Ashanti (album)

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Ashanti
Ashanti - Ashanti.jpg
Studio album by Ashanti
Released April 2, 2002 (2002-04-02)
Recorded 1998 – 2002
Genre
Length 61:08
Label
Producer
Ashanti chronology
Ashanti
(2002)		 7 Series Sampler: Ashanti
(2003)7 Series Sampler: Ashanti2003
Singles from Ashanti
  1. "Foolish"
    Released: January 29, 2002
  2. "Happy"
    Released: May 21, 2002
  3. "Baby"
    Released: August 17, 2002

Ashanti is the self-titled debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Ashanti; it was released on April 2, 2002, by Murder Inc. Records and Def Jam Records. The album was recorded between 2001 and 2002 in Crackhouse Studios (New York) and SoundCastle Studios (Los Angeles), during the period of time where Ashanti was writing for other artists. Ashanti worked with a variety of producers including Irv Gotti, Chink Santana, 7 Aurelius, Jared Thomas, Reggie Wright as well as Ashanti co-writing all the songs on the album. Its music incorporates R&B, hip hop, hip hop soul and urban. The album features guest vocals from The Notorious B.I.G., Irv Gotti and Ja Rule.

Ashanti debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with first-week sales of an impressive 503,000 units, the biggest first-week sales for a debut female artist. The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of 3,000,000 copies on December 17, 2002. It earned Ashanti three Grammy nominations for Best New Artist, Best Contemporary R&B Album, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Ashanti also received two additional Grammy nominations in the same year for other projects, both in the category of Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

Billboard magazine ranked Ashanti at number 100 on its Top 200 Albums of the Decade.[1] Ashanti mentioned on Ustream that she planned to re-release the album for its 10th anniversary in 2012. She planned on adding tracks such as "Down 4 U" and "The Pledge" to the album which were huge hits in 2002 the same time "Foolish", "Happy" and "Baby" were on the charts.

Background

When Ashanti was 14, she was discovered by P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records. Initially, she went to Bad Boy Records and sang one of Mary J. Blige's songs in front of P. Diddy and Biggie Smalls. After being impressed by her singing ability, Diddy had her sign to a development deal. In the end, due to a bad contract, Ashanti did not sign with Diddy. This ultimately led to a record deal with Jive Records in 1994. This relationship soured when Jive tried to make Ashanti into a pop singer.[2] Ashanti subsequently involved herself in schoolwork, cheerleading, and running on her school's track team. She was an honor student in English and belonged to the English club where she began writing poetry. She was also in the Drama club and performed in a few plays. She put college pursuits aside when Epic Records approached her with a contract in 1998. However, the label's management changes quickly made Ashanti a low priority. She continued to perform at local New York clubs and began hanging out at the Murder Inc. recording studio, hoping for another big break.[3]

Ashanti was first noticed by Irv Gotti because of her vocal skills.[4] Ashanti initially asked him to produce a few demo songs for her to record so she could say she had some strong tracks by the big time producer but Gotti had a different idea. He asked her to pen hooks for his rap artists and to perform with them in duets. Ashanti provided the melodic response to their call. 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 Cadillac 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 rapper 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 "Aint It Funny (Murder Remix)", the second duet between Lopez and Rule, for which she wrote and also sang background vocals on), 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 artist to occupy the top two positions on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously when "Always on Time" and "What's Luv?" were at numbers one and two, respectively.

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 3/5 stars[5]
Entertainment Weekly B−[6]
Los Angeles Times 2.5/4 stars[7]
Q 3/5 stars[8]
Rolling Stone 2.5/5 stars[9]
Slant Magazine 2.5/5 stars[10]
Robert Christgau (1-star Honorable Mention)[11]

AllMusic gave the album a positive review and praised the "modern, post-hip-hop soul" sound, stating the album has "fairly fresh beats and lightly insistent hooks, and is just naughty enough". However, the site felt it lacked "distinctive material".[12] Entertainment Weekly commended the album's "coy hooks" and "jagged-edged rappers", continuing to say "her voice is supple and pretty but rarely rises above a whisper, making it a background instrument even when it's Ashanti's turn to shine".[13] The Los Angeles Times had a mixed view of the album, writing "Ashanti's breathy, cooing vocals are well suited to the mellow mood of this collection", however was unimpressed because it was not "substantial".[14]

