Ashanti

Biography

Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October 13, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She was discovered as a teenager by record producer Irv Gotti, and signed with his label Murder Inc. Records, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings in 2002. That same year, Ashanti guest appeared on the singles "What's Luv?" by Fat Joe, and "Always on Time×Always on Time2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Always on Time (radio edit)4:052Always on Time (explicit album version)4:073Always on Time (instrumental)4:05" by Ja Rule, which peaked at numbers two and one on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively; the latter, with her 2002 debut single "Foolish×Foolish21 May 2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAFoolish (Mainstream edit)3:32B1Unfoolish (clean version)3:14B2Foolish (Reavers remix)3:49", made her the first female artist to occupy the top two positions the chart simultaneously.
Ashanti's eponymous debut album (2002) debuted atop the Billboard 200, received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles "Happy×Happy21 May 2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Happy (Radio Edit)3:59A2Happy (I'm So Happy Remix)3:58B1Happy (Remix Explicit)3:59B2Happy (DnD Vocal Mix)4:51" and "Baby". She then co-wrote and provided background vocals for Jennifer Lopez's 2002 single "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)", which peaked the Billboard Hot 100. Her second album, Chapter II×Chapter II30 June 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Intro (medley)1:192Shany's World3:063Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)3:294What Are They Gonna Say Now (skit)0:315Breakup 2 Makeup3:416I Found Lovin'4:157Rain on Me4:588Then Ya Gone5:009Living My Life3:4710Black Child (skit)1:2811Feel So Good4:3212Carry On3:1513The Sugar Shack (skit)1:1014The Story of 24:3415Ohhh Ahhh4:3616Shany Shia (skit)1:1217Sweet Baby4:0818U Say, I Say4:0919I Don't Mind5:0520Outro0:58 (2003), became her second to peak the Billboard 200 and received platinum certification by the RIAA. It received three nominations at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, while its lead singles, "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)×Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)1 January 2003 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Album Version [Clean])3:402Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Instrumental)3:413Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Taz & Vanguard Remix)4:254Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Jay Hannan Lazy Dog Mix)6:34" and "Rain on Me×Rain on Me20 October 2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Rain on Me (Album Version)5:002Rain on Me (Melbeatz Radio Remix)3:163Rain on Me (Full Phatt Remix)3:384I Know (Album Version)4:41", peaked at numbers two and seven on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Her third album, Ashanti's Christmas, was released that same year as a Christmas album; it was met with a steep critical and commercial decline.
Ashanti's fourth album, Concrete Rose×Concrete Rose13 December 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Concrete Rose (intro)1:172Still Down4:133Message to the Fans (skit)0:244Only U3:065Focus3:176Don’t Let Them4:237Love Again4:098Take Me Tonight4:059U3:3610Every Lil’ Thing3:5611Turn It Up4:1612Buck 3000 (skit)0:2213So Hot4:5714Don’t Leave Me Alone3:3415Sister Stories (skit)0:4516Freedom3:5117Wonderful (remix)4:4318Touch My Body3:31 (2004), debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 despite mixed critical response. Its lead single, "Only U×Only U2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Only U (Clean)", peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart—her most successful song in that country. Its second single, "Don't Let Them×Don't Let Them5 June 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Don't Let Them (album version)4:232Only U (Kelly G's club mix)6:423Foolish (album version explicit)3:47", saw limited success due to Def Jam's legal issues with Murder Inc. label head Irv Gotti. Her fifth album, The Declaration×The Declaration3 June 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Intro1:052The Way That I Love You4:273You're Gonna Miss3:144So Over You4:005Struggle4:356Girlfriend3:307Things You Make Me Do4:288In These Streets4:249Good Good3:3710Body on Me3:2011Mother5:1012Shine3:4013The Declaration3:55 (2008), was met with moderate reception and became her final release on a major label; her sixth album, Braveheart×Braveheart4 March 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Intro / Braveheart5:232No Where3:023Runaway3:104Count2:535Early in the Morning4:0863 Words3:237Love Games4:138Scars5:509Never Should Have3:5910She Can’t3:4411Don't Tell Me No3:4912I Got It4:0713First Real Love / Outro4:54 (2014), was released independently. Ashanti has sold nearly 30 million records worldwide.
Ashanti has acted in several productions, debuting in the film Coach Carter and starring in the TV special The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (both 2005), the latter of which attracted nearly eight million viewers. She also appeared in John Tucker Must Die (2006) and Resident Evil: Extinction (2007).

