improved a great deal with her last album, she just happened to be in a bad situation label wise, and with Irv Gotti, and his label. She didn’t have a huge support team,promo, and the hits she needed for that album to perform well. People like Ashanti, but now she needs the right hits, and music. She should stay in the r&b lane, and do some uptempo music as well.
Beyonce’ didn’t kill anything. Ashanti still did her thing with Beyonce’ out. Beyonce’ isn’t the second coming of god. To the person that said as Booriah Carey ? Ask her what The Emancipation Of Mimi sold more than all of Beyonce’s solo albums in the states, so thats done with there. If you wanna ask anything, ask her the key to success, because she is clearly a genius at it. While others are out here struggling to sale albums, Mrs.Careys latest brilliant effort struck gold while being out a little less than 2 months. That speaks volumes about how enormous she is an artist.
Beyonce’ has still yet to have a blockbuster album. She sales good but not amazingly. She had so much hype when her first album came out and it took her forever to go 4x platinum. Why ? She was supposed to be the biggest thing out right ? Her overexposure helps and hurts her.
But hopefully Ashanti will get it together. She’s a decent artist, she has improved on her singing, people like her.
Ashanti did filled a void, when she first burst onto the scene. She has had some good hooks and catchy melodies to her music. She just needs to be herself, and make great music. If she could go gold she’ll be good. The r&b lane seems to suit her best. It would also be a plus if she works with some new and fresh producers.
Jlo’s new song will be a hit, it’s really good. It’s funny how people make mention of Beyonce’ like she has ended so many careers yet these women are still around making music and some are having great success. For Beyonce’ to be so big her numbers don’t always match the hype. Good but certainly not great. When she hits 5 or 6x platinum then i’ll be impressed.
she needs to find her own sound, I think she did that perfects on “the way that I love you”, and no more flat notes leave them in the past
@ TheMan:
“Beyonce’ has still yet to have a blockbuster album.”
WTF?!?! Did I read this right? So what was Dangerously In Love if it wasn’t a blockbuster album? You say when she hits 5 or 6x platinum, then you’ll be impressed? Um, she’s already accomplished that! Really, it’s not hard to google her numbers!
And it’s no coincidence that artists who were doing spectacularly well pre-Beyoncé all of a sudden started flopping with no explanation after she made her impact and have yet to make a proper comeback. I wouldn’t really say that Ashanti and J.Lo are still having great success, as Ashanti is practically an unknown now and J.Lo has to resort to appearing as a judge on American Idol to be relevant again.
Fine if you don’t like Beyoncé, I don’t have a problem with that, but don’t try to downplay her success or her impact when it’s obvious that she has made some.
Only thing I agree with is that Ashanti was here to fill a void, a void most likely caused by Aaliyah’s death. I remember when “Foolish” first came out, some people were dubbing her the next Aaliyah.
@ Nichole
Get your dumb ass off here, why you keep coming back-if u ain’t a fan, then bye bye!
Lol some of these “scenario’s” of her downfall are downright ridiculous…..anyways,anyone with any knowledge of the industry knows it was about two or three simple reasons why she faded away
A-If you look back other than her very FIRST album,she has never released more than 2 sinlges,even with sucessful openings from Chapter 2 and Concrete Rose it was like her team just stopped. Lack of videos,performances,singles will really hurt ANY album(i mean really you tell me how many people can go platinum off 2 sinlges….and homegirl did that TWICE)
B-In what was a double-edged sword, being aligned with Murder Inc not only gave her the stardom but it also prematurely ended it due to legal issues and drama of whcih def jam wanted no association
C-The breaks…..between 2004(the height of her hate) and 2008 she was literally MIA from the music scene,and though 4 years sounds ideal for a massive “comeback”,she lacked a team so her big 4 year return went highely unnoticed. And now she is doing the same thing again,2011 is her and still no news of an album release!
Bottom line is i doubt she will ever get back to the level she attained,but i see no reason why she couldnt once again become a force on the Urban market and maybe with a little luck be able to crossover again.
