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PROFILES:
Nationality:
US - United States of America Place and Date of Birth: Glen Cove, Long
Island, New York, 1980 Occupation: "Murder Inc.'s Hip Hop/R&B
Princess"
Biography:
Ja
Rule. J. Lo. Big Pun. Fat Joe. She’s worked with some
of the industry’s best—writing lyrics and singing hooks
that help their records reach the top of the music charts.
Now it’s time for 21-year-old Ashanti Douglas to take
center stage and shine on her very own self-titled debut,
the much-anticipated Ashanti. In April, Ashanti hits the
scene as the first R&B vocalist on Murder Inc. Although
this is a departure for the hip hop powerhouse label that
has a roster including rappers Ja Rule, Vita and Charli
Baltimore, all indications show that the transition has
been more than smooth and successful. Ashanti’s lead single,
“Foolish,” has already made waves at radio—getting heavy
rotation on urban stations and galvanizing fans to demand
an earlier-than-planned release of her album, a tantalizing
blend of edgy hip hop groves and subtle R&B styling.
With Ashanti’s clever lyrics and slick production by Murder
Inc.’s president Irv Gotti, “Foolish” immediately reminds
music lovers of the Notorious B.I.G.’s popular “One More
Chance” remix. (True old school heads will remember the
familiar melody from DeBarge’s 1983 hit “Stay with Me.”)
Either way, you’re sure to be hooked. And that’s what
Irv’s depending on.
“Ashanti's album is full of ‘one-listens’ like ‘Foolish’,”
says an exuberant Gotti, whose passion for this project
is palpable. “When you hear this song, and other songs
on the album like “TK,” which is based on one of Scarface’s
old cuts, you remember it, you’re bopping your head to
it and you immediately get it."
Making sure people “get it” and truly feel where she’s
coming from is also of the utmost importance to Ashanti,
who penned all 12 songs on the album, most written on-the-spot
in the studio. “I want to create something so real and
reflective that people just sit back and listen like,
‘damn, was she in my window last night, because this really
happened to me,’ ” says the eldest daughter of a dancer
and singer. “Everyone has gone through something that’s
on this album, and I want to be able to articulate their
feelings.”
With cuts like “Happy,” “Baby” and “Rescue,” which detail
the ins and outs of relationships, the precocious Long
Island native is sure to make her mark with streetwise
sophistication similar to the reigning queen of hip hop
soul, who first blended hardcore beats and heartfelt lyrics
in the early nineties. “Mary paved the way,” says Ashanti,
who began pursuing her singing career at age 12 and also
cites Ella Fitzgerald and Blue Magic as influences. “I
didn't want to sing only slow songs and I didn’t want
to be spittin’ rhymes. But Mary put those concepts together.
She cleared the way, and now I’m following my own path.”
Says Irv, who executive produced the project, “I want
Ashanti's album to pick up where Mary’s My Life left off.
By no means are we trying to take Mary’s slot because
she’s undoubtedly the queen. But Ashanti is Murder Inc.’s
princess—with a gansta feel to her.
I really want men to champion this album,” Irv continues.
“Usually, with an R&B record, women pioneer it or
champion it before anyone else. I want men, thugs, ganstas—I
want them to hear the record and be like, ‘yo, this shit
is hot.’ That’ll make women like it even more. Ashanti
flips the hardcore songs and makes ‘em sweet, so she appeals
to both sexes.”
Ashanti’s already well established track record has placed
her on the sweet road to success. (Ja Rule’s “Always On
Time” has broken history as Def Jam's top selling single.
Her contribution to J. Lo's “I'm Real” helped give the
former fly girl-turned-actress-turned-singer urban credibility.)
With her own album, Ashanti continues the saga that is
sure to gain her the hip hop/R&B princess crown. And
the impact she hopes to make during her reign is simple:
“If you’re a person who has trouble expressing yourself,
all you have to do is pop in this album and it’ll speak
for you,” she says with all sincerity. “When you listen
to this album with your man or your girl, everybody will
be on the same page.” Says a much more boastful Gotti,
“Ashanti delivers at the highest level. And she has this
personality that makes people love her. She’s got too
many people feeling her, too many hit records and too
much heat for her to stop,” he praises. “She can’t lose.”
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Filmoraphy:
# # John Tucker Must Die (2006) (post-production) .... Heather
# The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005) (TV) .... Dorothy
# Coach Carter (2005) .... Kyra
# Bride & Prejudice (2004) .... Special appearance
... aka Bride and Prejudice: The Bollywood Musical (International:
English title: promotional title)
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