Ashanti may not have emerged victorious in the mid 00’s showdown of R&B divas, but she sure knows how to keep it moving.
Never starved of a check, the former Murder Inc maven has diversified into TV and has also maintained a touring presence. The latter evidenced by her current trek with Ja Rule.
New music remains at the forefront of her mind, though. And it appears its arrival may be a case of “sooner rather than later.”
Full story below…
In a new interview with Billboard, the 35-year-old dropped a number points…
On The New Project’s Rumored Title
“The next album is absolutely not called Chapter VI (as rumored). It’s really confusing. I have no idea where that came from. But the music on there is incredible. I’m really excited. I can’t wait for people to hear the new music.”
On Its Sound
“[I’ve recorded about 15 or 16 songs]. I’m probably in love with about six or seven of them, like IN LOVE in love. I’m working with different people, different sounds, different things on this album, just kind of going places I haven’t gone before. Being an adult now, times are different. People want more of you.
“here are certain things that five years ago there’s no way anyone could’ve gotten me to say certain things, but this time around it’s like, ‘Hey, we’re in 2016 going into 2017, and this is how I feel. This is how it is. This is where we are in life, with everything.’ I’m ready to do that.”
On Recording In LA With Ty Dolla $ign, DJ Mustard, J-Roc, Hit-Boy, L.T. Hutton & More
“There’s so many different people. I was just thinking about my favorite records and who did them. The last two times I went out to L.A. I was only supposed to be there for a week and ended up staying for a month each time. I catch a really great vibe out there for some reason. Whenever I’m out there I go super hard.”
No release date was given, but the star says she hopes to have music to the masses before the year’s end.
As for us, we just hope it receives the right setup.
Because, as Ms. Douglas learned on her ‘Braveheart’ outing, it’s possible to make all the vocal and performance improvements possible and still fall short if the if the roll-out is wrong.
We’ve always maintained that going indie is not for all. Something her last era showcased in earnest. Fingers crossed that if she insists on going the “Written Entertainment” route once again, she’ll have teamed with a bigger entity to ensure she’s getting the proper looks as far as radio, TV, and all-round awareness. Because, we’re rooting for her. Especially with that line-up of producers.
What’s more, as the recent successes of Remy Ma and Fat Joe highlight, it’s important to never count one out…
Ty dolla is the man right now ?
braveheart was pretty solid ..I’ll always be a fan she’s just a good songwriter
The Woman You Loveeeee
She is working with the exact same people as everyone else. Ashanti needs a new sound…
And what does Ciara need?
Ciara is RELEVANT unlike the three has beens in your username (excluding Nicole; she’s a NEVER been. Stay mad bxtch.
Well then, good thing Nicole has talent (as well as the other two) backing her up, unlike…some others. At least Nicole can sing, unlike some people who’s name starts with C and ends with A.
All the people in my user name have talent and can sing.
At least Nicole didn’t make a fool out of herself when singing the national anthem. Who did that again? Name’s on the tip of my tongue.
When she reached for that “free” note, it just wasn’t there! Lord what a disaster! Her next album probably gonna flop so hard after that embarrassment.
Future could sing the national anthem better lol
@Tacky, ho in what world is ci-error relevant? Ho sit you tried it.
nice
Ashanti.. I’m here for your return.
#sideye at a Ciara Stan saying Ashanti needs a new sound!
Side eye all you want honey, but Ciara experiments with different sounds. Worry about Irrelevantina.
That’s her problem, we don’t want her to experiment anymore. She does good with R&b and Urban pop but she keeps thinking ppl want straight Top 40 pop at 30. This is why shell fail because she don’t listen to her audience that actually BUYS her music.
She listened to her audience plenty of times and they don’t BUY s***, so she might as well do what she wants! Girl BYE get out of my replies høe.
When did she listened to her fans? When BEGGED her to promote her “Ciara” album and she decided no to because she was a 2 months pregnant and sat on her ass til she gave birth the next summer OR when she said she was recording her “Best album to date” and only one song was true to her sound while the rest was teenage pop music? OR when we asked her to promote and release “Only One” “All Good” “Dance Like Were Making Love” and she didn’t do ANYTHING? CIARA NEVER DOES WANT THE PPL WO BUY HER MUSIC ASK HER TO. I mean if Sorry, Body Party, and I Bet are the songs that ppl buy and listen to the most, why record a full pop album?
Lol @ci-error experimenting.
You mean irrelevantina, the girl who gets paid 3 Mio dollars for a private show while C-Error keeps gifting her albums at KFC and performing her songs on empty ass parking lots? BYE ?
This discussion is TIRED! Back to the topic at hand…..
As you were….➡️
Tired like your t***** looking fave, her tired trash albums and tired ass TRYING to be relevant and failing miserably
Is it tired because I gave you the truth and you have nothing else to say? Are you one of the fans that was begging and pleading but got let down as well? Ciara half ass ambition is tired. The only girl who could be up there with Beyonce and she still playing catch up with Tinashe and Rihanna after 12 years, b**** you shouldn’t have anything to say about anybody’s fave till Ciara album sales match her single says. All your comments and opinions are DECLINED!
Kii sis the discussion is TIRED because it’s been going on since 2010. Ciara is a grown woman who does what she wants. She OBVIOUSLY has y’all bothered seeing how y’all are more focused on her than Ashanti.
Now exit my reply box… All of you peasants.➡️
I think she has more of a chance this go around since urban is becoming more and more mainstream again. She just needs a big R&B hit like Kelly Motivation, or Ciara Body Party.
I am interested.
I have to say I actually hate when artists like Ashanti are on the mission to releasing new albums our people(black people) feel the need to shade it, compare it, and downgrade at best.
Why can’t we just support black R&B artists without shading it for a few RTs or because you’re a stan for somebody else? smh.
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I am only saying this because her last album was actually good but I seen alot of black people trying their best to shade it for the hell of it. She’s done good so far and especially as an indie artist now doing 29K the first week was actually good for her.
tinashe is a threat to this fat trick lmao they have similar voices that’s all people have the same voice in this world tinashe got washed up b****** shook out here hating b****** in the industry keep stopping the poor girl from making it they know she’s hot jealousy is a b****
That whole “Written Entertainment” indie thing was a cute little experiment, but she needs a real label this time.
HELL NO! She should be saving all her money so that she can fund a bigger release with a great promo tour. She’ll make much more money as the artists/label than just as an artist. Even if she flops, she still makes millions. All she needs is a new manager with great industry connections who can book her high profile promo and maybe some company to invest in a tour. She definitely doesn’t need to sign to a major label.
This is what I be trying to get ppl to understand. That as an indie artist. If you’re album don’t pull big numbers. You can still make a gang of money. But if you’re signed to a major and it don’t sell. Than you want make a dime off that album. Once the label recoup their investment. She’s doing the right thing. Plus she did 20,000 her first week. And she did it as an indie artist. That’s a huge future
You make tons of money if you hold the majority of the publishing. What people don’t understand is that when artists are indie, it is up to THEM to fund everything: recording sessions, producer fees, promotion, music videos, touring, etc., etc. And when they are funding themselves, the quality usually looks and sounds more modest – but without that Universal/Sony/Warner budget, they can’t afford to be as top notch or spend more time fine tuning things. So in the end, they don’t still makes millions, even if the album flops. If they’re lucky they only barely break even. And most indie releases DO flop. That avenue is just a way for artists to continue their careers when the major label structure rejects them. It’s not anything to strive for.
She’s a beautiful girl. That declaration album was fire.
Her and Mya have some void albums. I think she is happy doing the independent thing. Mya said herself that she has made more money independently than when she was with a major label.
Void albums? Fear of Flying & Moodring are great solid efforts. The Declaration & Braveheart were solid too.
Sweet XVI was a good EP from Mya too! I think she does a good job at pleasing her core supporters which seems to generate revenue in return. Ashanti needs to partner with one of the big streaming services and sell her album everywhere. Her fans will still buy and the streams would gain her plenty exposure
Just saw her and Ja Rule live last night and it really reminded me of how big they were. Their chemistry is undeniable and I’ve always admired her ability to write, be classy and stay true to her roots. Experimenting is great but giving your root fans what they want is always just as important. Looking forward to the new album.
Ashanti also stated before that the independent route was a much better route financially then the 360 deal.
#JACKIE
Christina’s debut was straight pop.
Stripped consisted of every genre including hip hop, R&B, rock, etc…
Back to Basics consisted of jazz, blues, soul, and pop.
Bionic was more electro
Lotus was straight pop and R&B
So tell me again Xtina hasn’t dabbled in every sound there is.
Lol why take her seriously, she’s a fan of ciara the flop’s non-singin’ ass
To be fair though, Christina’s allure has always been her vocals. As long as she hit those runs and high notes, nobody cared what genre she sang. AND she can literally sing any genre. Ashanti? Not so much.
Ashanti you need to work on your singing before you put out another weak album of moaning and kuing
Watch your mouth on Ashanti. That was a good album
It would’ve been better if the girl could sing. Ashanti can’t f****** sing I can’t believe I’m the only one bringing this up. Even ciara sings better than her. Good thing she’s a good songwriter and chooses decent production most of the time because her vocal skills are laughable.
That’s one thing Ashanti got on Ciara, she writes her own music and makes decent songs. Ciara on the other hand has more wack songs than rihanna has hits!
Lol
Ciara does write her own music. She was a writer before going solo. she wrote fantasias “You got me waiting”
Prove it that she can’t sing. This is just for people like you. Haters for no reason. https://youtu.be/jTab7aLJA-8
Ashanti biggest supporter her and I just want her on top.
Can’t wait I’m excited.
I think she should remain independent. The industry continues to shift in such a way that signing with a major label doesn’t make much sense. Ashanti never bothered to promote her strongest tracks on Braveheart — First Real Love and 3 Words. When she comes back, she’s got to come back hard, and she’s got to put out the right singles. And more, in today’s streaming world, she’s going to need instantly catchy songs that people will like enough to want to hear repeatedly, b/c that’s where her revenue will be.
I’m definitely here for her always have been she the only R&B female artist that release songs that I can relate to as a guy not just females only.
Back in the day people compare her to Beyonce, because she was a top act but today she is not anymore so good.
Her time is over.
Real talk and ashanti will always be known as one of the worst female singers. She’s no Beyonce!
Come thru, braveheart was slept on, love that album. Excited ??
I thought Ja and Ashanti would’ve ended up like Bey and Jay.50 cent and his big mouth really ended them.
First of all the only ppl who say she can’t sing obviously hasn’t been following her. The girl was on Broadway like cmon. She sings better than majority of these pop girls snatching these tips 10s but anyways..
Her last album was released independently and still managed to sell more than Jhud Tinashe Jlo etc…..
She may never reach her peak again but the girl can definitely come back and make some noise. All her albums are solid. Here for it.
Ciara sings better than Ashanti? WTF? Ashanti is no Mariah but she has Ciara’s whispering ass beat by a mile. Come correct.
By two miles. Ashanti is a good “okay” singer. Ciara is an okay “okay” singer. Ashanti’s voice is thin, but it’s clear and audible. Ciara’s voice is muffled and cotton-mouth sounding.
Oh wow I never knew Ashanti could sing like that. Why doesn’t she ever do it in her music? I mean it wasn’t great or anything, but this was when she got signed so you’d think she’d improve since then not the opposite.
Ashanti’s music is like orgasm music, that’s it.
But when I was listening to that I was like “oh wow Ciara the flop could never do that.”
I guess people like Ashanti, Mya and Tinashe have somewhat good voices, not great but at least beer than ciara, rih, shitny ECT.
Nice