What Happened To Ashanti? | Her Rise, Downfall & Comeback

[@AmoMe2009]

Ashanti, Beyonce, Mya, Monica, Lumidee and Blu Cantrell made the summer of 2003 a true unforgettable classic. 🔥 What a time!

[@CharlesChristinaWH]

My ex who passed away dedicated "Movies" by her to me and she favored her too so that song hits me hard in a good way Rip Aretha my soul mate

[@christianferragamo3691]

You hit the nail on the head!!!!!!! I’ve thought that exact thought so many times. Those albums made that summer. Chapter 2, After the Storm, Dangerously in love all on repeat that summer ❤

[@danavixen6274]

Summer of '03 is UNFORGETTABLE! ☀️ ❤

[@jessejameslatimer8686]

Summer 2003 was definitely something to remember

[@TheeAntisocialXxtrovert]

LUMIDEE?! Man hell naw. Now she's the one who can't sing. LMAO

[@thebrownbaldy]

Congrats to her for getting her Masters and expecting her first child. Glad she and Nelly got back together, hope it stays that way.

[@zzizahacallar]

❤

[@justineebourgeois3420]

She shoulda stayed with Irv Gotti, he put her on and they made a cute couple 😞

[@universe-ie2mk]

​@@justineebourgeois3420uh, irv gotti was a married man with children at the time and is a lame, corny guy. Ashanti was embarrassed she even slept with him because of how petty he got over her career.

[@danavixen6274]

Hope Nelly marries Ashanti if this is what she wants. Glad she secured her masters. Hope they're happy! 🥰

[@AS-wj1du]

Thought you meant her Masters degree. Can't even believe Irv that she slept with him. He is the typical vile man, had a wife and kids and cheating and lusting after other women

[@MrBeautiful2908]

My wife and I saw Ashanti, Changing Faces, 112, and Adina Howard at the Schuster Center in Dayton, Ohio on 23 Feb 2024. It was simply marvelous

[@thegoldenseatlife]

I love Ashanti. I met her at the 2020 Millennium Tour. I made some art for her. She is just the sweetest. We laughed, she loved my funky hat i was wearing, her mom & sister were just as sweet. She is absolutely stunning in person. She definitely looks beautiful in photos but in person...just gorgeous. So happy for her!

[@danavixen6274]

She looks like she could be as beautiful on the inside as she is out. ❤

[@thegoldenseatlife]

@@danavixen6274 she definitely is 😁

[@nomsantuli6023]

So lucky to meet her

[@thegoldenseatlife]

@@nomsantuli6023 😁😁❤️

[@Monique__91]

I had no idea that people were really hating on Ashanti so hard at the beginning of her career smh

[@shy_doll5045]

Me either omg

[@franchescazamora1726]

Yall young

[@KrisBryant99]

A lot of people felt she just another cookie cutter artist with no talent and frankly I thought she was to despite liking her album covers 😅

[@beaniegee5129]

Nia Long directed and appeared in the video for Ashanti's song Baby

[@CashMoneyReckadz]

Looking sexy as ever, might I add!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@Tiajones333]

Yup

[@nicolesherman8974]

Congrats to Ashanti and her baby

[@justineebourgeois3420]

Should be Irv Gotti’s baby 🤷‍♀️

[@jewelsafire6844]

Ashanti has faced her fair share of adversities throughout the years, and is still standing tall. She's an amazing artist, and deserves all her flowers.🥰♥💐💐💐🌹🌹🌹

[@kairosunltd130]

🌻🌻🌻💐💐💐🌺🌺🌺🌸🌸🌸🌼🌼🌼🌹🌹🌹🌞🌞🌞🔥🔥🔥🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿💛💛🤍🤍🤍😍🥰☺️😊💎💎💎👑👑👑☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️Love and light to the queen. Blessings upon blessings to her. She my twin🥰😍☺️😊🤍♥️♥️♥️🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿Asante Sana. All the way from Africa. Reppin 🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🔥🔥🔥💯💯💯

[@beaniegee5129]

Ashanti's Unfoolish song with the Notorious B.I.G. was awesome

[@blakebrown84]

Ashanti is still very successful as an artist. I feel Irv Gotti is a clown. She was dating Nelly at that time is why Irv Gotti wasn’t happy about her being with him. We are still rooting for her today. She made a lot of hits during her prime. I’m glad she is doing well and getting back with Nelly and kept it moving.

