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.
What's Luv
Ashanti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mic is on?
Joe Crack the Don, uh
Yeah, yeah, y'all
Irv Gotti
What's love?
Ashanti, Terror, Terror Squad
It should be about us, be about trust
What's love? (got to do, got to do with it, babe)
What's love? It's about us, it's about trust, babe
What's love? (got to do, got to do with it, babe)
What's love? It should be about us, it should be about trust, babe
What's love?
Woo! Yeah, slow down, baby
Let you know from the gate I don't go down, lady
I wanna chick with thick hips that licks her lips
She can be the office type or like to strip
Girl, you get me aroused how you look in my eye
But you talk too much, man, you're ruinin' my high
Don't wanna lose the feelin' 'cause the roof is chillin'
It's on fire and you lookin' good for the gettin'
I'ma rider, whether in a hoodie or a linen
A provider, you should see the jewelry on my women
And I'm livin' it up, the Squad stay fillin' the truck
With chicks that's willin' to triz with us, uh
You say you got a man and you're in love
But what's love gotta do with a little menage?
After the par-tay, me and you
Could just slide for a few and she could come, too
That's love
What's love? (got to do, got to do with it, babe)
What's love? It's about us, it's about trust, babe
What's love? (got to do, got to do with it, babe)
What's love? It should be about us, it should be about trust, babe
What's love?
Mami, I know you got issues, you got a man
But you need to understand that you got somethin' with you
Ass is fat, frame is little
Tattoo on your chest with his name in the middle, uh
I'm not a hater, I just crush a lot
And the way you shake your booty, I don't want you to stop
You need to come a little closer, closer
And let me put yo, under my arms like a Don is supposed ta
Please believe, you leave with me
We be freakin' all night like we was on E
You need to trust the God and jump in the car
For a little hard eight at the Taj Mahal
What's love? (got to do, got to do with it, babe)
What's love? It's about us, it's about trust, babe
What's love? (got to do, got to do with it, babe)
What's love? It should be about us, it should be about trust, babe
Yeah, uh, yo, I stroll in the club with my hat down (What's love?)
Michael Jack style, hot steppin', who the mack now?
Not my fault that they love the kid
Might be the chain or the whip, I don't know what it is
We just party and bullshit, c'mon, mami
Put your body in motion, you got a nigga open
You came here with the heart to cheat
So you need to sing the song with me
All my ladies come on
When I look in your eyes, there's no stoppin' me
I want the Don Joey Crack on top of me (uh-huh)
Don't want your stacks just break my back (yeah)
Gonna cut you no slack, 'cause I'm on it like that (uh, woo, uh)
Come on (yeah yeah, y'all)
And put it all (yeah yeah, y'all) on me (put it on ya, girl)
On me (I'ma put it on ya, girl)
What's love? (got to do, got to do with it, babe)
What's love? It's about us, it's about trust, babe
What's love? (got to do, got to do with it, babe)
What's love? It should be about us, it should be about trust, babe
What's love? (got to do, got to do with it, babe)
What's love? It's about us, it's about trust, babe
What's love? (got to do, got to do with it, babe)
What's love? It should be about us, it should be about trust, babe
What's love?
The song "What's Luv" by Ashanti featuring Fat Joe revolves around the theme of love, trust, and desire. It begins with the introduction of the artists, and then the chorus starts with a question - "What's love?" The next line provides the answer that it's about "us" and "trust." The song further explores the desire for a woman with thick hips and who can be an office type or a stripper. The lyrics also show that the singer is not interested in a relationship but just having some fun, and love shouldn't be an obstacle in their way. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
Put the fuckin mic on
Start recording the lyrics
Mic is on?
Checking if the recording has started
Joe Crack the Don, uh
Introducing Joe aka Crack, a powerful member of the Terror Squad
Yeah, yeah, y'all
Acknowledging the audience
Irv Gotti
Shouting out to the producer Irv Gotti
What's love?
