Ashanti is most famous for her eponymous Grammy Award-winning debut album Ashanti which featured the hit song Foolish. The album set a Soundscan record as the most albums sold by any first-time female artist in the chart's history, outselling debuts by Alicia Keys and Lauryn Hill. Later that year, she was acclaimed as the "Princess of Hip-Hop & 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. Blige and Ella Fitzgerald 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 an independent artist on her own record label entitled Written Entertainment.
It was when she was noticed by Murder Inc. mastermind Irv Gotti that Ashanti began to blossom. Gotti noted her dancing and acting abilities in addition to her vocal skills. In 2001, 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 Caddillac 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 appeared as a background vocalist on I'm Real (Murder Remix), a collaboration by labelmate Ja Rule and Jennifer Lopez (she also appeared in the music video for Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix), the 2nd duet between Lopez & Rule), and was featured on Fat Joe's What's Luv? and Ja Rule's Always on Time. What's Luv? and Always on Time were released simultaneously and became two of the biggest hit songs of 2002. Ashanti became the first female to occupy the top two positions on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart when Always on Time and What's Luv? were number-one and number-two respectively.
Following the success of her collaborations with Ja Rule and Fat Joe, Ashanti released her debut single, Foolish, which contained a sample of the 1983 song Stay With Me by DeBarge (also utilized by Notorious B.I.G. in his 1995 hit One More Chance). She became the second artist (after the 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, selling over 503,000 copies in its first week (the most successful first week sales for a debut R&B female artist up through that point--record later broken by Mary J. Blige's The Breakthrough). The album has been certified 3x platinum in the U.S and platinum (300,000 copies) in the UK. The album has sold over 6.5 million copies worldwide. Ashanti penned all 12 songs on the album, most written on-the-spot in the studio.
Ashanti's follow-up singles, Happy and Baby, were not as successful as her debut single but did peak in the top ten and top twenty in the U.S. respectively. During the summer of 2002, Ashanti appeared on Ja Rule's Down 4 U with labelmates, female rappers Vita and Charli Baltimore. The song appeared on a Murder Inc. compilation titled Irv Gotti Presents The Inc. Ashanti's debut album earned her many awards including eight Billboard Music Awards, two American Music Awards, a Lady of Soul Award for "Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year," and a Grammy Award.
In July 2003, Ashanti released her second album, Chapter II, 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 1.5 million copies in U.S. The album's success was somewhat eclipsed, however, by all the negative drama surrounding the Murder Inc. camp at the time (i.e., the FBI investigation and the G-Unit feuding). Chapter II's first single, Rock wit U (Awww Baby), 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 named Bubbles, 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, 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. At the end of 2003 in November, Ashanti performed at The American Music Awards and was nominated in two categories.
In November 2003, Ashanti's Christmas album, Ashanti's Christmas was released. The album containing 10 Christmas songs, six classic covers and four she wrote herself. To coincide with the release Ashanti premiered a Christmas Medley video for the album. While on BET's 106 & Park, Ashanti said the concept of the Christmas Album came from a guest spot she did on Steve Harvey's radio show. While playing a game with Stevie Wonder, he began playing Christmas medleys on the piano and Ashanti began singing them, giving her label head the idea to push for a Christmas Album. Ashanti went into the studio to record the album during the summer of 2003. According to soundscan, the album sold just around 100,000 units in the U.S.
Before Concrete Rose was released, Ashanti did some major promotion for her single Only U, when she premiered it at the 2004 Vibe Music Awards. In 2004, Ashanti was invited back to perform at VH1's Divas 2004. She appeared on stage with Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Jessica Simpson, and others. She performed Diana Ross' single "I'm Coming Out", and she performed a soul-influenced rendition of Chaka Khan's funk driven "Ain't Nobody. Later that year Ashanti collaborated with male R&B newcomer and labelmate Lloyd on the song Southside, which was released as his debut single and was a moderate hit. Wonderfulโwith Ja Rule and R. Kellyโpeaked at number five in the U.S. and at number one in the UK, and Jimmy Choo with rapper Shyne reached number fifty-five on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. Alongside artist such as Wyclef Jean, Mary J. Blige, Eve, Brandy, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Missy Elliott, and many others, Ashanti participated in a cover of "Wake Up Everybody" in support of ACT, the left-leaning political action committee.
In December 2004, Ashanti released her third studio album, Concrete Rose, 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; according to Nielsen SoundScan, it has sold 871,000 copies. The first single, the gold-certified 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, 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. Ashanti used her own money to deliver the second video to her fans, with Gotti acting as director. 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. In 2005, Ashanti graced the stage at the MTV Japan Music Awards, where she performed her hit single, Only U. She also won a Style award during the show. She performed alongside huge acts like Mariah Carey and Korean star Rain.