[@zzizahacallar]

I love Ashanti I'm happy she's getting all that she deserves.

[@Poody]

She’s super talented!!!! J.Lo using her vocals was so obvious… 🙄 I’m glad it’s a well known fact now.

[@Tiajones333]

Right

[@nataliemscrzysxycoolharris]

Ashanti went thru it! Irv Gotti is a clown. He was butt hurt that she was with Nelly that's why he went on a smear campaign. I'm happy for her. She got her man and a new family.

[@callmefrog76]

I’m so glad she didn’t get sucked into the bad boy void! Ashanti is a timeless talent! Looking forward to seeing her on the something sexy for the city tour!

[@justineebourgeois3420]

She woulda loved Puff Daddy’s freak-offs 🤷‍♀️ 🤤

[@talias7533]

Ashanti Is so pretty

[@beaniegee5129]

Ashanti's 4th album Concrete Rose was released on the same day as 2Pac's 9th album Loyal to the Game and Xzibit's 5th album Weapons of Mass Destruction on December 14th 2004

[@Tiajones333]

Omg

[@Alexvander10]

I always loved her voice on those singles in the early 2000's. Didn't know about a lot of the drama or what happened to her afterwards but I know it's easy to hate on celebrities that get really popular really quickly like her. Will have to listen to her albums in their entirety.

[@tomasjephersin84]

When Everybody Was Dubbing Ashanti The Princess Of R&B.... I Automatically Dismissed Her. In Later Years She Did Make A Bigger Impact In The 00s And Has Penned A Bunch Of Huge Hits. I Respect Her Now

[@franchescazamora1726]

Glad you don’t matter

[@jaylene.turner6524]

Ashanti is a legend!

[@AngelHoll-pr8fz]

She sure is I miss the early 2000s!!!

[@danavixen6274]

Congrats to Ashanti on finding success in her career and love life in the 2020s! She is a LEGEND! ❤

[@nwsmgquis]

Ashanti will always be one of my favorite female singers!

[@JohnDeDominicano]

Ppl forget how commercially successful Ashanti was back then: - World Record for Fastest/Biggest Debut Album for a Female Artist (Billboard and Guinness World Record) - "Foolish" went #1 for 11 weeks and one of the greatest selling songs of all time - 1st solo artist in history to have 2 top spots on Billboard Hot 100 - 1st solo artist in history to have 3 top spots on the Billboard Hot 100 - The World's top selling female artist of 2002 - Billboard Woman of the Year 2002 - 4 #1 Hits on the Billboard Hot 100 (including the songs that Jennifer Lopez stole from and tried to take credit for due to Irv Gotti evil politics) - A profusion of awards including many Bilboard, American Music Awards and a Grammy Etc Ashanti could've continued to have global succes, but the music industry did her wrong plus the federal government when they had investigated Irv Gotti and Murda Inc. Ashanti should've had global stardom longevity like Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Britney Spears for the 2000s decade. But Ashanti's first year in the music industry was enough and many artists have not accomplished what she did in their whole career. Funfact: Ashanti was supposed to be a 90s Pop star and was supposed to rival Brandy, Britney Spears and many teenage Pop stars, but she didn't want to be a teenage Pop star and want from label to label. I think she was signed to Bad Boys with Diddy. She also had a full ride scholarship to the prestigious Ivy League Princeton University 😲😲😲 Nonetheless Ashanti is a legend.

[@doreensika837]

Jlo is milli vanilli

[@tonetonee4383]

👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@beaniegee5129]

The music video for Ashanti's song Foolish paid homage to the 1990 movie Goodfellas

[@Tiajones333]

Yup

[@beaniegee5129]

The Ashanti and Keyshia Cole Verzuz was awesome

[@melanierhianna01]

I love ashanti but THE LOU GOT MY HEART!! 😂❤❤ I love her and Nelly together tho they are so adorable !! The baby is gonna be so cute ❤

[@ronregussmith2679]

It really gets on my nerves how people are so quick to discredit Ashanti . She deserves her flowers and more credit for dominating hip hop, r&b and even pop during the 2000s! I had the pleasure of actually interacting with her on Twitter around her single release for falling for you before and she is one of the most down to earth, sweetest and unproblematic celebrities ever! I get annoyed at how she and Ciara are constantly disrespected and barely recognized when it comes to hip hop and r&b . The same way that Monica and Mya both rarely are acknowledged for what they’ve contributed to the culture. And many people in the black community wonder we don’t have as many black female mainstream stars dominating r&b hip hop and pop music like before. Irv will get his karma for sabotaging her career and being jealous over her and Nelly . Irv pulled the same moves that Tommy mottola did on Mariah Carey when she left him. Give Ashanti her flowers! Love that also Normani, Sza , Ari Lennox give her respect for influencing them too.

[@beaniegee5129]

Even Ashanti appeared in the video for J. Lo's Ain't it Funny remix video

[@TheArtofBeingReacts]

Great job. I forgot about Ashanti's acting. I wish she did more. I lost it when she played a demon on Buffy The Vampire Slayer❤😂

[@cewe2003]

It’s so sweet how she and Nelly found their way back together. I hope they wind up getting married. What an epic love story that would be! ❤️

[@talisabloomfield9169]

Yessss, they got married December 27th

[@AmoMe2009]

One of the best unreleased songs from Ashanti is “Hey Baby(After the Club”). Mario Winans, Diddy and Ashanti made magic on that track. Although it was probably shelved due to sounding like “Last Night” by Keysha and Diddy, I wonder how great it would have done as a single. Either way it’s a banger!

[@beaniegee5129]

Nelly also appeared in Ashanti's Good Good video

[@laurasimmons7584]

Everyone talks about her music but she has done so much more. She is an author of two books ( I have both of them). One was written in 2002, a collection of poems called foolish/unfoolish. The second a children book .

[@bunnysb2587]

Congratulations to them for the new baby...

[@beaniegee5129]

Ashanti's Christmas was released on the same day as Timbaland and Magoo's 3rd and final album Under Construction Part II on November 18th 2003

[@CandieP]

I wouldn’t necessarily say she had a downfall because that girls stays booked and busy and on vacations. She’s literally working at her own leisure.

[@Mosashi_EX]

Her and Sade were my ladies 🥰

[@TheeAntisocialXxtrovert]

I didn't know people clowned Ashanti that much. DAMN 😐

[@beaniegee5129]

Great story on Ashanti

[@Mila_Xox3]

So happy for her!!! She deserves every wonderful thing coming to her!!!❤

[@kairosunltd130]

Thankyou for covering Ashanti's story like this, she deserves her flowers 🌷🌹🌷🌹🌺🌸🌼💐💐💐🌻🌻🌻💎💎💎👑👑👑☀️☀️☀️🔥🔥🔥🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿she has put in the work and im so happy she finally acquired her music and went independent. She deserves it all and so glad it all worked out for her good in the end, has her love, a baby and everything coming full circle. She definitely is an authentic, true spirit. Love all the way from Africa, Swaziland 🇸🇿🇸🇿🇸🇿. She actually my twin🥰😍☺️😊🔥🔥🔥 Asante Sana 🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🔥🔥🔥🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@jassygemini1]

Ashanti first album had us in a chokehold and Irv is so trifling I feel like he was the real reason he career ended up stalling

[@MissRebels]

Irv is the reason, watch her Angie Martinez podcast and he threatened her and Nelly's life, that's why Nelly is over protective and she always has her guards.

[@EricRebelChild]

They left Ashanti’s backgrounds on both songs but Jennifer sang the leads. One thing about Ashanti, she’s always been very business savvy and about her check.

[@Tiajones333]

Ok jlo

[@EricRebelChild]

@ you’re a year late and a brain cell short.

