Ashanti

About Ashanti

Everywhere you turn, it feels like there's another fresh faced young R&B girl looking to make it big. But the Grammy-award winning Ashanti is a cut above the rest. It's easy to blame the popularity of shows like American Idol that put big voiced amateurs on the fast track to fame. Most of those kids don't realize that there's more to being a world-class soul star than just the voice; you need poise, charm and a deep love of the music. And unlike her competition, Ashanti has proven that not only does she love the music, she understands it. How else could she write most of her own original radio hits? But, taking a close look at her background, it's no surprise that music is in Ashanti's blood. Born Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas, Ashanti grew up in Glen Cove, New York with her dance teacher mother and music teacher father. Her mother named her after the African pre-colonial Ashanti Empire, located in what is now Ghana. The Ashantis held a great respect for women, and women were also equal to men in matters of political power. With that background, how could Ashanti not grow up to rule the pop charts? Ashanti began her music career in her local church choir and, finding she had a gift for it, went on to several performing arts schools for both music and dance. For such a strong talent, Ashanti actually had a tough time getting started in the music biz. Originally, a contract with Bad Boy records fell through in contract negotiations, and the self-possessed songstress then abandoned a deal with Jive Records after the teen-pop hit factory tried to turn her into just another pop-tart. To follow those disappointments, a deal with Epic Records also fell through. Most aspiring musicians would have been brutally discouraged by now, but Ashanti kept her spirits up and kept gigging around NYC. Finally, she hit it off with Irv Gotti and Murder Inc, and in 2002 she released the self-titled, playful Ashanti. Singles off of Ashanti included the instant classics "Foolish", "Happy" and "Baby." Ashanti hasn't been content with just music; she also had rolls in several Hollywood blockbusters, including John Tucker Must Die and Resident Evil: Extinction.