Accolades

The Ashanti album earning her a three Grammy nominations for Best New Artist, Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. On the same year, Ashanti also received two additional Grammy nominations for other projects, both in the category of Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Ashanti took home a record 8 billboard awards, winning all the categories she was nominated for. Billboard magazine ranked Ashanti at number 100 on magazine's Top 200 Albums of the Decade.[1] In April 2002, Ashanti sold 503,000 copies in its first week of release in the United States, becoming a record-breaking feat. It was the highest first week sales for a female artist's debut ever. The album stayed atop the Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks. In the same week, she became the first female performer to simultaneously hold the top two places on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with "Foolish" and "What's Luv" (with Fat Joe).

She broke records again by having three top ten songs (Foolish, What's Luv, and Always on Time (with Ja Rule)) on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the same week. Only The Beatles have achieved this. Ashanti wrote and sang background on the song "Ain't It Funny" sung by Jennifer Lopez, which was also in the top 10 charts at the same time as "Foolish", "Always on Time" (with Ja Rule), and "What's Luv" (with Fat Joe) so the singer actually had four top 10 singles in the top ten. (2009) According to Billboard.com, Ashanti has had the most top 10 songs (16 to date) on the R&B/Hip-hop charts by a female this decade. The album's lead single was named the 19th most successful song of the 2000s (decade) on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade.[15] As of June 2012, it is the third best selling physical single of the 21st century. It sold over 8.2 million copies to date.[16]

Commercial performance

On April 20, 2002, Ashanti debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, and Billboards Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart at number one with first-week sales of 503,000 copies in the United States. On December 17, 2002, the album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and remained on Billboard 200 chart for 55 weeks. Ashanti has sold 3.6 million copies in the United States alone,[17] according to Nielsen SoundScan. Worldwide, the album sold over eight million copies.[18]

In Canada, the album peaked at number 15 on the chart and was certified two times platinum for shipments of 200,000 copies.

Singles

The album's lead single, titled "Foolish", was released on January 29, 2002. The song became Ashanti's biggest solo successes to date, spending ten consecutive weeks on top of the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. It was eventually first ranked on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles 2002 year-end charts for eleven straight weeks (Tying with Nelly's "Dilemma", but not for eleven straights weeks). It was a breakthrough hit internationally entering the top five in the United Kingdom, the top ten in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany and Japan and the top twenty in Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The album's second single, "Happy" was released on May 21, 2002. The song peaked at number 8 on US Billboard Hot 100 and number 6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The single became Ashanti's second top ten hit as a solo artist. It was a moderate success internationally, it reached the top ten in the Netherlands, the top twenty in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the top forty in Australia, Ireland, Switzerland and France.

The album's third single, "Baby" was released on August 17, 2002. The song peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The single became Ashanti's third top-twenty hit as a solo artist.

The remix version of the song "Foolish", titled "Unfoolish" featuring The Notorious B.I.G., was released as the album's fourth single. It was released only for radio ads. No music video for this song, although a video was already planned, as a conclusion to the "Foolish" music video.

Promotional singles

"Dreams" was released as the album's promotional single, with a live-performance music video with clips of Ashanti's career at this point.

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Intro"  
1:25
2. "Foolish"  
  • 7 Aurelius
  • Irv Gotti
 3:47
3. "Happy"  
  • Chink Santana
  • Irv Gotti
 4:22
4. "Leaving (Always on Time Part II)" (featuring Ja Rule)
  • Douglas
  • Vest
  • Lorenzo
  • Atkins
  • 7 Aurelius
  • Irv Gotti
 3:55
5. "Narrative Call (Skit)"       0:36
6. "Call"  
  • Douglas
  • Vest
  • Lorenzo
  • 7 Aurelius
  • Irv Gotti
 5:05
7. "Scared" (featuring Irv Gotti)
  • Douglas
  • Parker
  • Lorenzo
  • Chink Santana
  • Irv Gotti
 4:43
8. "Rescue"  
  • Douglas
  • Vest
  • Lorenzo
  • 7 Aurelius
  • Irv Gotti
 7:25
9. "Baby"  
  • Chink Santana
  • Irv Gotti
  • 7 Aurelius*
 4:25
10. "VooDoo"  
  • Douglas
  • Vest
  • Lorenzo
  • 7 Aurelius
  • Irv Gotti
 4:42
11. "Movies"  
  • Douglas
  • Vest
  • Lorenzo
  • Reggie Wright
  • Jared Thomas
  • 7 Aurelius
  • Irv Gotti
  • Wright*
  • Thomas*
 4:09
12. "Fight (Over Skit)"       1:18
13. "Over"  
  • Douglas
  • Parker
  • Lorenzo
  • Chink Santana
  • Irv Gotti
 5:34
14. "Unfoolish" (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.)
  • 7 Aurelius
  • Irv Gotti
 3:14
15. "Shi Shi (Skit)"       0:14
16. "Dreams"  
  • Douglas
  • Vest
  • Lorenzo
  • DeBarge
  • 7 Aurelius
  • Irv Gotti
 4:18
17. "Thank You"   Douglas Douglas 1:48
Notes
  • (*) denotes co-producer.
Sample credits

Credits

Charts and certifications

Awards and nominations

Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2002 BET Awards Best New Artist Nominated
Lady of Soul Best R&B/Soul New Artist Won
Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year Won
Best R&B/Soul Single - "Foolish" Won
R&B/Soul Album of the Year - Ashanti Won
R&B/Soul Song of the Year - "Foolish" Nominated
R&B/Soul Song of the Year - "Foolish" Nominated
Best R&B/Soul Music Video - "Foolish" Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Breakout Artist Won
Best New Artist Won
Choice R&B/Hip-Hop Single - "Foolish" Nominated
MOBO Best R&B Act Won
Best Newcomer Won
Best Album - Ashanti Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best Female Video - "Foolish" Nominated
Best R&B Video - "Foolish" Nominated
Best New Artist in a video - "Foolish" Nominated
Billboard Music Awards Female Artist of the Year Won
Top New Pop Artist of the Year Won
Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year Won
R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year Won
R&B/Hip-Hop Female Artist of the Year Won
New R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year Won
R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year - "Foolish" Won
R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Artist of the Year Won
2003 ASCAP Pop Music Awards Award-Winning Pop Songs - Foolish Won
ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards Top R&B/Hip-hop Song - "Foolish" Won
Award-Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - "Baby" Won
American Music Awards Favorite New Artist in Pop/Rock Won
Favorite New Artist in Hip-Hop/R&B Won
Best Duo or Group - Ashanti Won
Fans Choice Award Nominated
Favorite Female Artist in Hip-Hop/R&B Won
Favorite Album - Pop or Rock 'n Roll Music - Ashanti Nominated
Favorite Album - Hip-Hop / Rhythm & Blues Music - Ashanti Nominated
Grammy Awards Best New Artist Nominated
Best Contemporary R&B Album R&B - Ashanti Won
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance R&B - "Foolish" Nominated
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding New Artist Won
Outstanding Female Artist Won
Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards Best New Artist Won

Release history

Country Date
United States April 2, 2002
United Kingdom April 8, 2002

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Daniels, Mark. "Nobody's Fool". Amazon.com. Retrieved April 12, 2007.
  3. ↑ OnTV Shows | myLifetime.com Archived July 3, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ http://music.yahoo.com/ar-252802-bio--Ashanti
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Retrieved August 2011
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Ashanti, slantmagazine.com. Retrieved August 2011
  11. ↑ Robert Christgau: Album: Ashanti: Ashanti
  12. ↑ Ashanti - Ashanti | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Hot 100 Decade Songs
  16. ↑ Ashanti This Is Me » BIOGRAPHY
  17. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1043619/ask-billboard-ashanti-nelly-chate-moore-donna-summer-aretha-franklin-blackgirl
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ [1][dead link]
  20. ↑ [2][dead link]
  21. ↑ [3][dead link]
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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