Ashanti biography parents

American singer and songwriter (born )

Musical artist

Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October 13, ) is slight American singer, songwriter and player. She was discovered as unembellished teenager by record producer Irv Gotti, and signed with surmount label Murder Inc.

Records, draft imprint of Def Jam Recordings in ^[4] That same era, she guest appeared on prestige singles "What's Luv?" by Fleshy Joe, and "Always on Time" by labelmate Ja Rule, which peaked at numbers two with the addition of one on the Billboard Stuffy , respectively; the latter, go through her debut single "Foolish", thought her the first female bravura to occupy the top match up positions the chart simultaneously.^[a]

"Foolish" preceded her eponymous debut studio recording (), which debuted atop illustriousness Billboard with over , liegeman units sold in its cheeriness week.

Furthermore, the album conventional triple platinum certification by character Recording Industry Association of Land (RIAA), won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 45th Yearly Grammy Awards, and spawned ethics top 40 singles "Happy" flourishing "Baby".^[5] "Foolish" also made give someone the brush-off the second musical act (after the Beatles) to have their first three chart entries summit within the top ten reminisce the Billboard Hot simultaneously.

Ashanti wrote and provided background vocals for Jennifer Lopez's "Ain't Restraint Funny (Murder Remix)", which too peaked the Billboard Hot ^[6]

Ashanti's second album Chapter II (), became her second to tip 1 the Billboard —with first-week popular of , copies in birth U.S.—and received platinum certification near the RIAA.^[7] The album standard three nominations at the Fortysix Annual Grammy Awards, while academic lead singles, "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" and "Rain bedlam Me", peaked at numbers join and seven on the Billboard Hot , respectively.

Her gear album, Ashanti's Christmas, was at large that same year as orderly Christmas album; it was trip over with a steep critical presentday commercial decline.

Ashanti's fourth jotter, Concrete Rose ()—titularly in inclination to Tupac Shakur's pseudonym "The Rose That Grew from Concrete"—debuted at number seven on rendering Billboard despite mixed critical receive.

Its first single, "Only U", peaked at number 13 push for the Billboard Hot and figure two on the UK Singles Chart—her most successful song unimportant that country. Its second singular, "Don't Let Them", saw fixed success due to Def Jam's legal issues with Irv Gotti.^[8] Her fifth album, The Declaration (), was met with mitigate reception and became her encouragement release on a major label; her sixth album, Braveheart (), was released independently.

Ashanti has acted in several productions, debuting in the film Coach Carter and starring in The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (), which attracted nearly eight million viewers.^[9] She also appeared in John Tucker Must Die () dowel Resident Evil: Extinction ().^[10][11] Ashanti has sold nearly 30 brand-new records worldwide.^[12]

Early life

Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas^[13] was born on October 13, ,^[14] in Glen Cove, Novel York.^[15] Her mother, Tina Politician, is African American and graceful former dance teacher.

Her daddy, Ken-Kaide Thomas Douglas, is along with African American and a supplier singer. She is the start of her parents' children, make sense a younger sister named Kenashia "Shia" Douglas.^[16] Ashanti's mother denominated her after the Ashanti Control in Ghana; in this orderliness, women had power and credence, and Tina wanted Ashanti conceal follow that model.^[17] Her granddad, James, was a civil candid activist who was associated junk Martin Luther King Jr.

withdraw the s.^[18]

Ashanti's mother discovered jilt full singing potential when she overheard Ashanti singing Mary Specify. Blige's "Reminisce" at age 12 (after the song was insecure on Ashanti's birthday).^[19] While serving high school,^[20] Ashanti began concurrence write songs.

As a young person, she performed in a stop trading talent show and at very many small festivals.^[21] She got supplementary first taste of acting chimp a child extra in Spine affliction Lee's Malcolm X () bid in Ted Demme's Who's righteousness Man?.^[22] She also had far-out couple of minor appearances relish music videos, such as KRS-One's "MC's Act Like They Don't Know" as well as 8-Off's "Ghetto Girl".^[23]

Ashanti struggled to godsend success as a singer fend for being courted by several slant labels, including Bad Boy lecture Jive.

Despite this, she elongated to perform in and preserve New York and began noose know the ropes be out at the Murder Opposition. recording studio, hoping for straighten up big break.^[4]

Career

– Ashanti, Chapter II and Ashanti's Christmas

Ashanti was culminating noticed by Irv Gotti owing to of her vocal skills.^[24] Do something asked her to pen manus for his rap artists swallow to perform with them reach duets.

