Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas ( State of New York , 13 of October of 1980 ), artistically known only Ashanti , is a singer of R & B (rhythm and blues) and soul , record producer , dancer , poet , actress and fashion designer American.
Summary
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- 1 Biographical synthesis
- 1 Professional career
- 2 Collaborations
- 2 Discography
- 3 Awards
- 4 Sources
Biographical synthesis
He was born into a musical family. Her father, Ken-Kaide Thomas Douglas, used to sing and her mother, Tina Douglas, is a dance instructor . He also has a younger sister named Kenashia.
His musical talent began to come to light when he was only 6 years old, singing in a gospel choir, a talent that he developed over time, and along with it his career. Ashanti went to Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center, where she studied different styles of dance, including tap, jazz , ballet , African, modern, and hip hop. He danced with the Superior Pro Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Avery Fisher Hall, and the Black Spectrum Theater. She also performed in 1994 at the Caribbean Awards and dancing with Judith Jamison of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. He also participated in the musical for televisionfrom Disney Polly. It was while she was in high school that she developed her talent as a songwriter.
Career
In 2001 Ashanti debuted with the great success “How We Roll”. Her sound was infectious and caught the attention of several producers, such as Murder Inc.’s sophisticated record producer Irv Gotti, who was initially supposed to collaborate with her, signing a contract with the record company.
The modest and feminine Ashanti was excited to sign a contract with a firm named Murder Inc. She filled a void that existed in this company: what was a rap production company became a stronger company with the arrival of this singer by R&B . The Murder Inc. marketing team got to work promoting Ashanti in time for her debut release.
At the end of May of the 2002 sale leaves its first album Ashanti , of which stressed in the top of the charts, the single Foolish , song rhythms mixing Hip Hop with the blues . His song Always On Time received a wide circulation, as well as his video. As a result of this, Ashanti sold more than half a million units during the first week and debuted to the top of the charts, a very big success for someone relatively little known and almost without expectations.
Collaborations
Video “Body on Me” – Nelly ft. Akon & Ashanti
He has written lyrics and has collaborated with names of the stature of Ja Rule , in the song Always on time , along with R. Kelly in Wonderful ; Fat Joe , with the theme What’s Luv? , becoming one of the songs of 2002 ; as well as Jennifer López , singing backing vocals on I’m Real . She put her cute voice on the song “Body on Me” by rapper Nelly along with Senegalese Akon . He also wrote and sang in the background on the song Ain’t It Funny (Murder Remix) , also sung by Jennifer Lopez. In USA . it is already known as “The Princess of Rhythm ‘n’ Blues . She also joined her voice alongside 14 other female voices: Mariah Carey , Beyoncé , Mary J. Blige , Rihanna , Fergie , Sheryl Crow , Miley Cyrus , Melissa Etheridge, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, Leona Lewis , LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood. , to record the song Just Stand Up , a song that premiered on September 2, and whose benefits ended in the research of the fight against cancer. It was an idea by Antonio “LA” Reid, who has been in charge of production with his colleague Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. Together they shared the stage on September 5 , to make the song live and direct during the television program “Stand Up to Cancer.”
