Ashanti Album Update

Ashanti has just released "The Woman You Love", the Busta Rhymes-assisted, Jerry Wonder-produced first single off her upcoming fifth studio album. The album will be released through her own imprint Written Entertainment & distributed via a new deal with eOne Music (who released Brian McKnight's most recent album). Ashanti released the following statement about the deal:

"I'm so excited to have my own record label, Written Entertainment. With eOne as my distributor, I feel that their innovative & ambitious approach to the music industry really gives my label a worldwide presence. They have the top radio people in the business & are hungry to win! The more I learned the business, the more I knew this is what I wanted. Ownership is so important. As a business woman, this was a great move for me!"

I'm glad she's happy. I really haven't enjoyed her music as much though since she went beyond just being the hook girl. That tone...

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Jennifer Lopez & Ashanti "Boys & Girls Clubs Of America" PSA

Jennifer Lopez is among the many stars included in a new Ron Howard-directed PSA for the Boys & Girls Clubs Of America that features Beyonce's "I Was Here". And, oh look, Ashanti pops up in there too!

Ashanti "Never Too Far Away" Song Premiere

Ashanti has managed to score the theme song to the upcoming film "Dream House" called "Never Too Far Away":



Technically, the ballad is nice, but it does absolutely nothing for me.

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New Ashanti Promo Pic

Ashanti gets her J.Lo "I'm Into You" on in this new promotional photo for whatever is 'coming soon.' She looks good!

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Ashanti Album Update

Ashanti has been trying out "so many different sounds" during the recording process for her fifth studio album, she revealed on Twitter recently. Two songs we can expect to make the final cut are "Paradise" & "She Can't", while the first single--which we can count on to have some tempo!--should arrive "sooner than you think." Ashanti's not my favorite, but she's certainly capable of making some really good music.

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Ashanti Collaborates With Jim Jones

Ashanti is featured on the track "Changing The Locks" off Jim Jones' forthcoming album Capo (April 5th). Listen to their collaboration below:



Sounds... like Ashanti.

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Ashanti Performs On 106 & Park 10th Anniversary Special

Ashanti was on hand to help BET's 106 & Park celebrate 10 years on the air with a medley performance that included "Only U", "Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)", "Happy", "Baby", "Foolish", & "The Way That I Love You". Not that Ashanti wasn't a big part of the show for the past decade, but I don't know why they didn't get more big performers for the event. That said, she's 'bout to have me pullin' out Ashanti & Chapter II!

Ashanti Performs "Shine" On The Biggest Loser

Ashanti visited the contestants on this past week's episode of The Biggest Loser after they had their makeovers to further lift their spirits & to inspire them to finish out their journies with a performance of "Shine" off her latest album The Declaration. I actually think this was a smart move by Ashanti because not many people utilize this show as a platform, but it attracts a pretty large audience, myself included.

2009 VH1 Hip Hop Honors Performance Highlights

Ashanti & Ja Rule - Medley

Mary J. Blige, Method Man, & Redman - Medley

VH1 featured Def Jam in their annual Hip Hop Honors special this year & a couple of decent performances came out of it. Ashanti & Ja Rule teamed up once again for their hits "Down 4 U" & "Always On Time." Honestly, I've tried to enjoy Ashanti's music during this recent era of The Declaration, but Ashanti will never be better to me than she was in her Ja Rule-collaborating days. The two of them created magic together. Actually, it almost depresses me thinking about it because I know the days of music like this are gone. Also, following a Method Man/Redman collabo, Mary J. Blige joined Method Man onstage to perform their classic (or so the internet tells me) "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By." Cool beans.

*UPDATED* Ashanti On The Early Show

Ashanti promoted her "Wizard Of Oz" tribute recording of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" (available now for digital download) with a performance on The Early Show. She actually did a great job. Very nice.

UPDATE: Here's her interview from the show:

Ashanti "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" Song Premiere

In honor of the 70th anniversary of "The Wizard Of Oz," Ashanti has released her version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow." Sure it makes sense since she performed in "The Wiz" earlier this year--& it's not bad--but I think I'll stick with Katharine McPhee's version. If this is your cup of tea, you can purchase the song HERE.

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Ashanti "The Wiz": Access Granted

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Access Granted went behind-the-scenes with Ashanti, who stars in a new production of the musical "The Wiz." Part 1 features interviews with Ashanti as well as her fellow castmates Tichina Arnold & Orlando Jones. Part 2 features Ashanti giving a tour of the backstage area. Part 3 features some footage of opening night, which is a cop out because why would you have an Access Granted episode without a world premiere of any kind? Even though I won't be able to travel to New York to see the production, it was an interesting watch.

Ashanti Performs "Home" On Regis & Kelly

Ashanti took a little time to promote the production of "The Wiz" that she is currently starring in by performing "Home" from the musical on Live With Regis & Kelly. If I'm being honest, she sounded very uncomfortable & out of her element during this performance.

Ashanti Performs "Home" From "The Wiz"

At a press conference for her upcoming summer run of "The Wiz" in New York City, Ashanti performed the musical's signature song "Home." She did a good job of the song, considering she's not the best singer. The borderline shouty tone to her voice may actually help her to be heard on stage. Ashanti's latest album The Declaration is out now.

Ashanti On The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet

"The Way That I Love You"

Interview

In a move that makes me wonder if we ever made it past the summer of '08, Ashanti visited The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet to perform "The Way That I Love You" off her latest album The Declaration & participate in an interview. She sounded great! Note: The interview video is a hot mess, but you can just listen if you want.

Billboard Update

^This week's #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart
This week's #1 single on the Hot 100 chart^

See full charts HERE.

Kelly Clarkson makes her triumphant return to the top of the Billboard 200 album chart this week with her fourth album All I Ever Wanted after selling 255,000 copies. The-Dream's Love Vs. Money didn't do too shabby either, debuting at #2 with 151,000 copies sold. Flo Rida's "Right Round" makes it five consecutive weeks atop the Hot 100 singles chart, which sees quite a few debuts this week. The Hot Shot Debut comes from Carrie Underwood, whose "Home Sweet Home" comes in at #21 after selling 112,000 digital copies. Other debuts come from Kelly Clarkson ("Already Gone," #70), The Black-Eyed Peas ("Boom Boom Pow," #71), & Ashanti ("Want It, Need It" with Plies, #96).

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Plies ft. Ashanti "Want It, Need It" Video Premiere

[Video Removed As Requested]

(Apparently, Yahoo! posts music videos illegally...)

"Want It, Need It," featuring Ashanti, is the new single taken from Plies' latest album Da REAList. Props to Ashanti for looking & sounding great. Otherwise, the video is pretty bad & the song is disgusting. Sure sounds like somebody is compensating for something...

*UPDATED* Ashanti Performs "Shine" On Good Day New York

Ashanti performed "Shine" on Good Day New York recently. "Shine" is a track off her latest album The Declaration & is featured in the new Will Smith movie "Seven Pounds." All things considered, she sounded great.

UPDATE: Check out Ashanti performing a portion of her version of "The Christmas Song"--

Countdown To 2009: The Top 10 Videos Of 2008

#6) Ashanti "Good Good"

Ashanti Collaborates With Plies

Ashanti is featured on a track off Plies' new album Da REAList called "Want It, Need It." Listen to the song HERE. I like it, but it's nothing special. I would have to recommend checking out Ashanti's latest album The Declaration instead. Must say I prefer the growth she showed on that project compared to the backtracking she is doing by collaborating with this annoying rapper.