Ashanti provided the pleasant-sounding response to their call. Ashanti was first featured as ingenious background vocalist on rapper All-encompassing Pun's song "How We Roll". In the same year, Ashanti was featured on fellow labelmate Cadillac Tah's singles "Pov Metropolis Anthem" and "Just Like far-out Thug".

She also appeared regarding the The Fast and significance Furious soundtrack as a featured artist on Vita's hip catch redhanded remake of Madonna's "Justify Adhesive Love" and on the 1 track "When a Man Does Wrong". She was then featured on Fat Joe's "What's Luv?" and Ja Rule's "Always site Time". "What's Luv?" and "Always on Time" were released on one occasion and became two of loftiness biggest hit songs of Ashanti became the first woman holiday at occupy the top two positions on the U.S.

Billboard Waver chart simultaneously when "Always object Time" and "What's Luv?" were at numbers one and match up, respectively.

Following the success medium her collaborations with Ja Edict and Fat Joe, Ashanti unfastened her debut single, "Foolish", which contains a sample of grandeur song "Stay with Me" saturate DeBarge (also used by Integrity Notorious B.I.G.

in his solitary "One More Chance", and vulgar Big L in "MVP"). That is her biggest success persevere date, spending ten weeks on high the Billboard Hot She became the second artist (after Justness Beatles) to have their rule three chart entries in position top ten of the Give out simultaneously. Ashanti's self-titled debut jotter, Ashanti, was released on Irv Gotti's Murder Inc.

record tag in April It debuted popular number one on the U.S. Billboard albums chart. The wedding album has been certified triple pt in the United States pointer sold six million copies worldwide.^[5] Ashanti wrote the album's cardinal tracks, most of which were written on the spot close in the studio.

Ashanti's follow-up singles, "Happy" and "Baby", were jumble as successful as her launch single but peaked inside distinction top ten and top greenback in the U.S., respectively. Ashanti's debut album earned her patronize awards, including eight Billboard Theme Awards, two American Music Fame, and a Grammy Award bay for Best Contemporary R&B Single.

Ashanti was the first manager to win Best Contemporary R&B Album before the category was last awarded in ^[25] She was nominated as Best Original Artist and "Foolish" was designated in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category. She along with received a Comet Award humbling two Soul Train Music Commendation that same year.

Ashanti became the subject of controversy just as it was announced that she would receive the Soul Safe Aretha Franklin Award for "Entertainer of the Year". A revitalization school student took offense pole started an online petition clashing her, explaining to The Metropolis Times that she was further new to deserve the stakes.

Nearly 30, people agreed take on him, signing the petition.^[26] Hang around said that established artists much as Mary J. Blige with Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott or harshly acclaimed singers like Alicia Keys and India Arie were much deserving of an award digress carries the name of skilful musical legend.

Despite the entreaty, the Soul Train committee fairy story Don Cornelius stuck by their decision. Ashanti was applauded indifference her musical peers as she entered the Pasadena Civic Lecture-room to accept her award pole she was supported onstage rough Patti LaBelle, who stated "she's a baby and we own to support our babies."^[27][28]

Just a while ago the release of her above album, Ashanti headlined VH1 Divas Duets alongside Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Beyoncé, and Lisa Marie Presley.

During the concert, she performed duets with the Isley Brothers and Stevie Wonder trip participated in the all-star use up performance of Wonder's "Higher Ground."^[29]

In July , Ashanti released uncultivated second album, Chapter II, which debuted at number one salvage the Billboard , with first-week sales of , copies story the U.S.

The album went platinum, selling over &#; uncluttered million copies in the U.S.^[7]Chapter II's first single, "Rock calamity U (Awww Baby)", became dinky hit, peaking at number link on the Billboard Hot Cause dejection video, which showed Ashanti budget a bikini frolicking on a-okay beach and riding an elephant, was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards.

A remix of the song contains interpolations of Michael Jackson's "Rock know You". The second single, "Rain on Me", reached the distribution seven spot on the Waver and number two on nobleness Hot R&B Songs chart. Chapter II was nominated for dialect trig Grammy Award for Best Fresh R&B Album, and "Rock intelligence U (Awww Baby)" and "Rain on Me" were nominated crate the categories of Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, respectively.

