Ashanti
Real Name: Ashanti S. Douglas
Birthdate: October 13, 1980
Sign: Libra
Hometown: Glen Cove, NY

Ashanti biography :

Ashanti Douglas was born on October 13, 1980, in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York. As a child, she was discovered at a talent show, which launched her career. Ashanti turned down scholarships for both Princeton and Hampton University, deciding to pursue singing full-time. Ashanti regrouped by throwing herself into 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. However, her skills in the 100- and 200-meter dash as well as the triple jump, her specialty reaching as far as 35 feet, earned her athletic scholarships to Princeton & Hampton University. But she put college pursuits aside when Epic Records came calling with a contract in 1998. However, the label’s management changes quickly left Ashanti out in the cold. Undaunted, she continued to croon at local New York clubs and began hanging out at the Murder Inc. recording studio, hoping for another big break.

She landed a position as a backup singer for Jennifer Lopez, then signed with Murder Inc. Records. Ashanti’s self-titled debut album was a gigantic success, as was the first single, "Foolish." Following "Foolish," Ashanti released "Happy" and "Baby," before moving on to "What’s Luv" with Fat Joe, "Always On Time" and "Mesmerize" with Ja Rule, and "Down 4 U" with several labelmates.

On July 2, 2003, Ashanti released "Chapter II," her sophomore disc. The lead single, "Rock Wit U (Aww Baby)," and the album itself both became #1 hits. Currently, Ashanti is readying "Rain On Me" as the second single from "Chapter II."

She is most famous for her eponymous debut album Ashanti which featured the hit song "Foolish", and sold 503,000 copies (gold) in its first week on release in the USA in April 2002, a record-breaking feat. 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. Ironically, Ashanti wrote and sang background on the song "Ain’t It Funny" (Murder Remix) 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). In 2002, she was acclaimed as the "Princess of Hip Hop and R&B." By 2007 Ashanti had sold more than 7 million albums in the U.S., and more than 12 million albums worldwide.

Ashanti cites Mary J. Blige, Ella Fitzgerald, and Blue Magic as her musical influences. She is currently working on her fourth studio album entitled Incredible, which is due out sometime in late 2007.

Ashanti Discography :

Ashanti Albums
2002: Ashanti
2003: Chapter II
2003: Ashanti’s Christmas
2004: Concrete Rose
2005: Collectables by Ashanti
2005: Can’t Stop
2007: Incredible (Upcoming Fourth Studio Album)

Ashanti DVDs
2004: Ashanti: The Making of a Star

Ashanti Filmography :

Ashanti Films
Bride and Prejudice (2004)
Coach Carter (2005)
John Tucker Must Die (2006)
Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
You’re Nobody till Somebody Kills You (2007)

Ashanti Television
American Dreams (2002)
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2002)
The Proud Family (voice) (2003)
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (2003)
Pepsi Smash (2003)
Punk’d (2004)
Oxygen: Custom Concert (2004)
The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz (2005)
Las Vegas (TV series) (2005)
All That (2005)
Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball (2006)

Ashanti photo gallery

Ashanti wallpaper gallery

Ashanti photos & Ashanti wallpapers :

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