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 For U
Ashanti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to be your chick
I want to be down for you
(Do ya trust me?) Yeah
(Love me?) Yeah
(You're puttin' it on me Ya must be)
Ya down ass chick
I want to be your chick
I ride for you, Down for you
Do anything ya want me to
I be ya down ass chick
[Verse 1 - Ja Rule]
This chick no intentions of bein' offensive
The women by callin ya'll bitches
My down ass bitches
Still my queen bitch's cut look clean
On ya finger next to the finger ya flipped at me
And this no in between me and you
Only me and you
Who else gon' put it on me like the RULE
God only looks after children and foo's
And you not so who gon' look after you
It's RULE baby
[Verse 2 - Vita]
True baby
It's only for you baby
Vita thighs only divide if you beside
'cause I love the way you touch me
Nobody can get it
And if it's comin' and gunnin'
Just come in it and spit it
So when ya gone for a minute
I just fantasize like if it's you It's all in it
Then I'm satisfied til' you come back to me
Holdin stack and jewels
V-i-t-a and my nigga J-a RULE baby
[Chorus]
I want to be your chick
I want to be down for you
(Do ya trust me?) Yeah
(Love me?) Yeah
(You're puttin' it on me Ya must be)
Ya down ass chick
I want to be your chick
(It ain't only for the RULE baby)
I ride for you, Down for you
Do anything ya want me to
I be ya down ass chick
[Verse 3 - Ashanti]
I'm gonna be here when ya need
Rule baby can always count on me
No you don't ever have to worry
You know I'll make it in a hurry
I'm here for ya
And I won't never leave tears for ya
'Cause boy ya got to me
Nobody ever come before me
You'll always be my one and only
Ja Rule [ Ashanti ]
Babygirl would ya bust ya gun with me? [ Yeah yeah ]
Lie to the feds to come get me? [ Yeah Yeah ]
And if I died Kill for me? [ Yeah Yeah ]
Are you trustin me? [ Yeah Yeah ]
Are you lovin me? [ Yeah Yeah Yeah ]
Yeah let's get it grinnin
Like we asked for the Simpsons or Ike and Anna Mehoe
On one their good days
You smile like sun rays 5'5 with brown eyes and thick legs
Only for the RULE baby
Chorus
Ashanti [Ja Rule]
I want to be your chick
I want to be down for you
[ Do ya trust me? ] Yeah
[ Love me? ] Yeah
[ You're puttin' it on me Ya must be ]
Ya down ass chick
I want to be your chick
[ It ain't only for the RULE baby ]
I ride for you, Down for you
Do anything ya want me to
I be ya down ass chick
[ Verse 4 - Charli Baltimore ]
Now baby I told you I can show you better than I can tell you
Don't try to bring conversey and mail
Just sweet words and naked photos
I'm still that pretty down down ass 2 cars behind ya 6
And I diss any clown ass rockin my brown ass only a down ass
And it's all for you
I'm grown a tad bit since we been at like rare bitches
To move a little bumper and it's
( Ja Rule - AND IT'S ALL FOR RULE )
Shit Who gon' love you like that?
Thug with you wit a stack to the ceilin
And spilt in the dub with you
'cause I played my position with KO-D's, O G's
Until that blood shed blood red and we O-Ded
Remember every word that ya told me
( Ja Rule - SHOWED ME HOLD ME )
All you need in your life is Chuck, drugs, and dubs on 22's
Now tell me who the hunny for you
CHUCK
Chorus
Ashanti [Ja Rule]
I want to be your chick
I want to be down for you
[ Do ya trust me? ] Yeah
[ Love me? ] Yeah
[ You're puttin' it on me Ya must be ]
Ya down ass chick
I want to be your chick
[ It ain't only for the RULE baby ]
I ride for you, Down for you
Do anything ya want me to
I be ya down ass chick
Ashanti [Ja Rule]
I want to be your chick
I want to be down for you
[ Do ya trust me? ] Yeah
[ Love me? ] Yeah
[ You're puttin' it on me Ya must be ]
Ya down ass chick
I want to be your chick
[ It ain't only for the RULE baby ]
I ride for you, Down for you
Do anything ya want me to
I be ya down ass chick
The song "Down For U" by Ashanti is a collaboration with Ja Rule, Vita, and Charli Baltimore. Each artist takes turns expressing their loyalty and commitment to their partners, expressing a willingness to do anything for love. The song's chorus revolves around Ashanti's desire to be her partner's "chick" and be down for him, emphasizing trust and love. Ja Rule's verse talks about his rider, who is there for him no matter what and has his back. Vita follows up with her verse about her loyalty to her partner and her willingness to do anything for him, even if he's not around. Charli Baltimore concludes the song by pledging her devotion to her partner and her preparedness to do anything for him.
