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.
I Love You )
Ashanti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love you
I love you
I love you
[Chorus]
I love you
'cause you mean everything to me and I
I thank you for just being in my life
I love you
I love the way you can always make me smile
I love you
And wherever I go you're always in my heart
Nobody ever bring the joy you bring to me
You make me feel the way you do
And there ain't nothing like your love
That sometimes makes you stop and think like
Do I deserve such a love that can now move heaven and earth
For my lovin' I could never surround my life without the things
That you provide ever since you came into my life
And it feels like my whole world is happening
I can't stress how much I've been blessed
See what you came and done to me
You make my life complete
I know sometimes I might forget
That even when I don't say it
You know that I mean it I
[Chorus]
See I don't minding wake up everyday and see your face
And wanting to lay inside your arms
Cause there ain't nothing like your touch
It's so good never seems like enough
I didn't know that a love could grow and take over your soul
Don't advise much more
Only when you're apart if feels like living life is hard
Your entire world just seems so dark
Then it lights up 'cause you are my shining star
And I don't know what I'd do without you
See what you came and done to me
You make my life complete
I know sometimes I might forget
But even when I don't say it
You know that I mean it I
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
When you love somebody
You can share everything
Because you understand that you'll be right there
Anytime, any place, anywhere
When you love somebody
You can be only me
If they cry you'll be right by their side
To make everything alright
[Chorus]
I love you
I love you
I love you
[Chorus]
In Ashanti's song "I Love You," the artist expresses her deep love and appreciation for her significant other. The repeated phrase, "I love you," emphasizes the overwhelming feeling that she has for this person. The chorus highlights how much this person means to Ashanti and how grateful she is for their presence in her life. She admires how this person can always bring joy to her life and make her smile. The love she feels is all-encompassing and resonates deeply within her heart.
Ashanti goes on to explain that nobody has ever brought the kind of joy to her life that this person has. Their love makes her feel complete and blessed. Moving heaven and earth is nothing compared to the depth of love she feels for them. Their love has changed her life entirely, and she can hardly remember what her life was like without them. Their touch is so comforting that she does not want to be apart from them for even a moment. They have become her shining star and support her through the darkest times. Ashanti's love for this person is unwavering, and she knows that she can count on them always.
Overall, Ashanti's "I Love You" is a heart-warming declaration of her love and appreciation for her significant other. Through her lyrics, she expresses how much this person means to her and how they have changed her life entirely. The song highlights the importance of love, support, and companionship in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I love you
The singer loves the person they are addressing, and they want to express this sentiment repeatedly.
'cause you mean everything to me and I
The singer loves the person so much because they mean everything to the singer and are very important to them.
I thank you for just being in my life
The singer is grateful that the person they love is a part of their life, and they want to express their thanks.
I love the way you can always make me smile
The artist loves how the person they are addressing can always make them happy and bring a smile to their face.
And wherever I go you're always in my heart
The person the artist loves is always on their mind, and even when they go to various places, they think about the person and keep them close in their heart.
Nobody ever bring the joy you bring to me
The singer feels that nobody else can bring the same level of joy to the singer's life as the person they love.
You make me feel the way you do
The person the singer loves makes them feel a certain way, and the singer is grateful for that feeling.
And there ain't nothing like your love
The artist thinks that the love they receive from the person they love is unique and incomparable to any other kind of love.
That sometimes makes you stop and think like
The love that the person they love gives the artist is so powerful that it causes them to stop and think about it from time to time.
Do I deserve such a love that can now move heaven and earth
The artist is amazed by the love they receive from the person they love and believes it is so incredible that it could move heaven and earth.
For my lovin' I could never surround my life without the things
The singer wants to express that they can't imagine living without the person they love and can't imagine what their life would be like without them.
That you provide ever since you came into my life
The person the artist loves has been providing for them ever since they came into the artist's life, and the artist is grateful for that.
And it feels like my whole world is happening
The singer alludes to the fact that their entire life revolves around the person they love and that they feel like their world is complete.
I can't stress how much I've been blessed
The person the singer loves is a blessing to them, and the singer can't emphasize enough how grateful they are to have them in their life.
See what you came and done to me
The singer is acknowledging that the person they love has had a significant impact on their life and has changed it for the better.
You make my life complete
The person the artist loves is an integral part of their life, and their life wouldn't be complete without them.
I know sometimes I might forget
The artist is aware that they might sometimes forget to express their love and gratitude to the person they love, despite how much they mean to them.
That even when I don't say it
The person the singer is addressing should know that even if the singer doesn't express their love and gratitude openly, it doesn't mean they don't feel it.
See I don't mind wake up every day and see your face
The singer looks forward to every day because they know they will get to see the person they love.
And wanting to lay inside your arms
The artist yearns to be close to the person they love and feel their embrace.
Cause there ain't nothing like your touch
The artist believes that the touch of the person they love is incomparable and unique.
It's so good never seems like enough
The artist enjoys the way the person they love touches them so much that it never seems like enough.
I didn't know that a love could grow and take over your soul
The singer didn't realize that they could love someone so much that it takes over their entire being.
Don't advise much more
The artist doesn't have much more to say except to express their love for the person they love.
Only when you're apart if feels like living life is hard
When the singer is away from the person they love, life becomes more challenging, and it feels like something is missing.
Your entire world just seems so dark
The singer feels like their world becomes darker without the presence of the person they love.
Then it lights up 'cause you are my shining star
The presence of the person they love is like a shining star that illuminates the singer's life and makes everything brighter.
And I don't know what I'd do without you
The artist can't imagine what their life would be like without the person they love, and they don't know what they would do.
When you love somebody
The artist is directing their words towards someone they love.
You can share everything
When you love someone, you can share everything with them without reservations.
Because you understand that you'll be right there
When you love someone, you know that they will always be there for you, and it makes it easier to open up to them.
Anytime, any place, anywhere
The artist believes that the person they love will always be there for them, no matter where they are or the time of day.
You can be only me
The artist believes that the person they love should only love them and not anyone else.
If they cry you'll be right by their side
When the person the artist loves is going through a tough time and crying, the artist will be there to comfort them and support them.
To make everything alright
The singer believes that their presence and support will make everything better for the person they love.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EDGAR SMITH, VICTOR HERBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind