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.
Still Down
Ashanti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(You still down for me?)
Hey, hey
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Um, um
Hey, how you doing, how you been?
I been laying low, watching every way you move
It's been a while since I been around
I hope you ain't forgot my vibe and my sexy style
If you don't ever go nowhere, I won't ever go nowhere
And I will always be right here for you
Tell me, are you still down for a girl like me?
(Still down for me?)
'Cause I don't wanna be just another memory
(Ayy, I'm staying down for you)
Tell me, are you still down for a girl like me?
(Ayy, hey, baby, is you staying down for me?)
'Cause I don't wanna be just another memory
(Ayy, ayy, ayy, you staying down for me?)
Long time, no see, now I'm back on my feet
Comfortable back of the V, right back in the street
Within a matter of weeks, thought they had it for three
I propose, you accepted, now you're married to me
I know you've been missing, the kissing and them different positions
Told you my intentions was gold and I'll be home in a minute
And you listened, I did the time, now I'm finally free
And now I can finally see that you was down with a G
Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy
Now you know that I won't let you down
'Cause I'ma do my best so I can make it right for you
And like nobody else, I'ma give all myself all to you, oh
And please believe that I will always see
Who you got your eyes on and who got their eyes on you
Long as you never go nowhere, I will never go nowhere
And I will always be right here for you
Oh, oh oh
Tell me, are you sill down for a girl like me?
(Still down for me?)
'Cause I don't wanna be just another memory
(Ayy, I'm staying down for you)
Tell me, are you still down for a girl like me?
(Ayy, hey, baby, is you staying down for me?)
'Cause I don't wanna be just another memory
(Ayy, ayy, ayy, you staying down for me?)
I promise, I'm the same fellow you knew
When they let me out this box, baby, I'm heading to you
Just let me know if forever means forever to you
If you choose to move on, he's just tellin' the truth
Keep it real with a nigga, ma, whatever you do
If your heart and mine is numb, rewind the times
To when blows the limelight boys was rhyming
And we hit the mall, spending G's all the time and
You was by my side throughout the grinding and
And you was surprised with minks and shower with diamonds
But you will always be a part of my life
Even if I never get to call you my wife
Just remember who put the bread to the crib down
In the same crib that you and my kids live in now
No matter however you may feel now
Even if you bought it, considered yourself his now
Ayy, I'm still down for you
Tell me, are you sill down for a girl like me?
'Cause I don't wanna be just another memory
(Ay, I'm staying down for you)
Tell me, are you still down for a girl like me?
(Ayy, hey, baby, is you staying down for me?)
'Cause I don't wanna be just another memory
(Ayy, ayy, ayy, you staying down for me?)
It's for all my hustlers, man, who done had to go and do a little time, you know
I know that question in the back of your mind, you know what I'm sayin'
"What's going on out there, you know, in the free world?" and all
But remember this, pimp: you can't do no time worrying bout what's goin' on outside, ya dig?
So handle your business and go on home, man
If it's meant to be, she'll be there
And to all my homegirls keepin' it pimpin' with they G's locked down, man
This for y'all
Ayy, I'm still down for you
The lyrics of Ashanti's song Still Down featuring T.I are about two people who have been separated but are now back together. The song is about their rekindled love and the trust they have for each other. Ashanti's opening lines of "Hey how you doing, how you been, I've been laying low, watching every way you move" shows that she has been keeping a watchful eye on her love interest. She then sings "tell me are you still down for a girl like me, 'cause I don't want to be just another memory" questioning whether they still have feelings for each other and their willingness to make their relationship work.
T.I jumps in with his verse, saying that he is glad to be back and that he appreciates that Ashanti stuck by him while he was away. He promises that he is the same person she knew before and is willing to make their relationship last forever. He further states that they had good times before and he is still willing to provide for her and their future children. The chorus is repeated twice, emphasizing the question of whether they are still devoted to each other.
Overall, the song expresses the strong bond between two people who have stood the test of time. The theme of trust and loyalty in a relationship is reiterated through the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey how you doing, how you been, I've been laying low, watching every way you move, so sit back and relax and lemme reacquaint myself to you, ohh its been a while since I've been around and I hope you ain't forget my vibe and my sexy style
Ashanti greets her potential love interest and tells him that she has been observing him carefully. She hopes he has not forgotten her charming personality and style.
If you don't ever go nowhere I will never go nowhere and I will always be right here for you
Ashanti assures her potential love interest that if he stays with her, she will always stand by him.
Tell me are you still down for a girl like me, 'cause I don't want to be just another memory
Ashanti asks her potential love interest if he is still interested in her, as she does not want to be just another fling.
I proposed you accepted and now you married to me, I kno you been missin the kisses and the different positions told your mind -- over and I'll be home in a minute
T.I talks about proposing to Ashanti and how they are now married. He reminds her of the pleasurable moments they had together and promises to be back home soon.
Now you kno that I won't let you down, 'Cause I'ma do my best so I can make it right for you
Ashanti promises to never let her potential love interest down and assures him that she will always do her best for him.
And like nobody else I'm a give all myself all to you
Ashanti tells her potential love interest that she will give herself completely to him, like no one else could.
And please believe I will always see who you got your eyes on and who got their eyes on you
Ashanti tells her potential love interest that she will always be aware of the people he is interested in, as well as the people interested in him.
I promise I'm the same fella you knew, Wen they let me out the socks baby I'm headed to you just lemme know if forever mean forever to you
T.I promises to be the same person Ashanti knew before his incarceration and tells her that he will be with her soon. He asks her if she also considers their relationship to be forever.
if you choose to move on hey won't you tell me the truth, keep it real wit a nigga ma whatever you do if your heart and mins is numb
T.I tells Ashanti that if she decides to move on, he wants her to be honest with him. He tells her to keep it real with him and be honest about her feelings, even if her heart and mind are numb.
Rewind the time wen we closed the blinds like the -- was rhyming and we hit the malls spending G's all the Time and you was on the side through out I was grindin and you was surprised wit minks And showered wit diamonds
T.I reminisces about the times he and Ashanti spent together, closing the blinds for privacy, going to malls and spending money, and how she was always by his side, even when he was working hard. He gave her mink clothing and showered her with diamonds.
But you will always be a part for life even if another get To call tou a wife, just rememba who put the bread into the crib in the same crib that you want you're kids living in now no matter how eva you may feel now even if you Wanted to consider yourself his now, I'm still down for you
T.I tells Ashanti that no matter what, he will always consider her a part of his life, even if she marries someone else. He reminds her of the hard work he put in to provide a home for them and their children, and assures her that he is still down for her.
Tell me are you still down for a girl like me, 'cause I don't want to be just another memory
Ashanti repeats her earlier question, asking her potential love interest again if he is still interested in her, as she does not want to be just another memory.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Clifford Harris, Ashanti Douglas, Irving Lorenzo, Malcolm Flythe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind