Who is Ashanti? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas

Age: 44 Years, 44 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Nelly

father: Ken-Kaide Thomas Douglas

mother: Tina Douglas

siblings: Kenashia Douglas

Born Country: United States

African Americans African American Women

Ancestry: Dominican American, Chinese Australian

City: Glen Cove, New York

U.S. State: New Yorkers

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1

What is Ashanti's role in the entertainment industry?

Ashanti is a singer, songwriter, and actress known for her R&B music and appearances in films and television shows.
2

How did Ashanti achieve success in her music career?

Ashanti rose to fame in the early 2000s, with hit songs like "Foolish" and "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" which helped establish her as a successful artist.
3

Has Ashanti been involved in any philanthropic activities?

Yes, Ashanti has been involved in various charitable efforts, including supporting organizations focused on cancer research and youth empowerment.
4

What are some notable collaborations Ashanti has done with other artists?

Ashanti has collaborated with artists such as Ja Rule, Fat Joe, and R. Kelly, creating hit songs like "Always on Time" and "What's Luv?"
5

How has Ashanti's music style evolved over the years?

Ashanti's music style has evolved from R&B to incorporate elements of hip-hop and pop, showcasing her versatility as an artist.

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Childhood & Early Life

Ashanti was born on October 13, 1980, in the City of Glen Cove in Nassau County, near Long Island, New York. Her mother TinaDouglas was a former dance teacher while her dad Ken-Kaye Thomas Douglas was a former singer.

She was named after the Ashanti Empire of Ghana, where women held due power, and her mother wanted Ashanti to pursue the same virtue and gain power. Her mother enrolled her to a dancing school and she mastered dance forms like jazz and ballet.

Her singing ability surfaced much later. The singer’s first performance was a church choir, which she sang at the age of just three. Her singing potential was first recognized by her mother when she was singing Mary J Blige’s ‘Reminiscence’ at the age of twelve. Her mother pursued her for talent shows which later brought her recognition, and there has been no looking back since then.

During her high school days, Ashanti focused on writing songs and exploring her potential for writing stories, which could connect to the audience. She was also part of the English club which laid the foundation for writing poetry. The powerful and soulful voice that she possessed was noticed by industry experts, and she was offered her first singing contract with Jive Records at the age of fourteen.

Later, she signed with Epic records but that contract lasted just for a year due to management issues. She got admission in Hampton University in Virginia on a track scholarship, which she later dropped to pursue her singing career.

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Career & Later Life

Ashanti always wanted to pursue music career, but the path to success was not that easy. Her stints with Jive Records and Epic didn’t fare well, whic did not help her career.

Later, she joined AJM Records, which ultimately helped her getting noticed by Irv Gotti, the multi-platinum producer of Murder Inc. He recognized her true potential of writing and singing and gave her a platform to showcase her talent to the music industry. This contact brought Ashanti her first musical act as a guest vocalist on the song “How we Roll” by Big Pun. The song was a huge success which made an entry to the top of BillBoard charts 2001. After this success, she signed a contract with the Murder Inc. and started off working for her debut album.

Prior to the release of her album, Ashanti collaborated with many artists to make her presence felt in the industry. She joined rapper Ja Rule for the song “Always on Time” and sung in the chorus for Fat Joe’s single “What’s Luv”. The name and fame achieved by these songs inspired, Ashanti to come with her solo track “Foolish”. The success of these songs was such that it appeared in the top 10 of Billboard Hot 100 list. The songs “Always on Top” and “What’s Luv” took away the top two spots which made Ashanti the first female singer to hold these two prestigious positions in America. The singer also sang the “Fast and Furious” title track.

Her debut album “Ashanti” in 2002 turned out as the biggest milestone in her career. It sold more than 500,000 copies in its maiden week, which set a Soundscan record of maximum sold out debut album of a female singer.

The success of the album continued with her next album ‘Chapter II’ in the year 2003. The next album was also placed at the number 1 slot in the Billboard 200 category. This was followed by two not so successful albums - ‘Concrete Rose’ (2004) and ‘The Declaration’ (2008).

Currently, she features as a leading actor in the Army Wives series produced by ABC and is also working on an untitled album.

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Major Works

The major works of Ashanti include her debut album “Ashanti”, which kick-started her career with a bang and won her many accolades including the prestigious Grammy awards.

The Songs such as “Always on Time;” “How We Roll;” “What’s Luv” were part of the Billboard top 100 and contributed immensely to her career. Ashanti has even sung the title track of ‘Fast and Furious’.

The singer is also known for ‘The Braveheart’ (2014) depicting heart-wrenching single "Never Should Have” and "The Woman You Love" featuring Busta Rhymes and "That's What We Do" featuring R. Kelly.

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Awards and Achievements

She has won eight Billboard awards, one Grammy Award, the Soul Train Aretha Franklin Award and two American music awards, for her debut album. Along with her Grammy, she has also received a MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Award, a Comet Award (Grammy Equivalent in Germany), Lady of Soul Awards, a Teen Choice Award and Nickelodeon's Kid Choice Award.

She has also won several nominations, which include an MTV movie award nomination and an NAACP Image Award nomination for her role as Kera in "Coach Carter."

Personal Life & Legacy

Not much is known about Ashanti’s personal life. Ashanti was known to be dating rapper-singer, Nelly, in 2003, but later in 2007, the two separated.

Facts About Ashanti

Ashanti is a talented singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the early 2000s, with hit songs like "Foolish" and "Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)."

She is of mixed Afro-Caribbean descent, with roots in both Ghana and Trinidad, which has influenced her unique musical style.

In addition to her music career, Ashanti has also dabbled in acting, appearing in films like "Coach Carter" and "John Tucker Must Die."

She has won multiple awards for her music, including a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album for her self-titled debut album.

Ashanti is known for her philanthropic work, supporting various charitable causes and organizations throughout her career.

Ashanti Biography

You wanted to know

What is Ashanti's role in the entertainment industry?

How did Ashanti achieve success in her music career?

Has Ashanti been involved in any philanthropic activities?

What are some notable collaborations Ashanti has done with other artists?

How has Ashanti's music style evolved over the years?