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.
Over
Ashanti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But every bruise on my heart, you gave me
See, we'd try, but we'd fight, then we'd cry
Now it's over, babe, it's over, babe
Can't believe that it's over, baby
But every bruise on my heart, you gave me
See, we'd try, but we'd fight, then we'd cry
So it's over, babe, it's over, babe
When I met you, I knew you would be the one for me
'Cause looking at you had me feeling kind of crazy
Now, what you asked, I almost did it automatically
But it was nothing compared to the joy you gave me
Although I know that what we had, it wasn't perfect, babe
You fooled around, but see, back then it didn't phase me
I thought by staying, tryna change you would be worth it, babe
But now I see that tryna change you only changed me
All these tears
And all of your lies
All these years
And now we're saying goodbye
It's over, babe
Can't believe that it's over, baby
But every bruise on my heart, you gave me
See, we'd try, but we'd fight, then we'd cry
Now it's over, babe, it's over, babe (over, babe)
Can't believe that it's over, baby (over, babe)
But every bruise on my heart, you gave me
See, we'd try (tried), but we'd fight (fight), then we'd cry (cry)
So it's over, babe (over, babe) it's over, babe
Now, I'm thinking that I never shoulda dealt with you
All this screaming and this yelling that we go through
Raining late at night, I'm sitting, waiting up for you
Just to tell you how I hate who you turned into
See, ain't no way I'm gonna sit and take this shit from you
I'll never play another day of being your fool
I've wasted all my time on something that just wasn't true
I should have known I could never ever change you
All these tears
And all of your lies
All these years
And now we're saying goodbye
It's over, babe
Can't believe that it's over, baby
But every bruise on my heart you gave me
See, we'd try, but we'd fight, then we'd cry
Now it's over, babe, it's over, babe (over, babe)
Can't believe that it's over, baby (over, babe)
But every bruise on my heart you gave me
See, we'd try (try), but we'd fight (fight), then we'd cry (cry)
So it's over, babe, it's over, babe
I'll never forget what you did to me
So I'm gone, I'm leaving, leaving, baby
I'll never forget what you did to me
So I'm gone, I'm leaving, leaving, baby
Whenever you see me, don't even speak
I'll never forget what you did to me
Whenever you see me, don't even speak
I'll never forget what you did to me
Can't believe that it's over, baby
But every bruise on my heart you gave me
See, we tried, but we fight, then we cried
Now it's over, babe, it's over, babe (over, babe)
Can't believe that it's over, baby (over, babe)
But every bruise on my heart you gave me
See, we'd try (try), but we'd fight (fight), then we'd cry (cry)
So it's over, babe (over, babe) it's over, babe (over, babe)
Can't believe that it's over, baby
But every bruise on my heart you gave me (cry)
See, we'd try (try), but we'd fight (fight), then we'd cry (cry)
Now it's over, babe (it's over, babe) it's over, babe (over, babe)
Can't believe that it's over, baby (it's over, babe)
But every bruise on my heart you gave me (over, babe)
See, we'd try (we'd try) but we'd fight (we'd fight), then we'd cry (we'd cry)
So it's over, babe (over, babe) it's over, babe (over, babe)
I'll never forget what you did to me
So I'm gone, I'm leaving, leaving, baby
I'll never forget what you did to me
So I'm gone, I'm leaving
The song "Over" by Ashanti talks about a relationship that has been through ups and downs, but still remains strong. The singer admits to acting crazy and getting loud, but her partner continues to see her as his queen. Despite all the chaos going on in town, she longs to spend time with her partner and asks if she can come over when it's over. She expresses her love for her partner and how she appreciates how he loves her even when she's not at her best. The song is essentially about seeking solace and comfort in the arms of a loved one after a tumultuous period.
The song's lyrics are relatable, as it speaks to the human inclination to seek stability and love from someone during tough times. It's also a reminder of the importance of forgiveness and understanding in a relationship. No one is perfect, and sometimes love requires looking past our partner's flaws and being there for them when they need us most. The song's upbeat and catchy melody adds to its appeal, making it a popular choice for listeners to dance and sing along to.
Line by Line Meaning
Major
This is a significant moment
Major
This moment has a lot of weight to it
We been up
We've had good times and successes
And we been down
We've also had tough times and failures
I been trippin, talkin crazy
I've been making mistakes and saying irrational things
Gettin loud
I've been raising my voice and causing a scene
I been actin ugly
I've been behaving poorly and unattractively
Still you always c my crown
You still see me as your queen despite my flaws
Way too much goin on in town
There's a lot happening around us that's causing stress and distraction
Can I come over when itโs over
May I spend time with you after all the chaos has ended
Can I slide
Can I come over sneakily
I know you busy
I understand that you have other responsibilities
Can I get a little time
Can we spend some time together
Kick it witcha
Can we hang out together
Can we vibe
Can we have a good connection and energy between us
Pack my bags spend the night mane
I want to stay the night with you and have a good time
No more social distance
I want to be closer to you and not have any barriers between us
When I step out mannn
When I leave my current situation
Yo crib the mission I
I want to come over to your place
Been away but you the only one Iโm missin
I've been gone, but I miss you the most
One thing that I love is how you love Me when Iโm trippin! Yeah, yeah
I appreciate how you still love me even when I'm not my best self
You still love me when Iโm trippin
You show me love even when I'm making mistakes
Love it how you hustle
I admire your drive and determination
And I love it how you flip it
I appreciate how you handle difficult situations and make the most of them
You a
You are someone who
One of one
You are unique
C the same in me too
You see the same uniqueness in me
Kids, I want three
I want to have three children in the future
Tell me, is that coo
Is that okay with you
Is you wit me? Is u wit it
Do you support and agree with my plans
On my body so consistent!
You are always dependable and reliable for support
Yo yo presence is a present baby you Out here gifted
Your mere presence is a gift because you are so talented and special
You been givin em the blues n you ainโt
You've been dominating and standing out, without letting the hardships get to you
Even out here crippin
Even when going through tough times, you are still pushing through with strength and resilience
If I paint the perfect picture
If I could imagine the ideal scenario
Youโd b in it
You would be a central part of that perfect picture
Baby, can you vibe, can you slide
Can we have a good connection and can I come over sneakily
If I call you up make some time
If I call you, can you make time for me
I Just wanna make you mine
I want to be in a relationship with you
Iโm Heem, but you really that guy
I am a successful person, but you are even more successful and impressive
Itโs gettin spooky like October
Things have been getting eerie and strange lately
Man I know I drive you crazy
I understand that I can be difficult to deal with
Wasnโt meant to be a chauffeur
I am not supposed to just be your driver or a passenger in your life
Know I been distant
I have been emotionally unavailable and not fully present
But I always been a loner
I have always been someone who preferred being alone
For the first time
This is the first time
Iโm shootin my shot without a Blower
I am taking a chance and expressing my feelings without any hesitation or reservations
You my boo
You are my significant other
Thatโs on blue
That is definite and without question
And Iโm stuck witcha
I am committed and devoted to you
Like Iโm Totin some glue
I am tightly and securely connected to you like glue
Pull up on me
Come over to see me
Let me come through
Allow me to visit and spend time with you
Iโm on you
I am determined to have a relationship with you
Like you under my shoes
You are a part of my daily routine and always with me
You got everything I want
You possess all the qualities and attributes that I am looking for
& everything I need
You also fulfill all my essential needs
I kno itโs been a while
I know it has been a long time since we've spent time together
But baby can we link
Can we reconnect and spend time together again
Man Iโm all about you
I am completely focused and invested in you
Can you be about me
Will you reciprocate and feel the same way about me
My eyes been on you more than Mink
I've been paying close attention to you and keeping an eye on you frequently
But
Despite the challenges and distractions
Can I come over when itโs over
Can I spend time with you after everything else has settled down
Can I slide
Can I sneak over to see you
I know you busy
I understand that you have a lot on your plate
Can I get a little time
Can we have some quality time together
Kick it witcha
Can we hang out and have a good time together
Can we vibe
Can we have a good connection and energy between us
Pack my bag spend the night mane
I want to stay with you overnight and have a great time
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andre Parker, Ashanti Douglas, Irving Lorenzo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Priscilla Garcia
Can't believe that it's over baby
But every bruse on my heart you gave me
See we tried but we fight then we cried now it's over babe, it's over babe.