[@hassanburton669]

Great Video Good Looks! I Never Knew There Was A Petition Against Ashanti Damn! I Never Knew. I Wonder 💭 If 50 Weaponized The Petition Against Ashanti? Rock Wit U Was 🔥🔥🔥

[@benjis1465]

I’m loving this series 🔥🔥 thank you for making these

[@beaniegee5129]

Ja Rule, Charli Baltimore and Fatal appeared on the remix to Ashanti's song Rain on Me

[@CharlesChristinaWH]

Also "Rock with you" sampled "Turn your love around" by George Benson and the remix sampled "Rock with you" by Michael Jackson

[@beaniegee5129]

Crooked I also appeared on the remix to Ashanti's song Baby

[@mizzjacquettaxx6974]

Ashanti such as an amazing talent 2000s beauty icon queen for sure!👸🏽❤️❤️ her music are classic timeless.✨

[@Itzsheila3087]

Love Ashanti🔥 … can’t believe those haters back then did that to her . However she is still here today (Sept 2024)making her hit tunes,🔥

[@JoshLingwoodock]

I grow up listening to Ashanti

[@beaniegee5129]

Ashanti also did other songs such as The Woman You Love with Busta Rhymes and Say Less with Ty Dolla $ign. She even appeared in Fat Joe's Pride n Joy video and she was on the remix to the song along with Pusha T, Miguel, and Trey Songz

[@thecloud9effect765]

Thank you for all the work you put in this one . Great job mi amor !

[@vu4uboo582]

Her career is like 1000s of other once famous artist's that Juicy Pop has covered: they're hot for a handful of years and then their music just doesn't get the same recognition it once did. I just don't get it. But it's obvious that theres a machine pushing these artists' rise then die careers.

[@Sayso2423]

Hearing this saddens my heart. Ashanti is very talented , haters can hate but tgey soon have to be quiet and watch you rise! 😂

[@katarinakrnjevic8183]

It's shame that Ashanti never achieved big international carrier . Foolish is such good rnb song.

[@beaniegee5129]

Ashanti also appeared in movies such as Coach Carter, John Tucker Must Die and Muppets Wizard of Oz

[@deebrown5534]

I loved her on Army Wives on Lifetime 🩷🩷🩷

[@chancest.thomas5160]

My Favorite Jamz by Her R: "Happy" "Over"

[@beaniegee5129]

Congratulations to Ashanti on getting her masters and on having a baby with Nelly

[@nonfiction88]

I’m an Ashanti stan, I’ll take no hate, my girl is talented, show respect

[@wwe682]

I'm just here to say f Irv Gotti for being a Petty Betty

[@PHSDM104]

I'll admit that, back in the day, i was on the train that classified Ashanti as a glorified backup singer. Nowadays, I'll give her her flowers. Also, I automatically think of John Tucker Must Die.

[@danisweetlove]

I got her first album back in the day and wasn’t impressed…I thought she was extremely overhyped back then. I didn’t dislike her, but got tired of her being propped up so much back then. I liked songs from her second and third album better than anything on her first. I also think her vocals got stronger on those albums.

[@karenoree350]

i love the song baby baby

[@yahainHotPink]

Thank you always!

[@TheArtofBeingReacts]

Fun Fact: The song "I'm Real", Ashanti featuring Ja Rule, would have never existed if Mariah Carey did not make "If We" featuring Ja Rule first. JLo's manager at the time, Tommy Mattola, Mariah's ex husband and manager (who Michael Jackson called "The devil"), was using Jennifer to try to take Mariah Carey out of The Industry by copying, and harassing Mariah...even using JLo and Ja. It's funny how beefs end up making good songs.

[@PHSDM104]

Don't forget Tommy taking the "Firecracker" sample, that Mariah was gonna use for "Loverboy", and using it for "I'm Real".

[@saj8]

Tommy Mottola never managed JLo. Benny Medina was her manager at the time. Get your facts straight.

[@TheArtofBeingReacts]

@@saj8 Why do that when I've got you so far up my skirt to remind me? You're right, tho thank you, it was Benny Medina.❤️

[@PHSDM104]

@@saj8 You're right. He wasn't her manager, but he was head of the label.

[@Tiajones333]

U right

[@CashMoneyReckadz]

Y’all really could have found a better picture of Brandi 3:45 😂😂😂

[@carlcrawford5939]

Since Nelly got back wit her he been smiling ever since 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TierraSanea87]

Ashanti's first album was the 1st c.d. i bought with my own money when i was 14 lol. My Godparents & my uncle used to always buy me c.d.s and stuff bc i can sing & i always loved music. But i remember being so proud to buy that damn Ashanti c.d.😂 Thats my girl, I'm still a supporter to this day.✨💯💛🩵

[@Tiajones333]

Ever since Nelly got back with Ashanti he been smiling he been happy he can't stop smiling

[@MonicaMariaMcLean-sh8ej]

Some people are just gifted like that to be able to sing without music. 🎶🎶🎵🎵

[@NellieKAdaba]

True

[@ThePrinceOfTheTalkbox]

honestly.. Ashanti .. was Popular... cuz she could sing... she was just PRETTY and MORE MARKETABLE

[@NYCJoeBlack]

Please do one on Salt-N-Pepa!

[@KimathiDonzooya]

And R&B girl group Blackgirl

[@lrs1519]

The way Irv described their relationship made me feel like it was a black ass lie. It could very well be possible that they were intimate. But you have to ask for each of their perspectives. Was she giving him the time of day bc he was her boss and she thought it would get her further? Was he feeling more powerful but still lost bc he was going through a separation?

[@Med-iiiiiii01]

4:19 Ashanti didn’t do a remix to jlos song jlo STOLE HER SONG AND HER PRODUCERS MADE A COUPLE OF CHANGES TO IT AND TRIED TO PASS IT OFF AS THE ORIGINAL

[@valarieford1778]

Congratulations

[@JukeboxJoeB]

Jennifer Lopez didn't lipsync to Ashanti's vocals. Ashanti's vocals were left on the tracks you mentioned and are very prominent on the songs, but J.Lo did record a lead vocal on top of Ashanti's vocals. So, while you do hear Ashanti's voice clearly at times and some folks may have mistaken Ashanti's voice for J.Lo's voice, you can also clearly hear J.Lo's voice singing the leads.

[@lovelymelanin9336]

Jlo steal’s vocals!

[@catherineharris4746]

FALSE! Jlo had no lead at all because the song wasn't even hers to have a lead😂 She was SUPPOSED to be singing a hook which was NOT her💥😂😂😂

[@lovelymelanin9336]

@@catherineharris4746 👍🏿

[@catherineharris4746]

@@lovelymelanin9336 100%FACTS!👍

[@CharlesChristinaWH]

Op is a Jlo burner

[@SpiceyKy]

Awww. That was cute. I love ❤️ tasty ending.

[@dandanhull]

Ashanti was brought in to write for JLo for her Remix album (she wrote Aint it funny remix) shes said she referenced the demo and Irv gotta mastered the song and used her Vocals in the background as some extra flavor, there is 2 videos on KZbin with Ashanti talking about the whole situation, and said She was just background vocals, and she isn't ghost singing for JLo (which is clear its JLos vocals) i checked J 2 The Lo! The remix album CD (bought it in 2002 ha) and checked the publishing, and Yup Ashanti Douglas is credited for background vocals, and writing credits, so She definitely has been credited for her vocals and writing from the start, i think people just like to use it against JLo to hate on her (not you, you barely mentioned it and didn't focus on it like others do). So many artists work with other artists who write and produce and whos vocals get left on for flavor, to me its just a collaborative effort, to me it makes sense that Ashanti been a singer who wrote and referenced this song would have her vocals on there, she was excited she got to work with JLo! Anyways one artists song that fits this narrative is Toni Braxtons "he wasn't man enough for me" it sounds like Brandy on the track (uncredited) who seems to sing half the song! Check out the Toni Braxtons song 'he wasn't man enough for me " and tell me that isn't 100% Brandy singing most of the song especially the pre-chorus and chorus 😮

[@andrewduarte115]

50 was on point with it all

[@frankjones861]