Asking a rhetorical question to the listeners about the meaning of love
Ashanti, Terror, Terror Squad
Naming the artists associated with the song
It should be about us, be about trust
Love should revolve around mutual trust and understanding between two people
Woo! Yeah, slow down, baby
Expressing excitement and asking the woman to slow down the pace
Let you know from the gate I don't go down, lady
Making it clear that he doesn't perform oral sex
I wanna chick with thick hips that licks her lips
Describing his physical preferences in a woman
She can be the office type or like to strip
Stating that the profession or occupation of a woman doesn't matter to him
Girl, you get me aroused how you look in my eye
Complimenting the woman's appearance and how it's affecting him
But you talk too much, man, you're ruinin' my high
Being annoyed by the woman's excessive talking and how it's ruining his mood
Don't wanna lose the feelin' 'cause the roof is chillin'
Not wanting to lose the good vibes of the moment due to the cool environment
It's on fire and you lookin' good for the gettin'
Feeling attracted to the woman and stating that she's desirable
I'ma rider, whether in a hoodie or a linen
Asserting his confidence and ability to provide in any situation or attire
A provider, you should see the jewelry on my women
Implying that he buys expensive jewelry for his women, and it's a sign of his wealth
And I'm livin' it up, the Squad stay fillin' the truck
Enjoying life with his group, Terror Squad and boasting about it
With chicks that's willin' to triz with us, uh
Referring to women who are willing to have a threesome
You say you got a man and you're in love
Assuming the woman has a boyfriend and is committed to him
But what's love gotta do with a little menage?
Questioning the idea of love and monogamy when it comes to having a threesome
After the par-tay, me and you
Implying that they can have a sexual encounter after the party
Could just slide for a few and she could come, too
Suggesting a threesome with the other woman he's attracted to
Mami, I know you got issues, you got a man
Acknowledging that the woman has personal problems and is involved with someone else
But you need to understand that you got somethin' with you
Telling the woman that she has something special that draws him to her
Ass is fat, frame is little
Complimenting the woman's body shape
Tattoo on your chest with his name in the middle, uh
Noticing the woman has a tattoo of her boyfriend's name on her chest
I'm not a hater, I just crush a lot
Explaining his admiration for the woman despite her relationship
And the way you shake your booty, I don't want you to stop
Expressing his attraction to the woman's dancing skills
You need to come a little closer, closer
Asking the woman to move closer to him
And let me put yo, under my arms like a Don is supposed ta
Getting the woman closer and positioning his arms around her, like a boss figure
Please believe, you leave with me
Assuring the woman that she will have a good time with him
We be freakin' all night like we was on E
Implying they will have sex all night, like they are under the influence of ecstasy (E)
You need to trust the God and jump in the car
Convincing the woman to trust him and come along with him
For a little hard eight at the Taj Mahal
Referring to having sex in luxurious rooms at the Taj Mahal casino
Yo, I stroll in the club with my hat down (What's love?)
Describing his entrance to the club with his hat down
Michael Jack style, hot steppin', who the mack now?
Comparing himself to Michael Jackson's iconic dance moves and showing off his dance skills
Not my fault that they love the kid
Boasting about his popularity and the attention he receives from women
Might be the chain or the whip, I don't know what it is
Jokingly claiming that he doesn't know why women are attracted to him, maybe his chain or his car
We just party and bullshit, c'mon, mami
Stating that he's just there to party and have a good time with the woman
Put your body in motion, you got a nigga open
Asking the woman to dance and expressing his attraction to her
You came here with the heart to cheat
Assuming that the woman is at the club with the intention of cheating on her partner
So you need to sing the song with me
Encouraging the woman to join him in singing the song
When I look in your eyes, there's no stoppin' me
Expressing how captivating the woman's eyes are
I want the Don Joey Crack on top of me (uh-huh)
Requesting to have sexual intercourse with him
Don't want your stacks just break my back (yeah)
Preferring to have sex instead of receiving money or gifts from the woman
Gonna cut you no slack, 'cause I'm on it like that (uh, woo, uh)
Stating that he is ready and wants to have sex
Come on (yeah yeah, y'all)
Encouraging the audience to join him in singing the chorus
And put it all (yeah yeah, y'all) on me (put it on ya, girl)
Asking the woman to physically engage with him
I'ma put it on ya, girl
Suggesting that he will pleasure her in bed
What's love?
Repeating the question about the meaning of love to conclude the song.
Lyrics © JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andre Parker, Christopher Rios, Graham Lyle, Irving Lorenzo, Jeffrey Atkins, Terry Britten, Joseph Cartegena
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@riyaadryklief4220
if you are here in 2024, you are a LEGEND
@robertrobecki3425
Yep, i'm a legend.
😆😆😆😉
@prestonleah6090
You as well 😂
@lisafranklin9089
I know that right 🙌🏼🫶🏼
@kanhiyaarora4001
Ikr
@jasonx7726
😂❤
@JM97106
growing up in the 90s and the early 2000s was truly a blessing
@words0217
Being grown in the 90s🔥
@jonathanfanfan6681
90s baby 2000s made me born in 96
@4eversteena
Being a teen in the 90's was THE BEST. Good 🎶 that my kids can now listen to