Early life

Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas was born on October 13, 1980, in Glen Cove, New York. Her mother, Tina Douglas, is African American and a former dance teacher. Her father, Ken-Kaide Thomas Douglas, is also African American and a former singer. She is the oldest of her parents' children, with a younger sister named Kenashia "Shia" Douglas. Ashanti's mother named her after the Ashanti Empire in Ghana; in this nation, women had power and influence, and Tina wanted Ashanti to follow that model. Her grandfather, James, was a civil rights activist who was associated with Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s.
Ashanti's mother discovered her full singing potential when she overheard Ashanti singing Mary J. Blige's "Reminisce" at age 12 (after the song was released on Ashanti's birthday). While attending high school, Ashanti began to write songs. As a teenager, she performed in a local talent show and at several small festivals. She got her first taste of acting as a child extra in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992) and in Ted Demme's Who's the Man?. She also had a couple of minor appearances in music videos, such as KRS-One's "MC's Act Like They Don't Know" as well as 8-Off's "Ghetto Girl".
Ashanti struggled to find success as a singer after being courted by several record labels, including Bad Boy and Jive. Despite this, she continued to perform in and around New York and began hanging out at the Murder Inc. recording studio, hoping for a big break.

2001–2003: Ashanti, Chapter II and Ashanti's Christmas

Ashanti was first noticed by Irv Gotti because of her vocal skills. He asked her to pen hooks for his rap artists and to perform with them in duets. Ashanti provided the melodic response to their call. Ashanti was first featured as a background vocalist on rapper Big Pun's song "How We Roll". In the same year, Ashanti was featured on fellow labelmate Cadillac Tah's singles "Pov City Anthem" and "Just Like a Thug". She also appeared on the 2001 The Fast and the Furious soundtrack as a featured artist on Vita's 2001 hip hop remake of Madonna's "Justify My Love" and on the solo track "When a Man Does Wrong". She was then featured on Fat Joe's "What's Luv?" and Ja Rule's "Always on Time×Always on Time2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Always on Time (radio edit)4:052Always on Time (explicit album version)4:073Always on Time (instrumental)4:05". "What's Luv?" and "Always on Time" were released simultaneously and became two of the biggest hit songs of 2002. Ashanti became the first woman to occupy the top two positions on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously when "Always on Time" and "What's Luv?" were at numbers one and two, respectively.
Following the success of her collaborations with Ja Rule and Fat Joe, Ashanti released her debut single, "Foolish×Foolish21 May 2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAFoolish (Mainstream edit)3:32B1Unfoolish (clean version)3:14B2Foolish (Reavers remix)3:49", which contains a sample of the 1983 song "Stay with Me" by DeBarge (also used by The Notorious B.I.G. in his 1995 single "One More Chance", and by Big L in "MVP"). This is her biggest success to date, spending ten weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. She became the second artist (after The Beatles) to have their first three chart entries in the top ten of the Hot 100 simultaneously. Ashanti's self-titled debut album, Ashanti, was released on Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. record label in April 2002. It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart. The album has been certified triple platinum in the United States and sold six million copies worldwide. Ashanti wrote the album's twelve tracks, most of which were written on the spot in the studio. Ashanti's follow-up singles, "Happy×Happy21 May 2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Happy (Radio Edit)3:59A2Happy (I'm So Happy Remix)3:58B1Happy (Remix Explicit)3:59B2Happy (DnD Vocal Mix)4:51" and "Baby", were not as successful as her debut single but peaked inside the top ten and top twenty in the U.S., respectively. Ashanti's debut album earned her many awards, including eight Billboard Music Awards, two American Music Awards, and a Grammy Award in 2003 for Best Contemporary R&B Album. Ashanti was the first artist to win Best Contemporary R&B Album before the category was last awarded in 2011. She was nominated as Best New Artist and "Foolish" was nominated in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category. She also received a Comet Award and two Soul Train Music Awards that same year.
Ashanti became the subject of controversy when it was announced that she would receive the Soul Train Aretha Franklin Award for "Entertainer of the Year". A high school student took offense and started an online petition against her, explaining to The Seattle Times that she was too new to deserve the award. Nearly 30,000 people agreed with him, signing the petition. Many said that established artists such as Mary J. Blige and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott or critically acclaimed singers like Alicia Keys and India Arie were more deserving of an award that carries the name of a musical legend. Despite the petition, the Soul Train committee and Don Cornelius stuck by their decision. Ashanti was applauded by her musical peers as she entered the Pasadena Civic Auditorium to accept her award and she was supported onstage by Patti LaBelle, who stated "she's a baby and we have to support our babies."
Just before the release of her second 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 and participated in the all-star finale performance of Wonder's "Higher Ground."
In July 2003, Ashanti released her second album, Chapter II×Chapter II30 June 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Intro (medley)1:192Shany's World3:063Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)3:294What Are They Gonna Say Now (skit)0:315Breakup 2 Makeup3:416I Found Lovin'4:157Rain on Me4:588Then Ya Gone5:009Living My Life3:4710Black Child (skit)1:2811Feel So Good4:3212Carry On3:1513The Sugar Shack (skit)1:1014The Story of 24:3415Ohhh Ahhh4:3616Shany Shia (skit)1:1217Sweet Baby4:0818U Say, I Say4:0919I Don't Mind5:0520Outro0:58, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 326,000 copies in the U.S. The album went platinum, selling over 1.5 a million copies in the U.S. Chapter II's first single, "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)×Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)1 January 2003 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Album Version [Clean])3:402Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Instrumental)3:413Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Taz & Vanguard Remix)4:254Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Jay Hannan Lazy Dog Mix)6:34", became a hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Its video, which showed Ashanti in a bikini frolicking on a beach and riding an elephant, was nominated for two 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. A remix of the song contains interpolations of Michael Jackson's "Rock with You". The second single, "Rain on Me×Rain on Me20 October 2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Rain on Me (Album Version)5:002Rain on Me (Melbeatz Radio Remix)3:163Rain on Me (Full Phatt Remix)3:384I Know (Album Version)4:41", reached the number seven spot on the Hot 100 and number two on the Hot 100 R&B Songs chart. Chapter II was nominated for a 2004 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album, and "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" and "Rain on Me" were nominated in the categories of Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, respectively. In the "Rain on Me," mini-movie music video—directed by Hype Williams and co-starring Larenz Tate—Ashanti portrays a troubled young woman in an abusive relationship. She received a Lifetime Channel Achievement Award for her message speaking out against domestic violence. That same year, she began dating rapper Nelly.
In November 2003, Ashanti released a Christmas album titled Ashanti's Christmas. It contained 10 Christmas songs and was a modest commercial success and sold just around 100,000 units in the U.S. The album peaked at No. 160 in the Billboard charts.

2004–2007: Concrete Rose, Collectibles by Ashanti and acting

Before Concrete Rose was released, Ashanti did some major promotion for her single "Only U×Only U2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Only U (Clean)", when she premiered it at the 2004 Vibe Music Awards. She featured on "Wonderful"—with Ja Rule and R. Kelly—that year, which peaked at number five in the U.S. and at number one in the UK. In December 2004, Ashanti released her third studio album, Concrete Rose×Concrete Rose13 December 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Concrete Rose (intro)1:172Still Down4:133Message to the Fans (skit)0:244Only U3:065Focus3:176Don’t Let Them4:237Love Again4:098Take Me Tonight4:059U3:3610Every Lil’ Thing3:5611Turn It Up4:1612Buck 3000 (skit)0:2213So Hot4:5714Don’t Leave Me Alone3:3415Sister Stories (skit)0:4516Freedom3:5117Wonderful (remix)4:4318Touch My Body3:31, the title of which took on Tupac Shakur's pseudonym "The Rose That Grew from Concrete". The album debuted at number seven in the U.S., with first-week sales of 254,000 copies, and eventually became her third platinum-certified album. The first single, "Only U", reached number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and became her biggest hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number two. A second single, the ballad "Don't Let Them×Don't Let Them5 June 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Don't Let Them (album version)4:232Only U (Kelly G's club mix)6:423Foolish (album version explicit)3:47", garnered little chart success after Def Jam refused to fund a music video due to Irv Gotti's legal troubles during his money laundering trial. The single was released only in the U.S., where it failed to chart, and the UK, where it reached the lower end of the top forty. After the release of Concrete Rose, Ashanti released the DVD Ashanti: The Making of a Star, which was available only for a limited time. The deluxe DVD includes an exclusive photo and video shoot footage, music from the albums Ashanti, Chapter II×Chapter II30 June 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Intro (medley)1:192Shany's World3:063Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)3:294What Are They Gonna Say Now (skit)0:315Breakup 2 Makeup3:416I Found Lovin'4:157Rain on Me4:588Then Ya Gone5:009Living My Life3:4710Black Child (skit)1:2811Feel So Good4:3212Carry On3:1513The Sugar Shack (skit)1:1014The Story of 24:3415Ohhh Ahhh4:3616Shany Shia (skit)1:1217Sweet Baby4:0818U Say, I Say4:0919I Don't Mind5:0520Outro0:58 and Concrete Rose, special concert footage, unreleased childhood school performances, and behind-the-scenes interviews with family, friends, and fans.
In 2005, Ashanti focused more on her acting career, making her feature film acting debut in the film Coach Carter alongside Samuel L. Jackson, as well as starring as Dorothy Gale in the made-for-television film The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, which pulled in nearly 8 million viewers when it premiered. She sang "When I'm with You" for the film which was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in the Outstanding Music and Lyrics category. In Coach Carter, she played a pregnant teenager named Kyra who has to decide whether or not to abort her unborn child. The movie opened at number-one at the U.S. box office, eventually grossing $67 million domestically. Later in 2005, Ashanti was invited to Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball, which honored some of the most influential and legendary African American women of the twentieth century in the fields of art, entertainment, and civil rights. In December 2005, Ashanti released a remix album of Concrete Rose titled Collectables by Ashanti×Collectables by Ashanti6 December 2005 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Still on It3:492Only U (remix)4:133I Love You4:234Rain on Me (remix)5:155Still Down (remix)4:376Show You3:307I Found It in You3:368Breakup 2 Makeup (remix)3:449Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (remix)3:5210Focus (remix)3:26. The album was an opportunity for her to fulfill her contract with Def Jam (and have the option of working with another label). It did not fare well on the charts.
In 2006, she starred in the teen comedy John Tucker Must Die, which opened and peaked at number three at the U.S. box office (competing with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Miami Vice) and grossed $68,818,076 worldwide. In 2007, she played a supporting role in the action film Resident Evil: Extinction (2007).