In December 2005, Ashanti released a remix album of Concrete Rose titled Collectables by Ashanti. It features six remixes of previously released tracks and four newly recorded songs, including the single Still on It, which features rappers Paul Wall and Method Man. The album was an opportunity for her to fulfill her contract with Def Jam (and have the option of working with another label), and did not fare well on the charts.
Her fourth studio album, The Declaration, was released on June 3, 2008. Ashanti ventured out and acquired producers and collaborators primarily outside The Inc. for the first time. She said the album was a representation of the freedom she felt she had at that time in her career. "I'm steering my own ship and taking the lead on everything. You can definitely hear the growth; I'm working with producers I've never worked with before". Irv Gotti was quoted as saying, "she's having her little Janet Jackson Control moment. Every artist has their moment when they feel they need to take over their own music and this is hers".
The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 with sales of 86,000 copies, Ashanti's lowest first-week sales for a studio album. As of September 2008, The Declaration had sold 230,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. Two singles released during 2007 in advance of the album's releaseโSwitch featuring Nelly, and Hey Baby (After the Club) featuring Mario Winansโdid not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Hey Baby (After the Club) reached number eighty-seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and the third single, the L. T. Hutton-produced The Way That I Love You, reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and peaked at number thirty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The final single, the Jermaine Dupri-produced Good Good, became a minor urban hit, peaking at number thirty on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Also featured on The Declaration is the Nelly collaboration Body on Me, which is the third single from his 2008 album Brass Knuckles.
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 โ 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 โ 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 rep for Ashanti did not respond.
BraveHeart, her fifth album on March 4, 2014. 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 clichรฉs and lack of interesting moments on the album. On the charts, Braveheart opened at number ten on 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.
In 2017, she announced her seventh studio album, set to be released in 2018 or 2019. On November 6, 2017, she released the first single, โSay Lessโ feat. Ty Dolla $ign.
Ashanti
Ashanti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mic is on
Joe Crack the Don uh
Yeah, Yeah, y'all
Irv Gotti
What's love?
It should be about us
Be about trust
[Chorus]
What's love? (Got to do, got to do with it babe)
What's love?
It's about us (It's about us)
It's about trust babe (Be about trust)
What's love? (Got to do, got to do with it babe)
What's love?
It should be about us (It should be about us)
It should be about trust babe (Be about trust)
Slow down baby
Let you know from the gate I don't go down lady
I wanna chick with thick hips that licks her lips
She can be the office type or like to strip
Girl you get me aroused how you look in my eye
But you talk too much man your ruinin' my high
Don't wanna lose the feelin'
Cause the roof is chillin'
It's on fire and you lookin' good for the gettin'
I'm rida
Whether in a hoodie or a linen I'm a provider
You should see the jewelery on my women
And I'm livin' it up
The squad stay feelin' the truck
With Chicks that's willin' to triz with us uh
You say you got a man and you're in love
But what's love gotta do with a little menage
After the party just me and you
Could just slide for a few and she could come too
[Chorus]
Mami I know you got issues
You got a man but you need to understand
That you got something with you
Ass is fat, frame is little
Tattoo on your chest with his name in the middle
Uh, I'm not a hater I just crush a lot
And the way you shake your booty I don't want you to stop
You Need to come a little closer (closer)
And let me put you under my arm like a Don is supposed to
Please believe, you leave with me
We'd be freakin' all night like we was on E
You need to trust the god and jump in the car
For a little hard 8 at the Taj Mahal
[Chorus]
Yo I stroll in the club with my hat down
Michael Jack style, high steppin' who the mack now?
Not my fault that they love the kid
Might be the chain or the whip, I don't know what it is
We just party and bullshit
Come on mommy put your body in motion
You gotta nigga open
You came here with the heart to cheat
So you need to sing the song with me
All my ladies come on
When I look in your eyes there's no stopin' me
I want the Don Joey Crack on top of me (Uh-huh)
Don't want your stacks (Yeah)
Just break my back (Uh)
Gonna cut you no slack (Whoo)
'Cause I'm on it like that (Uh, come on)
Come on (Yeah, Yeah, y'all) and put it on me (Yeah, yeah y'all)
On me (I'm put it on ya girl)
[Chorus: x2]
The song "What's Love?" by Ashanti featuring Fat Joe is a sensual, upbeat track that primarily deals with love, trust, and lust. In the song, Ashanti questions the meaning of love and emphasizes that it revolves around "us" and "trust." She talks about how a woman's physical attributes can turn a man on but also criticizes the same woman when she talks too much, ruining the vibe. Fat Joe's verse, on the other hand, is about his desire for the woman, despite being aware of her relationship and affirms that she should trust him and come with him. The two artists come together in the chorus questioning what love really is, and emphasizing that it should be about them and trust.