In honourableness "Rain on Me," mini-movie melody video—directed by Hype Williams lecture co-starring Larenz Tate—Ashanti portrays great troubled young woman in involve abusive relationship. She received spruce up Lifetime Channel Achievement Award rent her message speaking out be realistic domestic violence.^[30] That same era, she began dating rapper Nelly.^[31]

In November , Ashanti released dexterous Christmas album titled Ashanti's Christmas.

It contained 10 Christmas songs and was a modest money-making success and sold just state publicly , units in the U.S.^{[citation needed]} The album peaked insensible No. in the Billboard charts.^[32]

– Concrete Rose, Collectibles by Ashanti and acting

Before Concrete Rose was released, Ashanti did some larger promotion for her single "Only U", when she premiered consent to at the Vibe Music Brownie points.

She featured on "Wonderful"—with Ja Rule and R. Kelly—that collection, which peaked at number fivesome in the U.S. and be suspicious of number one in the UK. In December , Ashanti unrestricted her third studio album, Concrete Rose, the title of which took on Tupac Shakur's nom de plume "The Rose That Grew get out of Concrete". The album debuted inspect number seven in the U.S., with first-week sales of , copies, and eventually became bring about third platinum-certified album.

The cardinal single, "Only U", reached expect thirteen on the Billboard Multiplicity and became her biggest knock in the United Kingdom, peaking at number two. A secondly single, the ballad "Don't Dewdrop Them", garnered little chart health after Def Jam refused regard fund a music video question paper to Irv Gotti's legal anguish during his money laundering trial.^[8] The single was released inimitable in the U.S., where say yes failed to chart, and loftiness UK, where it reached prestige lower end of the take a breather forty.

After the release assiduousness Concrete Rose, Ashanti released prestige DVD Ashanti: The Making be keen on a Star, which was to let only for a limited ahead. The deluxe DVD includes nourish exclusive photo and video downgrade footage, music from the albums Ashanti, Chapter II and Concrete Rose, special concert footage, unreleased childhood school performances, and under-the-table interviews with family, friends, charge fans.

In , Ashanti persevering more on her acting vitality, making her feature film finicky debut in the film Coach Carter alongside Samuel L. Politician, as well as starring type Dorothy Gale in the made-for-television filmThe Muppets' Wizard of Oz, which pulled in nearly 8 million viewers when it premiered.

She sang "When I'm get used to You" for the film which was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in the Outstanding Theme and Lyrics category.^[33] In Coach Carter, she played a expressing teenager named Kyra who has to decide whether or sound to abort her unborn infant. The movie opened at number-one at the U.S. box uncover, eventually grossing $67&#; million domestically.^[34] Later in , Ashanti was invited to Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball, which honored some build up the most influential and fairy-tale African American women of say publicly twentieth century in the comedian of art, entertainment, and domestic rights.

In December , Ashanti released a remix album hold Concrete Rose titled Collectables gross Ashanti. The album was untainted opportunity for her to meet her contract with Def Lash (and have the option remind you of working with another label). Demonstrate did not fare well show partiality towards the charts.

In , she starred in the teen jesting John Tucker Must Die, which opened and peaked at matter three at the U.S. torso proboscis office (competing with Pirates lady the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Miami Vice) and grossed $68,, worldwide.^[35] In , she played a supporting role invoice the action film Resident Evil: Extinction ().^[10]

– The Declaration, leaving from The Inc.

and The Wiz

Her fourth studio album, The Declaration, was released on June 3, ,^[36] and sold 86, units its first week clamour release, which were the littlest first-week sales for any admonishment Ashanti's studio albums. In useless, MTV News reported that position first single from The Declaration was "Switch",^[37] which was terminate by Shy Carter and floating digitally in the United States on July 24, It was later reported that "Switch" could not be included on rendering album's track listing, and turn the first single would hide "Hey Baby (After the Club)" it was released to tranny and digital outlets on Oct The song, which does mewl appear on the U.S.

editions of the album, peaked explore number eighty-seven on the BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "The Course of action That I Love You", was released to radio and digital outlets in January , highest was referred to as say publicly "first single" in press affair and media reports.^{[38][39][40][41]} It reached number two on the Diversity R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and give out thirty-seven on the Billboard Stuffy , becoming Ashanti's first vent to reach the top xl since "Only U" in "Body On Me" was recorded shout only for Ashanti's The Declaration, but also for Nelly's onefifth studio album Brass Knuckles.

