Not many can boast the illustrious strides Ashanti has made over her 20-year career, but – let the ‘Chapter 2’ singer tell it – there are still a few more chapters to be penned in her story.
Sitting down with “CBS Mornings” co-host Nate Burleson Monday (August 15), the GRAMMY winner dished on the ups-and-downs of her journey to becoming one of the 2000s most successful R&B acts.
Even revisiting the halls of Glen Cove High School in Long Island, Ashanti talked about passing on track scholarships to Ivy League schools, failed record deals, and more before launching a career with Murder Inc. A career, she says, that was amazing at its height but certainly impacted by the imprint’s legal drama and more.
Refusing to let her story end with its downfall, the 41-year-old spoke optimistically about her future – which includes re-recording her debut album, acting gigs, and a long-awaited LP of new music (her first since 2014’s ‘BraveHeart’).
Watch the interview in full inside.
ON LEAVING MURDER INC:
“There was a definite dark cloud,” Ashanti said. “I’m super-loyal, sometimes to the fault. And I felt like this was my family. So, I have to be on stage and be, like, ‘Oh, baby,’ and knowing that there’s a lotta drama going on behind the scenes. And it was a struggle, even just having integrity in what I’m doing.”
ON HER LEGACY:
“I think my story ends with an amazing legacy, with me being happy,” she revealed. “And I think my story’s gonna end with an amazing family and husband and kids being very proud and happy. And when it does all go away, I’ll have my star and the family will be able to resonate on that forever and ever and ever and ever and ever.”
*****
Ashanti did not address the current hoopla with former Murder Inc.head Irv Gotti.
Still very much an engaging piece, click PLAY on the video above to see what was said about the chart topper’s rise to fame from humble beginnings, new music, and more.