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.
Down 4 U
Ashanti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna be down for you
Do you trust me? (Yeah)
Love me? (Yeah)
You puttin' it on me?
You must be, your down-ass chick
I wanna be your chick
And only for the Rule, baby
Do anything you want me to
I'll be your down-ass chick (yo)
This is no intention of bein' offensive to women
By calling y'all bitches, my down-ass bitches
Still my queen, princess cuts look clean
On that finger next to the finger you flipped at me
And there's no in between me and you, only me and you
Who else gon' put it on ya like the Rule?
And God only looks after children and fools
And you're neither, so who gon' look after you?
Just Rule, baby
True baby, it's only for you baby
Vita thighs only divide if you inside, 'cause I
Love the way you touch me, nobody can get it
And if it's comin' or gunnin' just consider it's spittin'
So when you gone for a minute, I just fantasize
Like if it's you that's all in it, then I'm satisfied
'Til you come back to me, holdin' stacks and jewels
V-I-T-A and my nigga J-A Rule, baby
I wanna be your chick
I wanna be down for you
Do you trust me? (Yeah)
Love me? (Yeah)
You puttin' it on me?
You must be, your down-ass chick
I wanna be your chick
And only for the Rule, baby
I'll ride for you (yeah), die for you (yeah)
Do anything you want me to
I'll be your down-ass chick
I'm gonna be here when you need
Ooh, baby, can always count on me
And you don't ever have to worry (worry)
You know I'll make it in a hurry (hurry)
Here for you and I will never leave
Shed tears for you, 'cause boy you got to me
There'll never be another for me (for me)
You'll always be my one and only (only)
Baby girl, would you bust your gun with me? (Yeah, yeah)
Lie to the feds if they come get me? (Yeah, yeah)
And if I died, would you kill for me? (Yeah, yeah)
Do you trust in me? (Yeah, yeah)
Are you lovin' me? (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Yeah, let's get it, go in it like we Ashford and Simpson
Or Ike and Anna Mae on one of they good days
You smile like sun rays, five-five with brown eyes (smile)
With thick legs only for the Rule, baby
I wanna be your chick
I wanna be down for you
Do you trust me? (Yeah)
Love me? (Yeah)
You puttin' it on me?
You must be, your down-ass chick
I wanna be your chick
And only for the Rule, baby
I'll ride for you (yeah), die for you (yeah)
Do anything you want me to
I'll be your down-ass chick
Now baby, I told you I can show you better than I can tell
You blow trial, who bring commissaries
And mail you them sweet words and naked flicks?
I'm still that pretty, down, down-ass, two cars behind your six
And I detest any clown that's clockin' my round ass
Only a down-ass and it's all for you
I grown a tad bit since we've been at it like rabbits
The booty a lil' plumper and it's (all for Rule)
Shit, who gon' love you like that? Thug with you
With it stacked to the ceiling or splittin' a dub with you
'Cause I play my position with co-Ds, OGs
Until that bloodshed, blood red, or we OD
Remember every word that you told me
Show me, hold me
All you need in your life is Chuck, drugs, and dubs
Or twenty-twos, now tell me, who the honey for you? Chuck
I wanna be your chick
I wanna be down for you
Do you trust me? (Yeah)
Love me? (Yeah)
You puttin' it on me?
You must be, your down-ass chick
I wanna be your chick
And only for the Rule, baby
I'll ride for you (yeah), die for you (yeah)
Do anything you want me to
I'll be your down-ass chick
I wanna be your chick
I wanna be down for you
Do you trust me? (Yeah)
Love me? (Yeah)
You puttin' it on me?
You must be, your down-ass chick
I wanna be your chick
And only for the Rule, baby
I'll ride for you (yeah), die for you (yeah)
Do anything you want me to
I'll be your down-ass chick
The song "Down 4 U" by Ashanti featuring Ja Rule, Charli Baltimore, and Vita is a depiction of commitment and loyalty from a relationship perspective. The catchy chorus showcases Ashanti's desire to be Ja Rule's down ass chick, someone who is down to ride for him through thick and thin. The lyrics are candidly upfront and straightforward, especially in Ja Rule's verse, where he clearly states that he wants a woman who can put it on him like he does. The song highlights the chemistry between Ja Rule and Ashanti, who had collaborated on several other tracks and had become known for their musical partnership.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to be your chick
I want to be the woman you can rely on
I want to be down for you
I want to support and be there for you
(Do ya trust me?) Yeah
Do you have faith in me? Yes
(Love me?) Yeah
Do you love me? Yes
(You're puttin' it on me Ya must be)
You're investing in me, you must believe in me
Ya down ass chick
You're always there for your man
(It ain't only for the Rule baby)
It's not just about Ja Rule, it's about loyalty
I ride for you, Down for you
I'll be there to support you and have your back
Do anything ya want me to
I'll do everything I can to make you happy
I be ya down ass chick
I'll always have your back and be there for you
This chick no intentions of bein' offensive
I don't want to insult or offend anyone
The women by callin ya'll bitches
I won't refer to women as derogatory terms
My down ass bitches
The women who are always there to support me
Still my queen bitch's cut look clean
My favorite girl's hair looks great
On ya finger next to the finger ya flipped at me
You wear my ring on the same hand you used to flip me off
And this no in between me and you
It's just us and nobody else
Only me and you
Our relationship is exclusive to just us
Who else gon' put it on me like the RULE
Who else can fulfill me like Ja Rule can?