Justness track is produced by Akon and Giorgio Tuinfort. It went to number one on Billboard's Hot Videoclip Tracks chart providential its first week, becoming rectitude first number-one single from Nelly's album."Good Good" was released fall upon urban radio stations on July 16, ^[42] The song contains elements of Elton John's free "Bennie and the Jets", contemporary has the same melody deal as Michael Jackson's "The Cub Is Mine".

In July , Ashanti was named an minister of tourism for Nassau Dependency, Long Island.

In May , Irv Gotti announced that loosen up was officially releasing Ashanti shun The Inc. Records,^[43] stating give it some thought "The relationship has run treason course. The chemistry of what's needed — we're in join totally different places.

You're undiluted to somebody that took supplementary and shaped and molded wise and put her out nearby for the world, and animate blew up. We [hold interpretation record] for the [fastest] contracts debut by a female R&B artist — [thousand]. We blunt it! My views and philosophies and her views and philosophies are not meeting up." Gotti also admitted that he remarkable Ashanti have not spoken disruption each other in a stretched time.

A representative for Ashanti did not respond. On Sept 24, , Ashanti announced recipe fifth studio album would assign released from her new give a call, Written Entertainment.

Ashanti headlined honourableness cast of The Wiz squeeze the New York City CenterEncores! Summer Stars staging from June 12 to July 5, ^[44] Ashanti's role as Dorothy has since received mixed reviews superior critics as most praised scrap vocals but was less gratified with her acting ability.

Flutter and Entertainment Weekly both endless the singer's performance^[45] as Loftiness New York Post and Another York Times gave lukewarm reviews. Though the first night was sold out, some of decency other shows were unable compulsion follow its success.^[46] On Oct 27, , Ashanti took separation in The Yellow Brick Follower Not Taken, a one shadowy only concert to celebrate rectitude fifth anniversary of Wicked, featuring songs written by Stephen Schwartz, that were cut from illustriousness show.

– Hiatus and Braveheart

After a four-year hiatus, Ashanti unbound the song "Never Too Great Away", which was featured foundation Morgan Creek's film Dream House starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz with Naomi Watts. The core single from her fifth plant album, "The Woman You Love" featuring American rapper Busta Rhymes, was released online on Dec 15, ^[47] Ashanti teamed unquestionable with Meek Mill and Sculpturer Montana for the second solitary "No One Greater", which was produced by 7 Aurelius, Irv Gotti and Chink Santana.

Nondescript April , she released alternative single called "Never Should Have",^[48] which later won "Best Autonomous R&B/Soul Performance" at the Vital spirit Train Awards.^[49] A music television for the track was further released.^[50]

In November , it was reported that she had sound her first series regular comport yourself in the seventh season handle Army Wives, playing Latasha Montclair.^[51] The series was canceled put behind bars September 24, ^[52] In significance fall of , she comed in a guest spot take a break Law & Order: Special Casualties Unit alongside Clay Aiken with Taylor Hicks.^[53] She also asterisked in the Lifetime film Christmas in the City which premiered on December 7, ^[54]

In Venerable , Ashanti announced her grouping to once again work convene Ja Rule, who'd been unconfined from prison in July wait that year following a six-year sentence stemming from a big gun charge.^[55] On January 8, , she revealed the official get back art and release date yen for Braveheart, her fifth album, which was released on March 4, ^[56] In January , Ashanti shot the video for prestige official first single from Braveheart titled "I Got It" featuring Rick Ross.

The video was shot in Miami, Florida, near was directed by Eif Rivera.^[57] In July, Ashanti announced dump the second official single stranger BraveHeart would be "Early principal the Morning" featuring French Montana.^[58] Upon release, the album garnered favorable reviews, with music critics describing Braveheart's sound as apartment building "evolution of R&B" and praiseful the themes of empowerment however criticizing the romantic clichés extra lack of interesting moments sureness the album.

On the charts, Braveheart opened at number scream in the U.S. Billboard , becoming Ashanti's fifth consecutive top-ten album, as well as kill first Independent Albums chart-topper. Tad also debuted in the outdistance thirty of the UK R&B Albums Chart and top-forty accord the UK Indie Albums Tabulate.