Overall, "What's Love?" is a catchy and memorable song with a fun vibe, and its lyrics speak to the complexities and often blurry lines of love, lust, and trust.
Interesting Facts :
Line by Line Meaning
Put the fuckin' mic on
Request to turn on the microphone
Mic is on
Confirmation that the microphone is turned on
Joe Crack the Don uh
Referring to the artist Joey Crack
Yeah, Yeah, y'all
Expression of excitement or enthusiasm
Irv Gotti
Referring to the record producer Irv Gotti
What's love?
Question about the meaning of love
Ashanti, Terror, Terror Squad
Referring to the artists performing the song
It should be about us
Love should focus on the couple
Be about trust
Love should involve trust between partners
What's love? (Got to do, got to do with it babe)
Reiteration of the previous question about the meaning of love
It's about us (It's about us)
Love should focus on the couple
It's about trust babe (Be about trust)
Love should involve trust between partners
Slow down baby
Suggestion to take it easy or calm down
Let you know from the gate I don't go down lady
Clarifying personal boundaries and preferences
I wanna chick with thick hips that licks her lips
Expressing physical preferences in a partner
She can be the office type or like to strip
Acceptance of different kinds of professions or lifestyles
Girl you get me aroused how you look in my eye
Admiration of a woman's appearance or behavior
But you talk too much man your ruinin' my high
Complaint about excessive talking or behavior
Don't wanna lose the feelin'
Desire to maintain a positive or affectionate mood
'Cause the roof is chillin'
Implying a pleasant atmosphere or vibe
It's on fire and you lookin' good for the gettin'
Implying a lively or exciting event, and a desire for someone
I'm rida
Referring to being a rider or supporter
Whether in a hoodie or a linen I'm a provider
Asserting that the singer can provide for a partner regardless of their appearance
You should see the jewelery on my women
Boasting about the jewelry worn by the women associated with the artist
And I'm livin' it up
Celebrating a successful or enjoyable lifestyle
The squad stay feelin' the truck
Squad members enjoy being in the singer's vehicle
With Chicks that's willin' to triz with us uh
Implying that women are interested in engaging in sexually adventurous behavior with the singer and his companions
You say you got a man and you're in love
Recognizing the relationship status of an individual
But what's love gotta do with a little menage
Questioning the relevance of love in a sexual encounter between multiple people
After the party just me and you
Suggesting a private encounter after a social event
Could just slide for a few and she could come too
Suggesting a sexual encounter involving three people
Mami I know you got issues
Acknowledgment of potential problems or complications in the woman's life
You got a man but you need to understand
Highlighting the relationship status of the woman and implying that she needs to accept certain opportunities
That you got something with you
Suggesting that the woman possesses desirable qualities or traits
Ass is fat, frame is little
Complimenting the woman's physical appearance
Tattoo on your chest with his name in the middle
Identifying a visible tattoo on the woman's chest
Uh, I'm not a hater I just crush a lot
Emphasizing that the singer is not envious or resentful, but is highly interested
And the way you shake your booty I don't want you to stop
Appreciating the woman's dancing or movement
You Need to come a little closer (closer)
Suggesting physical proximity
And let me put you under my arm like a Don is supposed to
Boasting about appropriate behavior or customs related to status or authority
Please believe, you leave with me
Assuming that the woman will choose to spend time with the artist
We'd be freakin' all night like we was on E
Suggesting intense and prolonged sexual activity
You need to trust the god and jump in the car
Encouraging the woman to trust and take action with the singer
For a little hard 8 at the Taj Mahal
Suggesting a trip to a luxury hotel and a sexual encounter
Yo I stroll in the club with my hat down
Describing the artist's appearance and attitude
Michael Jack style, high steppin' who the mack now?