Ashanti having a loving family supporting her 24/7 non stop a mother who became her twin added with Ashanti determination not to give up fought for what she was determined to have a career in the music industry being a strong intelligent beautiful kind young lady was determined refusing to become a loser took baby steps while learning until she could walk once Ashanti was walking she never stop running look at what she’s accomplished Ashanti has accomplished so much having a movie Career written a book owning her own record company record having a star on the Hollywood rock of stars whose done much more I didn’t mention today she’s a Millionaire. What’s beautiful about Ashanti she has accomplished so much while still remain a classy lady she didn’t sleep her way to anything she has a beautiful mother supporting her non stop. I’m proud of the classy woman Ashanti has become having done so much on her own now she’s preparing to become a mother and wife to the only man I think she has ever loved Nelly and I knew Ashanti was always the only women Nelly loved I’ve been their fan from the beginning non stop I’m proud of the woman Ashanti has grown to become I’ve loved she and Nelly from the very beginning when the autograph asked for on TV.

[@stefansimpson7678]

💙💙💙💙

[@jamaulmewborn6460]

I'm glad she left Murder Inc or whatever it's called. I'm glad she's at a happy n positive place in her life. Good luck to her and Nelly

[@estherwhosoever7778]

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙love Ashanti

[@tonetonee4383]

Ashanti ❤❤❤❤❤

[@karenoree350]

i dont care they looked great together and i wished them the best on their family god bless them

[@DevilOnlyKnitsLace]

How can anyone ride on the "talent" of JaRule????? Ashanti is a talented singer--- period.

[@stingrey1571]

No mention of her movies and tv shows?

[@Tiajones333]

Yes I wanted to hear about that too

[@ericjones7769]

Tha fact that people were calling Ashanti "The Princess Of R&B" after she first came out was so annoying too me because Aaliyah had just passed away like a year earlier before Ashanti even came out but once Ashanti hits the scene all of a sudden she was the Princess of R&B 😮😮😮😮😮😮 i didn't like that at all

[@brittanydenton9966]

I felt the same! I was 12 and had both albums and they were both amazing albums but it seemed too soon to be calling her that but I see why they did now!

[@MangaMiyn]

told her to sign to nelly wow

[@NellieKAdaba]

And now she's married to Nelly.

[@sharonroebuck1243]

Congratulations on her getting back with her true love… Expecting her first child Performing individually and with her best friend with Nelly… Mo and Ma are the unbreakable unbeatable Mr and Mrs🫶🏽🫶🏽

[@SherileeR3003]

Ashanti go with Nelly Both of yours look cool, and awesome

[@gershonnundkumar6444]

Why people hated her so much? Like why?

[@mzcam6283]

I don't think FD said Martell contacted him first. He said Martell was contacting him and TK at the same time

[@ThePrinceOfTheTalkbox]

14:15 i see those headlight bulbs

[@miketran4289]

What's funny is you find out Nelly is such a nice guy. You never hear anything bad about him.

[@jamiepruitt4125]

are you serious?? the man was accused of sexually assaulting a woman some years back, and if Nelly was such a good guy why won't he married her? the man is almost 50 years old! getting pregnant by him might be a big mistake for her if its true!!

[@beasty5171]

​. Accused. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😭😭

[@Rhonda-dozier54]

❤❤❤

[@HoneyLove40]

♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@ThePrinceOfTheTalkbox]

DEALT with Another.. means yall was Smashing . YOU GOT that record deal... and thats the deal lol 19:06

[@L.W..]

I just want to note that it was interesting that she faced backlash for the video “the way that I love” but Lady Gaga had multiple videos of violence and murder (telephone, paparazzi, etc.) 🤔

[@healthnatics9604]

SHES SEXIER THAN BEYONCE, HER VOICE IS SO SOULFUL AND MORE REMARKABLE BEYONCE AINT SHIT TO THIS WOMAN!

[@v.nikkijohnson]

I've constantly heard the J. Lo vocal stealing rumor, but their voices sound nothing alike to me 🤷🏿‍♀️.

[@taureanmay1411]

1:28 ashanti.

[@taureanmay1411]

1:55 I miss her, wow 😯😳 I love ❤️😘 her voice.

[@taureanmay7480]

1:10 yes.