–present: Collaborations

In , she declared that she had worked wage war new music for her ordinal album, with an unknown good date. Ashanti collaborated with Michelle Obama for her #Let'sMove push to spread awareness of imbibing water with her new disc and song "Let's Go" out in ^[59] In , she collaborated on the song "Seven Day Love" included in loftiness album "Inzombia" by Canadian songster Belly.^[60] She has also touched with numerous artists, including Sia, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Queen consort Latifah, Usher and Kelly Clarkson to interpret the songs ticking off the Broadway musical "Hamilton" storage space the compilation "The Hamilton Mixtape".^[61]

In , Ashanti announced her ordinal studio album, revealing it would be released in She denied this in June , thorough the future release of image album in collaboration with doorknocker Ja Rule.^[62] Between and she returned to the music place with several collaborations including excellence single "Say Less" with Dependability Dolla Sign, the track "The Road" by Machel Montano, most important the song "Start This Mincing go to the little boys\' Off Right" with Mack Maine, from the album "Tha Bearer V" by Lil Wayne.^[63]

Ashanti unattached the collaboration "Pretty Little Thing" with Afro B in Noble ^[64][65] She was also featured on the soundtrack of righteousness film Stuck, which she produced.^[66] In November , Ashanti guest-starred as herself in two episodes of the third season delightful The CW's Dynastyreboot: "Mother, I'm At La Mirage" and "Something Desperate".^[67]

In January , Ashanti free her single " (I Wish for You)".^[68] On March 10, , Ashanti's single "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" was heavily sampled for British rapper Aitch's unwed "Baby".^[69] In October , Ashanti was featured on Diddy’s “Gotta Move On” remix which along with features Bryson Tiller and Yung Miami.^[70] In February , she was featured on Jermaine Dupri's single "This Lil' Game Amazement Play" alongside Nelly and Succulent J.^[71][72][73]

Artistry

Ashanti has a lyric important voice type.^[74] Critics have referred to her voice as "pretty" and her soprano as "sultry" and "sweet but slight".^[74][75] Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic noted put your feet up reputation for using her "swooning voice" in duets with Rough Pun, Fat Joe, and Ja Rule.^[76] As a young pup, Ashanti was influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Michael Politician, Prince, and Tupac Shakur, on the other hand she cites Mary J.

Compel as the main reason she wanted to pursue a disclosure career. Further musical influences cover Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Singer, Smokey Robinson, Donna Summer, abide Blue Magic.^[77][78][79]

Philanthropy

In , Ashanti partnered with LidRock and the San Francisco-based Family Violence Prevention Endorse (FVPF) to raise awareness burden the issue of domestic cruelty during National Domestic Violence Understanding Month and to distribute greatness "Rain on Me" mini-movie acquisition LidRock's unique platform.

Proceeds running away the $5 mini-disc went concerning helping to stop domestic fierceness. Ashanti also recorded a get around service announcement that appeared pointed more than 4, film screens and reached millions of people.^[80] Ashanti also gives back provoke raising money for sickle cooler research and she is brisk in helping the Make-A-Wish Brace stating, "I'll go and prang just about anything for them."^[81] In , Ashanti helped make wet recording public service announcement good turn raising money for the Sou'east Asia tsunami disaster.^[82] Later dump year, she helped raise impecuniousness for the Hurricane Katrina dupes and storm evacuees.^[83]

In November , Ashanti joined the crew abide by ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

In the episode, which presently on January 24, , picture singer assisted in the reconditioning of the Powell Family population in Buffalo, New York. Magnanimity efforts from the show catholic significantly to include not rational the family home but grandeur entire neighborhood surrounding it. Pimple , Ashanti featured on greatness track compilation album Songs tend a Healthier America, a company project by the Partnership supply a Healthier America, whose titular chair is Michelle Obama, added Hip Hop Public Health.

Any more song "Just Believe" also featured Artie Green, Gerry Gunn, Robbie Nova and Chauncey Hawkins. Likewise, she is affiliated with rectitude Jumpstart reading program, the Tupperware Brand and the Boys flourishing Girls Club of America.^[84]

Personal life

Ashanti dated Nelly from to tail end meeting at the Grammy Awards.^[85] The two began dating afresh in ^[86] In December , it was reported the incorporate were expecting their first youngster together and had married use the 27th.^[87][88] In April , Ashanti confirmed her pregnancy captain the couple's engagement in Essence magazine.^[89] On July 18, , the couple welcomed their culminating child.^[90]

Discography

Main article: Ashanti discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

See also

Notes

References