The lyrics of "Down For U" are all about loyalty and dedication in love. The song's message centers on being devoted to your partner and willing to do anything for them. The artists' powerful vocals and lyrics emphasize their commitment, transforming the song into a touching love letter to their respective partners. The backup melodies and groovy beats add to the song's beauty, making it an all-time favorite for Ashanti and Ja Rule fans.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to be your chick
I want to be your partner
I want to be down for you
I want to be there for you, always supporting
(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 giving your all to me, you must care
Ya down ass chick
You're a supportive and loyal partner
(It ain't only for the Rule baby)
This relationship is not only about Ja Rule
I ride for you, Down for you
I'll go to any length for you, always staying committed
Do anything ya want me to
I'll do whatever you want me to do
I be ya down ass chick
I'll always be there for you as a supportive partner
This chick no intentions of bein' offensive
This girl has no intention of being disrespectful
The women by callin ya'll bitches
Refers to other girls who are rude to Ja Rule
My down ass bitches
Refers to Ja Rule's loyal girlfriends
Still my queen bitch's cut look clean
His girlfriend's diamond ring looks beautiful and expensive, symbolizing their loyalty
On ya finger next to the finger ya flipped at me
The ring is on her finger next to the finger she used to flip him off
And this no in between me and you
It's just me and you, no one else involved
Only me and you
It's just the two of us in this relationship
Who else gon' put it on me like the RULE
Nobody will love him as much as the girl does
God only looks after children and foo's
God only watches over the naive and foolish
And you not so who gon' look after you
Ja Rule will take care of her
True baby
It's true, my love
It's only for you baby
I'm only with you
Vita thighs only divide if you beside
Vita will only sleep with Ja Rule
'cause I love the way you touch me
She enjoys Ja Rule's touch
Nobody can get it
No one else is allowed to have her
And if it's comin' and gunnin'
Refers to if the relationship gets dangerous or harmful
Just come in it and spit it
They'll face the troubles that come their way and overcome them together
So when ya gone for a minute
When Ja Rule is away for a little while
I just fantasize like if it's you It's all in it
She thinks about Ja Rule and imagines him being with her
Then I'm satisfied til' you come back to me
She's content with her thoughts until he comes back to her
Holdin stack and jewels
Ja Rule will return to her with money and gifts
Babygirl would ya bust ya gun with me? [ Yeah yeah ]
Would you help Ja Rule in a conflict or situation? Yes
Lie to the feds to come get me? [ Yeah Yeah ]
Would you protect him from the police or authorities? Yes
And if I died Kill for me? [ Yeah Yeah ]
Would you avenge him if he were to die? 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
Now baby I told you I can show you better than I can tell you
She'll prove her love to him through her actions, not just her words
Don't try to bring conversey and mail
Don't ruin the relationship with drama and negativity
Just sweet words and naked photos
She'll send him sweet messages and intimate photos
I'm still that pretty down down ass 2 cars behind ya 6
She's still beautiful and loyal, even if she's not as wealthy or famous as Ja Rule
And I diss any clown ass rockin my brown ass only a down ass
She'll reject any person who doesn't meet her standards of being low-key and devoted
Shit Who gon' love you like that?
Who else will be as devoted to you as I am?
Thug with you wit a stack to the ceilin
She's there for him, even if he's rich or poor
And spilt in the dub with you
She'll split a blunt with him, sharing everything
All you need in your life is Chuck, drugs, and dubs on 22's
All Ja Rule needs in his life is his love interest and vices
Now tell me who the hunny for you
Who else could be the perfect girlfriend for him?
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 giving your all to me, you must care
It ain't only for the RULE baby
This relationship is not only about Ja Rule
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: CHARLI BALTIMORE, JEFFREY ATKINS, ASHANTI DOUGLAS, ROGER TROUTMAN, LARRY TROUTMAN, IRVING LORENZO, SEVEN MARCUS AURELIUS, ANDRE L. PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind