Ashanti

Artist Image: Ashanti

Biography

Ashanti (born Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas; October 13, 1980) is an American Singer-songwriter, Record producer, model and Actress. She rose to fame in the early 2000s. Ashanti is most famous for her eponymous debut album, which featured the hit song "Foolish", and sold over 503,000 copies in its first week of release throughout the U.S. in April 2002. The album set a Soundscan record as the biggest opening week sales for a new female artist, outselling debuts by Alicia Keys and Lauryn Hill. In the same week, she became the first female performer to simultaneously hold the top two places on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with "Foolish", and "What's Luv?" (with Fat Joe). Ashanti broke records again by having three top ten songs, "Foolish," "What's Luv?" and "Always on Time", on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the same week, being the first woman to accomplish this feat and being second only to the Beatles. In 2003, the self-titled debut album won Ashanti her first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B album. As of 2009, Ashanti has over three multi-platinum studio albums and one gold. During her appearance on NBC's The Biggest Loser, it was reported she has sold over 27 Million Albums as of 2009. Ashanti ended the decade (2000-09) as the third top new R&B artist behind Alicia Keys and Beyoncé. She also ended the decade at number 38 on the Top Artist of the Decade list. She ranked #17, with Foolish selling more than 7.4 million copies in the U.S. Ashanti has an estimate Net Worth of $40 Million. Ashanti sang background vocals for Jennifer Lopez on "I'm Real (Murder Remix)" and wrote and sang background on the song "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" sung by Jennifer Lopez, both reaching number one on Billboard Hot 100, which was also in the top 10 charts at the same time as "Foolish", "Always on Time" (with Ja Rule), and "What's Luv" (with Fat Joe). Later that year, she was acclaimed as the "Princess Of Hip-Hop & R&B" by her label and capped off her successful debut by winning eight Billboard awards and two American Music Awards. Within seven years of Ashanti's career, she has scored 16 top 40 hits on the Hot 100. Ashanti has endorsed numerous products including Gap, Herbal Essences and Mudd Jeans. Ashanti cites Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Tupac Shakur, Mary J. Blige, Ella Fitzgerald, Smokey Robinson, Donna Summer, and Blue Magic as her musical influences. Praised as a gifted songwriter by her peers and critics alike, Ashanti has written/co-written the bulk of all her music. She is currently working on her own publishing company entitled Written Entertainment. She released her fourth studio album entitled The Declaration on June 3, 2008 and is currently in the studio working on her fifth. She also performed the charity tune "Just Stand Up" alongside 15 other female singers for the "Stand Up to Cancer" live television special which helped raise $100 million dollars for cancer research.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1994
Number of Albums 33
Record Label
Website ashantithisisme.com
Wikipedia Ashanti on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Trivia

What year did Ashanti become an inescapable popR&B force?

2002

... cinematic ballads, Ashanti became an almost inescapable popR&B force in 2002 . The week of March 30 that year, the singer and songwriter followed the ...
What band did the singer and songwriter follow in 2002?

the Beatles

...2. The week of March 30 that year, the singer and songwriter followed the Beatles as only the second artist to simultaneously occupy spots in the Top ...
What was Ashanti Douglas's first career?

acting

..., singing, and writing songs in her youth. She established her enduring acting career with roles in commercials and uncredited appearances in Malcolm ...
Where was Ashante Douglas born and raised?

Long Island

...n its way to tripleplatinum, Grammywinning status. Born and raised on Long Island , Ashanti Douglas started performing, singing, and writing songs in h...
Where did Ashanti set the record for the triple jump?

Glen Cove High School

... videos. A track star, she set the record for the triple jump at Glen Cove High School , and was offered an athletic scholarship to attend Hampton Univ...
What university did she attend?

Hampton University

...ve High School, and was offered an athletic scholarship to attend Hampton University . Ashanti opted to pursue music, and after some potential label de...
Who did Ashanti ingratiate herself with after some potential label deals fell through?

Irv Gotti

... some potential label deals fell through, she ingratiated herself with Irv Gotti at Murder Inc. Records. The ballad went to number one just after the ...
How many more hits did Ashanti have with Happy and Baby?

two

...nger cowrote, went straight to the top of the Billboard 200 and contained two more hits with Happy and Baby, singles that respectively topped out at n...
Who wanted Ashanti to pursue the same virtue and gain power?

her mother

...ed after the Ashanti Empire of Ghana, where women held due power, and her mother wanted Ashanti to pursue the same virtue and gain power. Her singing ...
What did Ashanti focus on during her high school days?

writing songs

...ing back since then. During her high school days, Ashanti focused on writing songs and exploring her potential for writing stories, which could connec...
What club was the foundation for writing poetry?

English club

...ories, which could connect to the audience. She was also part of the English club which laid the foundation for writing poetry. The powerful and soulf...
When did The Inc. begin?

2001

...rmerly known as Murder Inc.), New York City, recording artist, beginning 2001 ; backup singer for Jennifer Lopez; dancer, including appearances at Carn...
What year was An Evening of Stars 25th Anniversary: Tribute to Lou Rawls?

2004

..., 2003. An Evening of Stars 25th Anniversary: Tribute to Lou Rawls, NBC, 2004 . Television Appearances; Awards Presentations: MTV Video Music Awards 20...
In what year was Entertainment Tonight syndicated?

2003

... NBC, 2001. Guest, Entertainment Tonight (also known as ET), syndicated, 2003 . Appeared in an episode of Ride with Funkmaster Flex, Spike TV; and as a...
Bride and prejudice is also known as what other name?

Bride and Prejudice: The Bollywood Musical

...sents: Celebrity Rags to Riches, VH1. Performer, Bride & Prejudice (musical; also known as Bride and Prejudice: The Bollywood Musical ), Miramax, 2005....
What song was featured on Ashanti's debut album?

Foolish

... most famous for her eponymous debut album, which featured the hit song Foolish , and sold over 503,000 copies in its first week of release throughout ...
How many copies of her debut album did Ashanti sell in its first week of release?

503,000

...onymous debut album, which featured the hit song Foolish, and sold over 503,000 copies in its first week of release throughout the U.S. in April 2002....
What was Ashanti's first Grammy award for?

Best Contemporary R&B album

...selftitled debut album won Ashanti her first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B album . As of 2008, she has sold more than 27 million albums worldw...
How many albums has Ashanti sold worldwide?

27 million

...d for Best Contemporary R&B album. As of 2008, she has sold more than 27 million albums worldwide. Ashanti ended the decade (200009) as the third top ...
How many top 40 hits has Ashanti scored on the Hot 100?

16

...ican Music Awards. Within seven years of Ashanti's career, she has scored 16 top 40 hits on the Hot 100. Ashanti has endorsed numerous products includ...
What products has Ashanti endorsed?

Gap, Herbal Essences and Mudd Jeans

...Hot 100. Ashanti has endorsed numerous products including Gap, Herbal Essences and Mudd Jeans . Praised as a gifted songwriter by her peers and critics...
How many Billboard awards did Ashanti win?

eight

...HipHop & R&B by the media and capped off her successful debut by winning eight Billboard awards and two American Music Awards. Ashanti cites Mary J. B...
Who is Ashanti's musical influences?

Mary J. Blige and Ella Fitzgerald

...lboard awards and two American Music Awards. Ashanti cites Mary J. Blige and Ella Fitzgerald as her musical influences. Praised as a gifted songwriter...
Ashanti is an independent artist on what record label?

Written Entertainment

...currently an independent artist on her own record label entitled Written Entertainment . It was when she was noticed by Murder Inc. mastermind Irv Gott...
When did Ashanti release her debut album?

April 2002

...titled debut album, Ashanti, was released on Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. record label in April 2002 . The album has sold over 6.5 million copies worldwide....
How many copies of the album have been sold worldwide?

6.5 million

...titled debut album, Ashanti, was released on Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. record label in April 2002. The album has sold over 6.5 million copies worldwide....
At what age did she first sing in a gospel choir?

six

...Before becoming a famous singer, she first sang in a gospel choir at age six and took dance lessons. As she grew up into a teen girl, her musical tale...
Where did Ashanti dance in a show?

Carnegie Hall

...ical appearances. During this period of time she danced in a show at Carnegie Hall and in the Disney television musical Polly. It was in her senior hi...
When was Ashanti sharpening her songwriting skills?

senior high school

...ie Hall and in the Disney television musical Polly. It was in her senior high school that Ashanti sharpened her songwriting skills and explored her ta...
At what age did Ashanti sign a record deal with Jive Records?

14

...look that handed her a recording contract with Jive Records at the age of 14 , then again with Epic Records at the age of 17, but neither of them came ...
What record label did she sign with at the age of 17?

Epic Records

...cording contract with Jive Records at the age of 14, then again with Epic Records at the age of 17, but neither of them came to fruition. Ashanti late...
What song did Ashanti sing as a guest vocal for Big Pun?

How We Roll

...t Ashanti her first musical performance as a guest vocal on the track How We Roll by Big Pun. Moreover, she also appeared on other track on Ja's plati...
What is the name of Ja's platinum CD?

Pain Is Love

...reover, she also appeared on other track on Ja's platinum CD, namely Pain Is Love , and worked with Murder Inc. recording artist Caddillac Tah on his s...
Who did Ja work with on his singles Thug Love and Pov City Anthem?

Caddillac Tah

...D, namely Pain Is Love, and worked with Murder Inc. recording artist Caddillac Tah on his singles Thug Love and Pov City Anthem. Featured on the two b...
What was the first release on Written Entertainment?

The Declaration

...It was around the time of The Declaration , that Ashanti created her own company and label, Written Entertainment. The album was the first release on W...
Who distributed The Declaration?

Universal

... the first release on Written Entertainment, and it was distributed by Universal . Since its inception, Ashanti has released numerous projects on the l...
What was the name of the first single off The Declaration?

The Way That I Love You

...d Neffu to name a few. The first single off of The Declaration, The Way That I Love You won the Music Choice Video of the Year Award in 2009. Ashantis...
What award did The Way That I Love You win?

Music Choice Video of the Year Award

... off of The Declaration, The Way That I Love You won the Music Choice Video of the Year Award in 2009. Ashantis forthcoming album, the highlyanticipat...
What is the name of Ashantis forthcoming album?

Braveheart

...Year Award in 2009. Ashantis forthcoming album, the highlyanticipated Braveheart will be released this summer on Written Entertainment and distributed...
Which video made Ashanti's directorial debut?

The Woman You Love

...d by eOne Music. Ashanti made her directorial debut for her video The Woman You Love . All three tracks are currently available on iTunes. She is certa...
How many tracks of The Woman You Love are available on iTunes?

three

...Ashanti made her directorial debut for her video The Woman You Love. All three tracks are currently available on iTunes. She is certainly considered a...
What is the name of the television series produced by ABC?

Army Wives

...ered a mogul in this business! Ashanti currently has a lead role as LaTasha Montclair in the 1 Lifetime television series Army Wives , produced by ABC....
What occupation is Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas?

Singer songwriter actress

...Occupation Singer songwriter actress Years active 2001present Partner(s) Nelly (20032014) Musical career Genres R&B hip hop soul Labels Written E1 AJM...
When was Ashanti Douglas born?

October 13, 1980

...ef Jam Website ashantithisisme.com Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October 13, 1980 ) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was first dis...
What is the name of the singer, songwriter, and actress?

Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas

...Written E1 AJM Murder Inc. Def Jam Website ashantithisisme.com Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October 13, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, an...
Foolish reached number one on what chart?

Billboard Hot 100

...as a critical and commercial success; it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . With Foolish, she became the second artist (after The Beatles) t...
How many copies did Chapter II sell in the first week?

326,000

...ich debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with firstweek sales of 326,000 copies in the U.S. The album went platinum, selling over 1.5 million c...
What was the name of Ashanti's second album released in 2003?

Chapter II

...d Hot 100 simultaneously. In 2003, Ashanti released her second album, Chapter II , which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with firstweek sal...
How many copies of the album were sold in the U.S.?

505,000

...2. In 2002, Ashanti released her eponymous debut album, which sold over 505,000 copies throughout the U.S. in its first week of release. The album ear...
What year was Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas born?

1980

...Singer and songwriter Born Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas, October 13, 1980 , in Glen Cove, NY; daughter of KenKaid (aka Thomas; Ashanti's road manager) and...
What was the name of the singer and songwriter born in Glen Cove, NY?

Ashanti Douglas

...r of 2003, also sold briskly, proving that Ashanti is here to stay. Ashanti Douglas , named after a tribe in the country of Ghana, was born and raised ...
When was Chapter II released?

summer of 2003

...rap song How We Roll. Her second album, Chapter II, released in the summer of 2003 , also sold briskly, proving that Ashanti is here to stay. Ashanti D...
What tribe is Ashanti named after?

Ghana

... is here to stay. Ashanti Douglas, named after a tribe in the country of Ghana , was born and raised in the Long Island, New York, community of Glen Co...
Where was Ashanti born and raised?

Glen Cove

... Ghana, was born and raised in the Long Island, New York, community of Glen Cove . She began performing before the age of ten, modeling and appearing i...
When did Ashanti begin performing?

before the age of ten

...g Island, New York, community of Glen Cove. She began performing before the age of ten , modeling and appearing in TV commercials. Soon afterward, she ...
What did Ashanti's father do before leaving show business for more steady work as a computer systems administrator?

singer

...ideos as a dancer. Music runs in her family; her father, KenKaid, was a singer before leaving show business for more steady work as a computer systems...
When Ashanti appeared in music videos, what did she do?

dancer

...ng in TV commercials. Soon afterward, she appeared in music videos as a dancer . Music runs in her family; her father, KenKaid, was a singer before lea...
What is Ashanti's little sister?

Kenashia

...ady work as a computer systems administrator. Ashanti's little sister, Kenashia , also a singer, took home the grand prize for children on the Showtime...