Referencing Michael Jackson's dance style and asserting the artist's charm and attractiveness
Not my fault that they love the kid
Asserting that the singer is popular and attractive
Might be the chain or the whip, I don't know what it is
Joking about the reasons for the artist's popularity or attractiveness
We just party and bullshit
Describing the singer's preferred activities
Come on mommy put your body in motion
Encouraging a woman to dance or move her body
You gotta nigga open
Suggesting that the woman is attractive to the singer
You came here with the heart to cheat
Implying infidelity on the part of the woman
So you need to sing the song with me
Suggesting that the woman should participate in the artist's endeavors
When I look in your eyes there's no stopin' me
Suggesting that the woman's eyes are captivating or attractive to the singer
I want the Don Joey Crack on top of me (Uh-huh)
Expressing sexual desire for the singer
Don't want your stacks (Yeah)
Implying that the artist is not interested in the woman's money
Just break my back (Uh)
Expressing desire for sexual activity
Gonna cut you no slack (Whoo)
Asserting that the artist is serious or intense
'Cause I'm on it like that (Uh, come on)
Emphasizing the singer's enthusiasm or intention
Come on (Yeah, Yeah, y'all) and put it on me (Yeah, yeah y'all)
Encouraging the woman to engage in sexual activity with the artist
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management
Written by: IRVING LORENZO, ANDRE PARKER, GRAHAM LYLE, JEFFREY ATKINS, CHRISTOPHER RIOS, JOSEPH CARTAGENA, TERRENCE BRITTEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ComeliaO7
โSee, when I get the strength to leave
You always tell me that you need me
And I'm weak 'cause I believe you
And I'm mad because I love you
So I stop and think that maybe
You can learn to appreciate me
Then it all remains the same
That you ain't never gonna changeโ
13 years old, and used to sing that part with my whole chest like I was really going through something. Never thought I would eventually live it. ๐๐
@shelleyrnphilippe2826
When Ashanti said โ See, when I get the strength to leave
You always tell me that you need me
And I'm weak 'cause I believe you
And I'm mad because I love you
So I stop and think that maybe
You can learn to appreciate me
Then it all remains the same
That you ain't never gonna changeโ
I felt that shit!๐ฉ ๐๐๐
@Imalostboy
See my days are cold without you
But I'm hurtin while im with you
And though my heart can't take no more
I keep on running back to you
See my days are cold without you
But I'm hurtin while im with you
And though my heart can't take no more
I keep on running back to you
Baby I don't know why ya treatin me so bad
You said you love me, no one above me
And I was all you had
And though my heart is eating for ya
I can't stop crying
I don't know how
I allow you to treat me this way and still i stay
See my days are cold without you
But I'm hurtin while im with you
And though my heart can't take no more
I keep on running back to you
See my days are cold without you
But I'm hurtin while im with you
And though my heart can't take no more
I keep on running back to you
Baby I don't know why ya wanna do me wrong
See when I'm home, I'm all alone
And you are always gone
And boy, you kno I really love you
I can't deny
I can't see how you could bring me to so many tears
after all these years
See my days are cold without you
But I'm hurtin while im with you
And though my heart can't take no more
I keep on running back to you
See my days are cold without you
But I'm hurtin while im with you
And though my heart can't take no more
I keep on running back to you
Oohhhhh
I trusted you, I trusted you
So sad, so sad
what love will make you do
all the things that we accept
be the things that we regret
too all of my ladies (ladies) feel me
c'mon sing wit me
See, when I get the strength to leave
You always tell me that you need me
And I'm weak cause I believe you
And I'm mad because I love you
So I stop and think that maybe
You can learn to appreciate me
Then it all remains the same that
You ain't never gonna change
(never gonna change, never gonna change)
See my days are cold without you
But I'm hurtin while im with you
And though my heart can't take no more
I keep on running back to you
See my days are cold without you
Butm hurtin while im with you
And though my heart can't take no more
I keep on running back to you
Baby why you hurt me leave me and desert me
Boy I gave you all my heart
And all you do is tear it up
Looking out my window
Knowing that I should go
Even when I pack my bags
This something always hold me back
@Naptural85
woo chile, had to cleanse my palette, my GAWD
@cphillipsmhadoctoralcandid9366
@Naturale85, sis this chic destroyed our girl song and didnโt change it to โcoverโ until she started getting drag. I hope she know she still can get sued because sheโs making money off the song. FYI, I just purchased your black soap shampoo โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
@anastasiajadore5693
Crystal Phillips, MHA fr
@user-sc9wp5vb1r
On Gawd!๐ฉ๐คฃ
@lolalre
Omg I love your videos. Didn't think i'll see you in the comments of this song lol. Also same, I came here to hear the original masterpiece
@natoshaclark338
SAME
@atozy
who's here after Danielle Cohn claimed this as her own
@dashiesbbgurl
Love your vids atozy ๐คฃ๐ฅ
@snfpat8101
Love ur vids bro ๐
@crunchgirl6787
Omg canโt wait for you to make a vid about this