God only looks after children and foo's
God only watches over the innocent and foolish
And you not so who gon' look after you
And since you're not, who will protect you?
True baby
That's the truth, baby
It's only for you baby
I'm loyal to you
Vita thighs only divide if you beside
I'll only be intimate with you
'cause I love the way you touch me
I love the way you show me affection
Nobody can get it
I won't be intimate with anyone else
And if it's comin' and gunnin'
If trouble comes our way
Just come in it and spit it
We'll face it head-on and deal with it
So when ya gone for a minute
When you're away for a short period
I just fantasize like if it's you It's all in it
I imagine you're still here with me
Then I'm satisfied til' you come back to me
I'll be content until you return
Holdin stack and jewels
You bring back money and treasures
V-i-t-a and my nigga J-a RULE baby
It's just us, Ja Rule and Vita
I'm gonna be here when ya need
I'll always support you when you need me
Rule baby can always count on me
You can always depend on me, Ja Rule
No you don't ever have to worry
There's nothing for you to worry about
You know I'll make it in a hurry
I'll move quickly to help you out
I'm here for ya
I'm always here to support you
And I won't never leave tears for ya
I won't make you cry or hurt you
'Cause boy ya got to me
You've won my heart, boy
Babygirl would ya bust ya gun with me? [ Yeah yeah ]
Would you protect me? Yes
Lie to the feds to come get me? [ Yeah Yeah ]
Would you cover up for me if the authorities came? Yes
And if I died Kill for me? [ Yeah Yeah ]
Would you avenge me if I died? Yes
Are you trustin me? [ Yeah Yeah ]
Do you have faith in me? Yes
Are you lovin me? [ Yeah Yeah Yeah ]
Do you love me? Yes, very much
Yeah let's get it grinnin
Let's both be happy
Like we asked for the Simpsons or Ike and Anna Mehoe
Like we asked for good things in life
On one their good days
On our best days
You smile like sun rays 5'5 with brown eyes and thick legs
You make me happy just by being you
Only for the RULE baby
Only because of our loyalty to Ja Rule
[ Do ya trust me? ] Yeah
Do you trust me? Yes
[ Love me? ] Yeah
Do you love me? Yes
[ You're puttin' it on me Ya must be ]
You're investing in me, you must believe in me
[ It ain't only for the RULE baby ]
It's not just about Ja Rule, it's about loyalty
Now baby I told you I can show you better than I can tell you
I'll demonstrate my love rather than just saying it
Don't try to bring conversey and mail
Don't create conflict or cause drama
Just sweet words and naked photos
Just affectionate words and intimate photos
I'm still that pretty down down ass 2 cars behind ya 6
I'm still your attractive girl driving two cars behind your fancy car
And I diss any clown ass rockin my brown ass only a down ass
I'm not interested in anyone else, just you
And it's all for you
All my affection is for you
I'm grown a tad bit since we been at like rare bitches
I've matured since we first met
To move a little bumper and it's
To dance and have a good time
( Ja Rule - AND IT'S ALL FOR RULE )
It's all for Ja Rule
Shit Who gon' love you like that?
Who else will love you like I do?
Thug with you wit a stack to the ceilin
I'll be a gangster with you with plenty of cash
And spilt in the dub with you
We'll share blunts and get high together
'cause I played my position with KO-D's, O G's
I've been loyal and have done my part
Until that blood shed blood red and we O-Ded
Until the day we die
Remember every word that ya told me
I'll always remember what you've said to me
( Ja Rule - SHOWED ME HOLD ME )
Ja Rule has always helped and supported me
All you need in your life is Chuck, drugs, and dubs on 22's
All you need in life is me, drugs, and expensive cars
Now tell me who the hunny for you
Who else will satisfy you?
CHUCK
Chuck is my nickname or the nickname of someone else involved in the song
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andre L. Parker, Seven Marcus Aurelius, Larry Troutman, Roger Troutman, Ashanti Douglas, Jeffrey Atkins, Irving Domingo Lorenzo, Tiffany Lane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind