Ashanti brings her
best game and more on her fourth studio album, the aptly titled
The Declaration, arriving in June of 2008 as the most complete
and compelling offering of her career. A soaring collection of new
tracks, penned by the multi-talented artist, the intricately
produced album captures her alluring presence and incredible vocal
range.
The Declaration
is an impressive rollout of A-list producers, including
Jermaine Dupri, LT Hutton,
Babyface, Pharrell Williams,
Bryan Michael Cox and others. A sizzling snapshot of the
heat-seeking Ashanti can be gleamed from the new
single; “The Way That I Love You” produced LT Hutton. The song
skillfully plays up the ever-present voice of the star. You can
feel Ashanti reveling in her new-found
independence, which she effortlessly displays with a powerful sense
of purpose throughout every song on the new album. “One of the
reasons I call the album ‘The Declaration,’ is because I feel it’s
important to present all sides of what being a woman is about,” she
says. “Historically, we’ve always been relegated to the bottom of
the totem pole, whether it’s business or the battle of the sexes or
just empowering each other. I want this album to make people feel
stronger about themselves. I’ve always used the ups and downs in my
own life as well as others close to me as a motivational tool and I
hope my music comes off that way. I felt a lot of passion making
this record. I loved every minute I was in the studio.”
Singer/Songwriter,
Actor, Author
Ashanti is a native of
Glen Cove, Long Island.
She burst onto the music scene with her 2002 smash hit debut album
self-titled Ashanti. The album landed at the #1
spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts, selling a
whopping 504,593 units in its first week. Her first week set a Sound
scan record as the most albums sold by any debut female artist in
the chart’s history, granting her a spot in the Guinness book of
world records. Simultaneously,
Ashanti also secured the top spot on
the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart and the R&B/Hip Hop Singles &
Tracks chart with her song, “Foolish.” She made Billboard history by
having her first three chart entries land in the top 10 of the
Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. She is the first female to
accomplish this feat previously only attained by the Beatles. That
year she was awarded 8 Billboard Awards. Her album “Ashanti” topped the Billboard Album
Chart and also won the Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album. In
addition, that year she won 2 American Music Awards and the Soul
Train Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the year Award. Her follow-up
release, “Chapter II,” debuted in the no. 1 slot on the Billboard
Album Chart and spawned two Top-10 singles. In addition to her
Grammy, she’s also won an NAACP Image Award. Numerous Soul Train
Awards, A MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Award, A Comet Award (Grammy
Equivalent in Germany), Lady of Soul Awards and a Teen Choice and
Nickelodeon’s Kid Choice Award, along with many other nominations
including an MTV movie award nomination for “Coach Carter.” Ashanti’s other albums include “Ashanti’s
Christmas", "Concrete Rose", and a remix album titled, "Collectibles
by Ashanti".
Ashanti
is hot off the #1 box office hit, “Resident Evil Extinction” staring
opposite Milla Jovovich for
Sony Screen Gems. Previously, she stared in the hugely successful
“John Tucker Must Die” in an ensemble cast composed of Ashanti,
Brittany Snow,
Sofia Bush, Ariel Kebble and
Jessie Metcalfe. In her
feature film debut “Coach Carter,” she co-starred with
Samuel L. Jackson. She can
be seen as an Indian Songstress who sings in Hindi and English as
she dances in the film, “Bride & Prejudice.” Ashanti made her telefilm debut
helming “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz,” opposite Miss Piggy and Kermit.
She got her start in acting on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Sabrina,
the Teenage Witch,” and portrayed Dionne Warwick on “American
Dreams.”
She has written
her first book of poetry through Hyperion titled Foolish/Unfoolish:
Reflections on Love which is currently in its sixth edition.
Ashanti
is also an entrepreneur who has her own fragrance, "Precious Jewel"
sold at Wal-Mart and other fine stores as well as a Dietary
Supplement “Ashanti’s OPC-3 Beauty Blend”.
Her endorsements
include: Herbal Essences, where she is the first African
American to land a national campaign, Candies Apparel, as
well as MUDD Jeans, "DELICIOUS CURVES".
Ashanti
has performed before Presidents and Royalty. She has performed duets
with the likes of Pattie Labelle, Smokie Robinson, Ronald Isley,
Stevie Wonder and
Kenny Chesney to name a few.
She has appeared on shows ranging from
Oprah, Ellen, Jay Leno,
David Letterman, Regis
& Kelly, Saturday Night Live, The View, Conan O’Brien, BET 106 &
Park, MTV TRL, VH1 and Fuse TV among others. She has performed on
virtually every music awards show from the American Music Awards to
the Grammy’s, the MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Europe Awards, the
Soul Train Awards and the Kids’ Choice Awards. She is an American
Favorite, singing the National Anthem and God Bless America for major events including
the World Series.