UMMM ASHANTI IS COMING LIKE IT OR NOT AND bEYAWNCE AINT DO S*** ASHANTI WENT PLATT IN 03 AND 04 WHEN beyawnce was out so how did she kill Ashanti career. man Beyawnce stans are stupid just like her #thatisall
some of this bickering going back in forth isn’t necessary, everyone knows that the media painted a ugly picture of murder inc and no one wanted to have anything to do with them when 50 cent went ranting. I’ve seen pictures of beyonce and ashanti together and at the same place. the hate was bought up by hateful stans who would try anything to bring down another woman or person to get to the top. It’s the same crap that Beyonce and Rihanna experience. Fans/Stans stop being bitter, all this hate just turns ugly once your favorite is no longer hear for you to cheer for. Embrace diversity and enjoy the fact that we are allowed to listen to other african american artists and not tear them down.
Uh these ashanti stans go buy her album support her.Who cares about her two major accomplishments. If she was that big of a star it wouldn’t matter what record label she was with she would have still sold.
I don’t miss her at all. I was one of her original haters. She was a bore to me, a snoozy bore. I almost canceled my subscription to T*** Vogue when I saw her on the cover, with her corney self. We used to call her A-shiti. Like others have said, she was an “of the moment” singer, and the moment has passed (thank God). She never did any one thing particularly well. She wasn’t a powerhouse singer, or dancer, or performer, or fashionable, or memorable. There’s this theory about most artists having a two album shelf life before interest in them falls off a cliff. Artists who sustain interest and maintain pop culture relevancy past two or three albums are a rarity. Besides, there’s a new song writer come solo artist on the scene grabbing headlines, and her name is Keri Hilson.
@Alicia’s a Homewrecker
Dead at you posting about positivity and stopping the hatred with that screen name
To those saying Ashanti’s team f***** her over, I think she would’ve faded after two albums regardless, good team or not, because she was never that great to begin with. Ciara is an example of an artist whose team really is killing her career, because Ci Ci really should be on par with Bey and Ri, but she doesn’t have the right team surrounding her. Ciara is/was Janet’s heir apparent, but these flop albums are putting her status in jeopardy. Unfortunately Ashanti’s plight parallels Ciara’s, and that’s unfortunate because I think Ciara really delivers the goods in live performances. However, Ci Ci hit the scene with the Crunk music wave and hasn’t been able to successfully transition now that the Crunk wave has crashed.
i really think ashanti is going to step it up she knows she has
AND RIHANNA IS ONLY HOT CUZ SHE SOLD HER SOUL SHE WILL BE GONE TOO JUST LIKE beyawnce 😉
Okay first of all, why are you bringing up Ashanti’s wack ass? Did she or her team contact you and asked you to write a post about this topic? You bringing her up is just making people think of her untalented ass. I’m so HAPPY that she has flopped and isn’t relevant anymore. I can’t stand her because she has a bitchy and phony attitude. Her personality is so extra, especially that loud and annoying laugh of hers. I will never forget when she got “PUNK’D” and was extremely rude to the driver who kept on trying to speak to her when she was having a conversation with her mother. A nice person would have just answered him or just politely told him that she was having a conversation with her mother. Instead she go ghetto and rude with him and then cussed at him when he asked about his tip for driving her to her destination.
Also, she had some damn nerve dissing Britney Spears twice. I don’t like Britney myself, but when she was asked about what she thought about Britney Spears being pregnant, she said “Wow, she’s pregnant at 23? I can’t imagine being pregnant at such a young age.” WTF? Britney was married at the time so she couldn’t have just said “God Bless her and her child” or “Congrats.” And when she was asked about Britney’s awful MTV performance, she “laughed, rolled her eyes, and walked away.” She has some damn nerve when she’s one of the worst performers in the history of music.
Speaking of her talent, Ashanti barely has any! She can’t sing for s***, she has this annoying little girl pitchy voice, her vocals are fixed in the studio, her songwriting is generic and not impressive, and lol at her dancing. It’s not because of Beyonce’s career that she is no longer relevant. Ashanti was seriously only hot at the moment, like CERROR. I wish people would realize that CERROR is over because she doesn’t have any longevity, she was only good during the Crunk N B era. Ashanti could never make a strong comeback.
* Y’all are crazy if you do not remember Ashanti came out in the same year and time frame as Tweet and Amerie.
Who the last time I checked debuted as R&B singers!