When I met you I knew you would be the one,
'Cause looking at you made me feel kind of crazy,
Now what you asked I almost did it automatically
But it was nothing compared to the joy you gave me.
Although I know that what we had it wasn't perfect babe,
You fooled around, but see back then it didn't phase me
I thought by staying, trying to change you would be worth it babe,
But now I see that trying to change you only changed me.
All these tears, and all of your lies
All these years and now we're saying goodbye, it's over babe.
Can't believe that it's over baby
But every bruse on my heart you gave me
See we tried but we fight then we cried now it's over babe, it's over babe.
Can't believe that it's over baby
But every bruse on my heart you gave me
See we tried but we fight then we cried now it's over babe, it's over babe.
Now I'm thinking that I never should have dealt with you,
All this screaming and this yelling
That we go through raining late at night I'm sitting waiting up for you
Just to tell you how I hate who you turned into,
See ain't no way I'm gonna sit and take this shit from you,
I'm never playing another day of being your fool,
I wasted all my time on something that just wasn't true,
I should have known I could never ever change you.
All these tears, and all of your lies,
All these years and now we're saying goodbye it's over babe.
Can't believe that it's over baby
But every bruse on my heart you gave me
See we tried but we fight then we cried now it's over babe, it's over babe.
Can't believe that it's over baby
But every bruse on my heart you gave me
See we tried but we fight then we cried now it's over babe, it's over babe.
I'll never forget what you did to me so I'm gone I'm leaving leaving baby,
I'll never forget
What you did to me so I'm gone I'm leaving leaving baby.
Whenever you see me don't even speak,
I'll never forget what you did to me.
Whenever you see me don't even speak, I'll never forget what you did to me.
Can't believe that it's over baby
But every bruse on my heart you gave me
See we tried but we fight then we cried now it's over babe, it's over babe.
Can't believe that it's over baby
But every bruse on my heart you gave me
See we tried but we fight then we cried now it's over babe, it's over babe.
Can't believe that it's over baby
But every bruse on my heart you gave me
See we tried but we fight then we cried now it's over babe, it's over babe.
Can't believe that it's over baby
But every bruse on my heart you gave me
See we tried but we fight then we cried now it's over babe, it's over babe.
I'll never forget what you did to me so I'm gone I'm leaving, leaving baby.
I'll never forget
What you did to me so I'm gone I'm leaving, leaving baby.
Gorgeous
Thank God for Ashanti. She is motivational and inspiring. Still getting over a domestic violent breakup and this song is the perfect song right now.
Maritza Chatman
I loved thisย whole albumย as a teen, not experiencing true love or heartbreak. But it wasn't until I became a woman that revisiting this album gave me a newfound appreciation for her music. Damn all these songs so relatable! Classic and timeless music at it's bestย right here.
msjreneful
Maritza Chatman say that! Blindly loving it and singing it as a teen hits so different as a grown woman with some experience under your belt. Sigh.
Chris Hall
Why you say love or heartbreak I don't understand
T Wood
๐
khabir kuta
Facts
Samuel Mahfouz
Man as a widow starting over going thru this all over again I can't I feel this and I balling I'm grown 47 year old ass woman I can't do this anymore I have a whole 8 year watching me be put through it I cannot do it anymore . I'm throwing the towel on bruh it too perfect u expect it from me I cant
Unreleased/Underrated R&B Grooves
I've said it once I'll say it again, this album deserved a DVD version to this. Each song you could just visualize some type of video treatment to. Especially this jam with Ashanti singing and walking in the rain. I'm happy it blew up the way it did but it would have done extraordinary wonders had a video collection accompany it. This album was & still is hot!
Diana Romeo
4 real I feel like all the songs should have been released
zo zo
I'm so glad to learn I'm not the only who felt this way.