2008–2010: The Declaration, departure from The Inc. and The Wiz

Her fourth studio album, The Declaration×The Declaration3 June 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Intro1:052The Way That I Love You4:273You're Gonna Miss3:144So Over You4:005Struggle4:356Girlfriend3:307Things You Make Me Do4:288In These Streets4:249Good Good3:3710Body on Me3:2011Mother5:1012Shine3:4013The Declaration3:55, was released on June 3, 2008, and sold 86,000 units its first week of release, which were the lowest first-week sales for any of Ashanti's studio albums. In mid-2007, MTV News reported that the first single from The Declaration was "Switch", which was produced by Shy Carter and released digitally in the United States on July 24, 2007. It was later reported that "Switch" may not be included on the album's track listing, and that the first single would be "Hey Baby (After the Club)×Hey Baby (After the Club)26 October 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hey Baby (After the Club)4:30" it was released to radio and digital outlets on October 16. The song, which does not appear on the U.S. editions of the album, peaked at number eighty-seven on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "The Way That I Love You×The Way That I Love You1 February 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The Way That I Love You (main version)4:30", was released to radio and digital outlets in January 2008, and was referred to as the "first single" in press material and media reports.
It reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number thirty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Ashanti's first song to reach the top forty since "Only U×Only U2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Only U (Clean)" in 2004. "Body On Me" was recorded not only for Ashanti's The Declaration, but also for Nelly's fifth studio album Brass Knuckles. The track is produced by Akon and Giorgio Tuinfort. It went to number one on Billboard's Hot Videoclip Tracks chart in its first week, becoming the first number-one single from Nelly's album."Good Good×Good Good2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Good Good3:40" was released to urban radio stations on July 16, 2008. The song contains elements of Elton John's 1974 single "Bennie and the Jets", and has the same melody arrangement as Michael Jackson's "The Girl Is Mine". In July 2008, Ashanti was named an ambassador of tourism for Nassau County, Long Island.
In May 2009, Irv Gotti announced that he was officially releasing Ashanti from The Inc. Records, stating that "The relationship has run its course. The chemistry of what's needed—we're in two totally different places. You're talking to somebody that took her and shaped and molded her and put her out there for the world, and it blew up. We [hold the record] for the [fastest] selling debut by a female R&B artist—503 [thousand]. We did it! My views and philosophies and her views and philosophies are not meeting up." Gotti also admitted that he and Ashanti have not spoken to each other in a long time. A representative for Ashanti did not respond. On September 24, 2009, Ashanti announced her fifth studio album would be released from her new label, Written Entertainment.
Ashanti headlined the cast of The Wiz in the New York City Center Encores! Summer Stars staging from June 12 to July 5, 2009. Ashanti's role as Dorothy has since received mixed reviews from critics as most praised her vocals but was less pleased with her acting ability. BET and Entertainment Weekly both praised the singer's performance as The New York Post and New York Times gave lukewarm reviews. Though the first night was sold out, some of the other shows were unable to follow its success. On October 27, 2008, Ashanti took part in The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken, a one night only concert to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Wicked, featuring songs written by Stephen Schwartz, that were cut from the show.

2011–2014: Hiatus and Braveheart

After a four-year hiatus, Ashanti released the song "Never Too Far Away×Never Too Far AwaySeptember 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Never Too Far Away5:26", which was featured in Morgan Creek's film Dream House starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz with Naomi Watts. The lead single from her fifth studio album, "The Woman You Love" featuring American rapper Busta Rhymes, was released online on December 15, 2011. Ashanti teamed up with Meek Mill and French Montana for the second single "No One Greater", which was produced by 7 Aurelius, Irv Gotti and Chink Santana. In April 2013, she released another single called "Never Should Have×Never Should Have26 March 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Never Should Have3:59", which later won "Best Independent R&B/Soul Performance" at the 2013 Soul Train Awards. A music video for the track was also released.
In November 2012, it was reported that she had landed her first series regular role in the seventh season of Army Wives, playing Latasha Montclair. The series was canceled on September 24, 2013. In the fall of 2013, she appeared in a guest spot on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit alongside Clay Aiken and Taylor Hicks. She also starred in the Lifetime film Christmas in the City which premiered on December 7, 2013.
In August 2013, Ashanti announced her plans to once again work with Ja Rule, who'd been released from prison in July of that year following a six-year sentence stemming from a gun charge. On January 8, 2014, she revealed the official cover art and release date for Braveheart, her fifth album, which was released on March 4, 2014. In January 2014, Ashanti shot the video for the official first single from Braveheart titled "I Got It" featuring Rick Ross. The video was shot in Miami, Florida, and was directed by Eif Rivera. In July, Ashanti announced that the second official single from BraveHeart would be "Early in the Morning×Early In The Morning2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Early In The Morning4:08" featuring French Montana. Upon release, the album garnered favorable reviews, with music critics describing Braveheart's sound as an "evolution of R&B" and praising the themes of empowerment but criticizing the romantic clichés and lack of interesting moments on the album. On the charts, Braveheart opened at number ten in the U.S. Billboard 200, becoming Ashanti's fifth consecutive top-ten album, as well as her first Independent Albums chart-topper. It also debuted in the top thirty of the UK R&B Albums Chart and top-forty of the UK Indie Albums Chart.

2015–present: Collaborations

In 2015, she announced that she had worked on new music for her seventh album, with an unknown release date. Ashanti collaborated with Michelle Obama for her #Let'sMove campaign to spread awareness of drinking water with her new video and song "Let's Go×Let's Go2 December 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Let's Go2:54" released in 2015. In 2016, she collaborated on the song "Seven Day Love" included in the album "Inzombia" by Canadian singer Belly. She has also worked with numerous artists, including Sia, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Queen Latifah, Usher and Kelly Clarkson to interpret the songs of the Broadway musical "Hamilton" for the compilation "The Hamilton Mixtape".
In 2017, Ashanti announced her seventh studio album, revealing it would be released in 2018. She denied this in June 2018, confirming the future release of an album in collaboration with rapper Ja Rule. Between 2017 and 2018 she returned to the music scene with several collaborations including the single "Say Less" with Ty Dolla Sign, the track "The Road" by Machel Montano, and the song "Start This Shit Off Right" with Mack Maine, from the album "Tha Carter V" by Lil Wayne.
Ashanti released the collaboration "Pretty Little Thing×Pretty Little Thing2019 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Pretty Little Thing2:53" with Afro B in August 2019. She was also featured on the soundtrack of the film Stuck, which she produced. In November 2019, Ashanti guest-starred as herself in two episodes of the third season of The CW's Dynasty reboot: "Mother, I'm At La Mirage" and "Something Desperate".
In January 2021, Ashanti released her single "2:35 (I Want You)×2:35 (I Want You)21 January 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track12:35 (I Want You)3:51". On March 10, 2022, Ashanti's single "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)×Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)1 January 2003 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Album Version [Clean])3:402Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Instrumental)3:413Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Taz & Vanguard Remix)4:254Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Jay Hannan Lazy Dog Mix)6:34" was heavily sampled for British rapper Aitch's single "Baby". In October 2022, Ashanti was featured on Diddy’s “Gotta Move On” remix which also features Bryson Tiller and Yung Miami. In February 2024, she was featured on Jermaine Dupri's single "This Lil' Game We Play" alongside Nelly and Juicy J.

Artistry

Ashanti has a lyric soprano voice type. Critics have referred to her voice as "pretty" and her soprano as "sultry" and "sweet but slight". Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic noted her reputation for using her "swooning voice" in duets with Big Pun, Fat Joe, and Ja Rule. As a young girl, Ashanti was influenced by Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Tupac Shakur, but she cites Mary J. Blige as the main reason she wanted to pursue a singing career. Further musical influences include Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Smokey Robinson, Donna Summer, and Blue Magic.

Philanthropy

In 2003, Ashanti partnered with LidRock and the San Francisco-based Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to distribute the "Rain on Me×Rain on Me20 October 2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Rain on Me (Album Version)5:002Rain on Me (Melbeatz Radio Remix)3:163Rain on Me (Full Phatt Remix)3:384I Know (Album Version)4:41" mini-movie using LidRock's unique platform. Proceeds from the $5 mini-disc went towards helping to stop domestic violence. Ashanti also recorded a public service announcement that appeared in more than 4,000 film screens and reached millions of people. Ashanti also gives back by raising money for sickle cell research and she is active in helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation stating, "I'll go and do just about anything for them." In 2005, Ashanti helped by recording public service announcement and raising money for the Southeast Asia tsunami disaster. Later that year, she helped raise money for the Hurricane Katrina victims and storm evacuees.

In November 2009, Ashanti joined the crew of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. In the episode, which aired on January 24, 2010, the singer assisted in the rebuilding of the Powell Family home in Buffalo, New York. The efforts from the show expanded significantly to include not just the family home but the entire neighborhood surrounding it. In 2013, Ashanti featured on the 19-track compilation album Songs for a Healthier America, a collaborative project by the Partnership for a Healthier America, whose honorary chair is Michelle Obama, and Hip Hop Public Health. Her song "Just Believe" also featured Artie Green, Gerry Gunn, Robbie Nova and Chauncey Hawkins. Additionally, she is affiliated with the Jumpstart reading program, the Tupperware Brand and the Boys and Girls Club of America.

Personal life

Ashanti dated Nelly from 2003 to 2013 after meeting at the 2003 Grammy Awards. The two began dating again in 2023. In December 2023, it was reported that the couple were expecting their first child together and had married on December 27, 2023. In April 2024, Ashanti confirmed her pregnancy and the couple's engagement in Essence magazine. On July 18, 2024, the couple welcomed their first child, a boy named Kareem Kenkaide Haynes. In 2025, she and Nelly began starring in their own reality series, Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together.