* Another point- everyone keeps mentioning how Ashanti released an album in 2004 and completely dissapeared until 2008. No that is NOT the case at all. Remember first off ‘Concrete Rose’ was released in like December of 2004. The second single althought it didn’t to to well, was released in 2005. Not to mention in like October-ish of 2005 she released a remix album that had a single too, “Still On It.”
So to be honest musically she was away for about 2 years, 2006-2008, which in 08 June was when ‘The Declaration’ was released. And if you want to get technical she released a few singles in 2007 starting in like June, to iTunes: “Switch” and “Hey Baby (After The Club).”
* So sick of the oh Ashanti slipped rihgt in at the perfect time, when Aaliyah had passed. Yet Ashanti still managed to create buzz, sell singles, and albums, and earn a 10 consecutive week Billboard Hot 100 # 1 single. Oh and she did this ALL after the year Alicia Keys debuted, when eveyr1 was dubbing her such a musician. OK, the stars must have been aligned in the early 00s, cause apparently that’s the only reason why Ashanti had success, according to ppl, it was just luck. My ass!
MAYBE IF EVERY VERSE IN HER SONGS DID’NT HAVE THE WORD (BABY) HOMEGIRL PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SOLD MORE!!
How are you going to talk about somebody when you’re short, black as hell, live with your baby momma, and you have big saggin’ titties lol. B**** n**** please. You came after me, I don’t f*** with ugly fat nasty n*****, who ask for p**** and don’t even know somebody.
You probably got a*** b****. I only f*** with the best, and you ain’t even close. Broke ass begging to meet women off the internet down syndrome lookin’ ass n****..
Go bathe your fat sloppy ass and get a job you broke b****. Can’t even take care of your snotty nose brat. B**** please.
Go back to school and learn how to spell and speak correct dialect, slow looking burnt gorilla. Mad cause I shot your no neck ass down. You would never put that nasty mouth on my c***. I look too good for a low life like you
It’s not about what others say about you, it’s what you say about YOURSELF!!!!
TGJ you are a f****** mess!
Didn’t realize that Ashanti had astute writing skills or improved vocals! I always had a hard time figuring out who her fanbase was, figured they probably were really really young kids or something because I didn’t personally know anyone over the age of 18 who liked her. Really never figured out why she was successful or admired.
Anyway Murder Inc. probably killed her career because when she wanted to leave Irv Gotti was having none of that . They probably purposely drowned her career and then when it was a shadow of what it was, they released her ( that’s basically what Irv Gotto said). She wasn’t as charasmatic on stage as other artists that were popular at the time either. 50 cent also DESTROYED the career of Ja Rule, to whom she had chosen to tether herself to, so in turn I think it did affect her too. I also think her fanbase grew up and moved on to other artists or musical genres.
I kinda wish she would stay gone, we don’t need any more subpar artists out.
If she does return she should do more urban music, she can gain a more solid (but smaller) fanbase again. Pop music DOES fade no matter what people think. None of the songs that were popular in the early ninties get any play or recognition now, hell loads of the artists of the 90’s are defunct. Pop music is just that, popular music generally encapsulating that particular time, I don’t think it is made to last.
The beyonce effect is and isn’t a factor, IMO Beyonce is superior to Ashanti in almost every way as an artist but I do remember people arguing online about how Ashanti was soooo much prettier, better as a singer and dancer ( It’s funny to me but people really said those things). Ashanti lasted way longer than I thought she would and should but I think her skill set was so much lower than Beyonce,s that eventually people noticed. At one point and time people thought they were equals but…….not so much now. I do wish her luck and happiness but it would make me happy if she just stayed away from music completely.
now analyze TONI BRAXTON.
That fact the she to this point has STILL achieved more than 95% of the artists out,even those now, says alot. Not to mention she has had one, ONE flop album which btw with no relevancy and promo managed to garner a top 2 urban smash and sell well over 300k(which sad as it is ,is still better than most of the chicks these days lol)
WOW at these Beyonce and Rihanna comments. I must be the only person that does not like or own any of their music.
First of all, I never ever saw Bey and Ashanti as truly competing artists. If anything…I don’t think Ashanti would have been in the industry if….Aaliyah was alive. They have have similar sounds(mid-tempo/ballad heavy sound). Ashanti could never do Work It Out or Crazy in Love and especially not B’day. If Ashanti’s team WAS trying to compete with Bey then no wonder they failed.
In fact, when Bey became a solo artist, she was still a part of DC who we all know had a big fan base and CIL was just MASSIVE and then followed up by Baby Boy and this is how Bey, the solo artist, was born. Plus, Bey as well as the rest of DC was planning to go solo back in 2000. This is why I always felt that Bey and Aaliyah would co-exist and thrive. If Aaliyah was alive, Bey and her would run the Urban Top 40 Genre even right now. According to Allmusic.com both of them have at least 20 artists apiece that are influenced by them and that’s not counting Bey’s DC career(with at least 19 more artists). When you have two different sounds(Bey’s sound is Uptempo Ballad Heavy), distinct differences compliment each other.
The issue for Ashanti is this…she had her time to shine and set herself apart and for whatever reason instead of growing as an artist, she stayed in the same place for the most part and her audience didn’t grow with her and it didn’t help that Murder Inc was in complete disarray. Now there is a catch 22 with artistic growth because sometimes when you drift from your audience(i.e Ciara) it don’t work out. But there was no real substantial growth from Ashanti as an artist. Artists, even if they don’t sell like that still have to have their niche as artists and THEN expand on THAT to secure longevity. Anyone can be hot for a season…longevity is another thing.
And someone mentioned J.Lo…people don’t realize that the reason she was able to do Urban “Pop” is because Urban Top 40 started be the pre-dominant sound for Pop from about the mid to late 90s. If J.Lo came out in the 80s or early 90s, she would have casted by her label been a Latin Version of Paula Abdul. But because of 90s Contemporary R&B being the pre-dominant sound for Pop Music(and believe it or not Destiny’s Child is a part of this), this is how J.Lo was able to have her shine. It was a sound for her get hits with, and that’s pretty much her career. Hits. No real lasting impact on the industry.
Ashanti writes all her s*** so her checks from music stay bigger then your favs. She probably even ghost writes for them. #industryinsidershit
I’m sorry but I read some1 say that ciara blew up.I don’t remember her blowing up.I don’t know why ppl put her in the same category as beyonce.she does not have nearly the global success of bey.ciara is on the same popularity level as ashanti.
Y are people so stuck on how she acted on Punk’d what HUMAN BEING you know wouldnt be mad Shes f***** human…Ur f***** lame suck a penis…Get over it and go play on train tracks when the red lights are flashing…#TEAMASHANTI Forever HATER U CAN KILL YOSELF
SMH lol…the fact that Ashanti is still relivant enough for people to spend their time talking about her Shows how great she is..!! You love her..Look out for the new album and Tv Show…All that other good stuff..We love the undercovers..Yall need to come out the closet and admit u just need her lol
@TT LMAO ARE U STUPID LMAOOOO
Shut up All of u dummies…LMAOO get a life…Beyonce aint s***..Rihanna DEFINANTLY aint s***…Ciara Was never s***…Keri Hilson…All dem h*** is Pop Stars..Ashanti is a R&B DIVA…She writes her OWN music..When beyonce writes a lyric CALL ME…Thats the purpose of the art to me…If u dont write it..How do u feel connected to it..Thats someone else thoughts..See Ashanti is a Thinker…Trust she makin a whole hell of a lotta money in other areas..cause shes smart…All beyonce can do is read and Smile…Thats it
Ashanti is the best 🙂 Who cares what the haters think..Stans stop entertaining their foolishness..!! We know what she is capable of and its only a matter of time before they realize it too.
ashanti’s career isnt over she just need to find where she fit in at,
Ashanti is STILL that bxtch !
@beYAWNce not the qeen sounds crazy!!!!
Ok Ashanti in 2008 sold way more than the other flops.
Brandy
Ciara and countless others.
If her career is done so is theres. Y’all need to be analyzing those two. Cedric sold 37k, what Brandy going to do.
Stay mad at Ashanti for writing her own s***, putting her own money into her s*** and STILL outsell your fav flops. Oh yeah she sold more than just 200k with the declaration.
R&B. Trends fade, classic is forever. This electro-pop bs will *PLEASE GOD HOPEFULLY* be over soon.
Ashanti put out alot of good music and alot of other artist put out good music that doesnt sell well in todays music industry. Im looking forward to her putting out another album because I though her last album was her best work yet and shes also a good song writer and if she doesnt put out anohter album she can always write music for ohter artist