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. Wonderful—with Ja Rule and R. Kelly—peaked 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 release—Switch featuring Nelly, and Hey Baby (After the Club) featuring Mario Winans—did 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 — 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 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 clichés 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, “Say Less” feat. Ty Dolla $ign.
Body On Me
Ashanti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the one I want to spend this night with
Trying to get in them drawers and bang it out 'til the morning (the morning)
I can already tell you want it
'Cause you shaking it all for me, giving it all to me
Rubbing that body on me
Keep on shaking it all for me, giving it all to me
Rubbing that body on me (I'm lovin' that)
Hey how you doing mama?
I need to know your name
You giving me the eye eye
I'm giving you the same
It just hit me right now
What we should do today?
Go tell you friends bye bye
And lets go hop a plane
It's no mistaken the attraction's ironic
I wanna make you someone more then just a a bone in my closet
I wanna win that type of relationship
Where you gon' wanna come hang when your man done trip
You say your short this month and you're late on your rent
He took your car, what you mean? Hold this
yeah yeah, uh, whoa
You see lil mama outta control and I'm just sayin'
The way that you walking, the way that you talking (talking)
You're the one I want to spend this night with
Trying to get in them drawers and bang it out 'til the morning (the morning)
I can already tell you want it
'Cause you shaking it all for me, giving it all to me
Rubbing that body on me
Keep on shaking it all for me, giving it all to me
Rubbing that body on me (I'm lovin' that)
Shawty movin' closer (ay), and closer (ay)
And slower (ay), and lower, yeah
I think she know she makin me hard
Got every man in the buildin like, "Oh my God"
She, slicker than lodi-dodi, she work her body body
When you done here at the party, meet me down there in the lobby
And I'll be waitin' on ya, ain't no debatin' on ya
I got a seat for ya, we can let the top back and go
We don't have to stop girl, no
I got a lil' somethin' I wanna show
Believe me, it's strong
Lil' mama please don't make me wait too long (yeah yeah)
The way that you walking, the way that you talking (talking)
You're the one I want to spend this night with
Trying to get in them drawers and bang it out 'til the morning (the morning)
I can already tell you want it
'Cause you shaking it all for me, giving it all to me
Rubbing that body on me
Keep on shaking it all for me, giving it all to me
Rubbing that body on me
Now I see you lookin' at my body baby
Now you wanna come and put it on me
If I gave it to you, could you promise me
That you could make it feel like it never did?
'Cause I see you (I see you), and you see me (you see me)
Now if I please you (I please you), could you please me? (you please me)
Now I ain't the one in no relationship
And I ain't tryna be the other chick
I know you want it
The way that you walking, the way that you talking (talking)
You're the one I want to spend this night with
Trying to get in them drawers and bang it out 'til the morning (the morning)
I can already tell you want it
'Cause you shaking it all for me, giving it all to me
Rubbing that body on me
Keep on shaking it all for me, giving it all to me
Rubbing that body on me
The lyrics to Ashanti's song "Body On Me" are about sexual desire and attraction. The singer is describing a woman who is provocative and confident, and who has caught his eye. He wants to spend the night with her, and he can tell that she wants it too, based on the way she is dancing and touching him. He asks her to come away with him and leave her friends behind, suggesting they get on a plane together. He describes her as "out of control" and says he wants to establish a real relationship with her, not just something casual. The chorus repeats the idea of her rubbing her body on him, with him loving it.
The second verse goes into more detail about their attraction. He describes how she is moving closer to him and how she is making him feel physically aroused. He invites her to meet him somewhere more private, perhaps in a hotel lobby, and promises that he has something to show her. He asks her not to make him wait too long.
Overall, the lyrics to "Body On Me" are pretty explicit in their depiction of sexual attraction and desire. While there is a suggestion that the singer wants something more substantial with this woman, there is also a sense that this encounter is primarily physical. The use of phrases like "bang it out till the morning" and "rubbing that body on me" leaves little room for ambiguity.
Line by Line Meaning
The way that you walking, the way that you talking (talking)
I find your walk and your talk very attractive
You're the one I want to spend this night with
I want to spend the night with you, and only you
Trying to get in them drawers and bang it out 'til the morning (the morning)
I want to have sex with you all night long
I can already tell you want it
I can tell from your actions that you want me too
'Cause you shaking it all for me, giving it all to me
You are dancing and grinding on me, and it feels like you are offering yourself to me
Rubbing that body on me
You are touching and pressing your body against mine
Keep on shaking it all for me, giving it all to me
Please continue to dance and grind on me, and keep giving yourself to me
Rubbing that body on me (I'm lovin' that)
I am enjoying your physical touch and your seductive dance moves
Hey how you doing mama?
Excuse me, can I talk to you for a moment?
I need to know your name
Can you please tell me your name?
You giving me the eye eye
I can tell from your gaze that you are interested in me
I'm giving you the same
I am also interested in you, and I am checking you out too
It just hit me right now
I just realized something
What we should do today?
I have an idea for something we could do together today
Go tell you friends bye bye
Let's leave your friends and go somewhere private
And lets go hop a plane
Let's go on a trip together
It's no mistaken the attraction's ironic
It's clear that we are attracted to each other, and it's a funny coincidence
I wanna make you someone more then just a a bone in my closet
I don't want you to just be a hookup, I want to have a real relationship with you
I wanna win that type of relationship
I want to earn your love and make you want to be with me
Where you gon' wanna come hang when your man done trip
I want to be the person you turn to when your boyfriend is causing you problems
You say your short this month and you're late on your rent
I know you are going through financial troubles
He took your car, what you mean? Hold this
I can help you out by giving you some money
You see lil mama outta control and I'm just sayin'
You can see that I am acting wild and daring, but I'm just being honest with you
Shawty movin' closer (ay), and closer (ay)
You are slowly moving closer and closer to me
And slower (ay), and lower, yeah
You are moving in a seductive and suggestive way
I think she know she makin me hard
I am getting sexually aroused by your movements
Got every man in the buildin like, "Oh my God"
Other men in the room are noticing your sexy dance moves and are also being drawn to you
She, slicker than lodi-dodi, she work her body body
You are very skilled at moving your body in a sexy way
When you done here at the party, meet me down there in the lobby
After the party is over, let's meet in the lobby and continue this flirtation
And I'll be waitin' on ya, ain't no debatin' on ya
I am eager to continue this with you, and I don't need any convincing
I got a seat for ya, we can let the top back and go
I have a car, and we can take a ride together and have some fun
We don't have to stop girl, no
We can keep going and have a good time
I got a lil' somethin' I wanna show
I have a surprise for you that I think you'll like
Believe me, it's strong
Trust me, it's something you'll really enjoy
Lil' mama please don't make me wait too long (yeah yeah)
I really want this to happen, so please don't keep me waiting too long
Now I see you lookin' at my body baby
I can tell that you are checking me out
Now you wanna come and put it on me
Now you want to engage in physical intimacy with me
If I gave it to you, could you promise me
If we had sex, could you promise me something?
That you could make it feel like it never did?
Could you make me feel like I've never felt before?
'Cause I see you (I see you), and you see me (you see me)
We are both attracted to each other and we can both sense it
Now if I please you (I please you), could you please me? (you please me)
If we have sex and it's good for you, can you make sure it's good for me too?
Now I ain't the one in no relationship
Just to be clear, I am not in a committed relationship right now
And I ain't tryna be the other chick
And I am not interested in being someone's secret side piece
I know you want it
I am aware that you are attracted to me and want to have sex with me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Aliaune Thiam, Cornell Haynes, Giorgio Hesdey Tuinfort, Ashanti S. Douglas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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