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.
Rock Wth You
Ashanti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah Murder Inc.
Love you babe
Love you babe
Aw baby
Ashanti, Chapter 2, Let's rock
Can you rock wit me (aw baby)
Can you take it to the top wit me
I just want to love you baby alwayz thinking of you baby
Can you roll wit me(aw baby)
All over me
Can you take control of me
I just want to love you baby always thinkin' of you baby
I think I like how your body feels next to me
Aw baby when you kissin' me
Aw baby when you lovin' me
I can't describe what I want to do with you tonight
Aw baby when you come to me
I'll make it so you never leave
Can you rock wit me (aw baby)
Non-stop wit me
Can you take it to the top wit me
I just want to love you baby alwayz thinking of you baby
Can you roll wit me(aw baby)
All over me
Can you take control of me
I just want to love you baby alwayz thinkin' of you baby
See I don't know If I can handle you as just a friend
Aww baby I can't pretend
Aww baby I'm so far in
But I don't mind as long as I could have you in my life
Aww baby I'm satisfied even if you're not just mine
Can you rock wit me (aw baby)
Non-stop wit me
Can you take it to the top wit me
I just want to love you baby alwayz thinking of you baby
Can you roll wit me (aw baby)
All over me
Can you take control of me
I just want to love you baby always thinkin' of you baby
Boy you make me want to say [aww baby] [aww baby] [oo baby]
If you feel me help me say [aww baby] [oo baby]
Can you rock wit me (aww baby)
Non-stop wit me
Can you take it to the top wit me
I just want to love you baby alwayz thinking of you baby
Can you roll wit me(aww baby)
All over me
Can you take control of me
I just want to love you baby alwayz thinkin' of you baby
Can you rock wit me (aww baby)
Non-stop wit me
Can you take it to the top wit me
I just want to love you baby alwayz thinking of you baby
Can you roll wit me (aww baby)
All over me
Can you take control of me
I just want to love you baby alwayz thinkin' of you baby
Oh
Love you babe
Oh
Love you babe
The lyrics to Ashanti's song Rock With U are all about the intense desire she has for her lover. She begins by asking if he can "rock" with her, meaning can he stick with her through thick and thin, and can he take their passion to the highest level without stopping. She then tells him that she just wants to love him and always thinks of him. Ashanti talks about the physical attraction she has to him, describing how she likes the feeling of his body next to hers and what she wants to do with him. She knows that she is in deep with him, but doesn't mind as long as she has him in her life. Ashanti finishes the song by repeating her desire for him.
The lyrics can be interpreted as a declaration of love from Ashanti to her partner. She wants him to know that she cannot get enough of him and that she wants to be with him always. She is very clear that she loves him and that her thoughts are consumed by thoughts of him. Despite not being sure if he feels the same way, she is willing to risk it all for him.
The chorus, in particular, is very catchy, and the repetition of "aww baby" and "oo baby" throughout the song serves to emphasize her love and affection for him. The song is a great representation of Ashanti's R&B style, with slow and sensual rhythms that let the lyrics take center stage. The music video for the song features Ashanti in various outfits and locations, all while performing with various dancers.
Line by Line Meaning
Aw baby
Introducing the song
Yeah Murder Inc.
Credits to the record label
Love you babe
Expression of love
Love you babe
Expression of love
Aw baby
Repeating the introduction
Ashanti, Chapter 2, Let's rock
Introduction of the artist and album
Can you rock wit me (aw baby)
Asking for the partner's willingness to toe dance
Non-stop wit me
Asking the partner for a constant dance moves
Can you take it to the top wit me
Asking the partner to bring their A-game and make it fun
I just want to love you baby alwayz thinking of you baby
Expressing love and commitment to the partner
Can you roll wit me(aw baby)
Asking the partner if they can go with the flow and follow the rhythm
All over me
Asking the partner for a full body dance moves
Can you take control of me
Asking the partner to lead and take control of the dance
I just want to love you baby always thinkin' of you baby
Repeating the expression of love and commitment
See I don't know If I can handle you as just a friend
Expressing the romantic interest in the partner
Aww baby I can't pretend
Acknowledging the genuine feelings towards the partner
Aww baby I'm so far in
Acknowledging that they are already emotionally invested in the partner
But I don't mind as long as I could have you in my life
Deciding to continue with the attraction despite the uncertainty
Aww baby I'm satisfied even if you're not just mine
Being content with being friends if romantic relationship isn't possible
Boy you make me want to say [aww baby] [aww baby] [oo baby]
Expressing the affection brought by the partner
If you feel me help me say [aww baby] [oo baby]
Encouraging the partner to express their feelings as well
Oh
Expressing a feeling of pleasure/good vibes
Love you babe
Reiterating the expression of love
Oh
Repeating the feeling of pleasure/good vibes
Love you babe
Reiterating the expression of love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RODNEY L. TEMPERTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jasonbrown3728
NO TATS , NO FLY SWATTER LASHES , NO BBL, NO BREAST IMPLANTS , PURE BEAUTY & TALENT ,TOTAL PACKAGE !
@RolandAgambaki
Lmfao @fly swatter lashes
@gmsss1631
100% Ashanti is an angel
@jerseydrillmovement8235
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@Baptized82022
Facts!
@zeod89
Not to fuck up the vibes but I think she’s along with the time these days, I don’t think she looks as skinny as prior and has bigger boobs
@bja808
Im sorry but, Ashanti is way hotter than Beyonce.
@rayylopez5577
i agree!!!!wwwwaaaayyyy hotter!!
@TonyTurner
No need to be sorry, speak your truth !!!
@mscarverhigh18
Who cares? I am sure Beyoncé isn't losing any sleep over rather you think Ashanti is hotter than her! Beyoncé is good!