Ashanti Details

Ashanti entered the music biz while still in high school and had early deals in the late '90s with Bad Boy, Jive, and Epic. In 2001 she linked up with Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. and began both writing and singing hooks with rappers like Big Pun, Ja Rule, and Fat Joe, costarring on mega-hits like "What's Luv?" and "Always on Time." Her self-titled debut LP dropped the following year, going triple-platinum on the strength of its No. 1 single "Foolish" and winning a GRAMMY® for Best Contemporary R&B Album. After struggling for years, she was now one of the biggest names in music. Three more albums followed over the next six years, and she began focusing more on acting and charity work. Braveheart (released via her own label, Written Entertainment) is her first full-length since 2008's The Declaration. It finds her sounding rejuvenated, singing about struggles through adversity, staying true to herself, and the ups and downs of various relationships. "Runaway," "Don't Tell Me No," and the dancehall anthem "First Real Love" with Beenie Man are highlights.