Back in November I wrote a post about American singer Ashanti's career over the past 20 years. It ended up turning into a long post, so I split it up into two parts. Here's Part 1: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2022/11/ashanti-through-years-part-1.html
And now here's Part 2. Sorry it's taken longer than anticipated! :) The first post covers 2001 to 2005 and this post covers late 2005 to present (it's a longer time span because Ashanti hasn't released as much music in more recent years).
Still On It feat. Method Man and Paul Wall
Still On It was the first single from the remix album Collectables by Ashanti, which came out in December 2005, and it actually ended up being the only single from that album. The main version features the rappers Method Man and Paul Wall, and there are also two remix versions, featuring rappers T.I. and Caddilac Tah (a fellow member of Ashanti's then record label, Murder Inc.)
Still On It samples the 1986 song Knowledge Me by now disbanded hip hop group Original Concept. The single version with Method Man and Paul Wall was released in November 2005.
Good Good
Good Good was the second single from Ashanti's 4th studio album The Declaration, released in June 2008 (coming after The Way That I Love You). It's a catchy song and the chorus "I got that good good" relates to sexual innuendo!
Good Good samples both Elton John's 1974 single Bennie and the Jets, and Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney's 1982 single The Girl Is Mine. It was released in July 2008.
Body On Me with Nelly and Akon
This song (a collaboration with rapper Nelly, Ashanti's boyfriend at the time, and singer Akon) was originally supposed to be the second single from The Declaration. However, Good Good (see above) ended up being released instead. Body On Me served as the second single from Nelly's 5th album Brass Knuckles and also the third single from The Declaration, coming out as a digital download in June 2008.
The song was quite popular here in the UK (reaching No. 17 in the UK Singles Chart), although it doesn't seem to have charted as well in the US.
There are different versions of Body On Me, including one where Nelly has more verses and another where Ashanti has more. Nelly's version was released as a single.
You can listen to Ashanti's album version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNmaKSq3Gqk
I Got It feat. Rick Ross
Ashanti's most recent album is Braveheart, which came out in March 2014 (almost 9 years ago now!). At the time it was her first studio album in 6 years (the previous one being The Declaration) and her 6th overall (including 2003's Ashanti's Christmas). It was also her first album since leaving Murder Inc. and was released on her own label Written Entertainment. I don't have Braveheart but have listened to it online.
I Got It which features American rapper Rick Ross, was the first single from the album and was released in November 2013. I don't think I'd seen this video before researching for this post!
Early In The Morning feat. French Montana
Early In The Morning is one of my favourite songs from Braveheart. It features Moroccan-American rapper French Montana and was released in 2014.
Say Less feat. Ty Dolla $ign
Say Less was reported to be the lead single from Ashanti's upcoming 7th studio album at the time of its release in November 2017. But to date she hasn't released any more albums, so it's a stand-alone single.
The song is about telling people to stay out of her business and being tired of false rumours. It features American singer Ty Dolla $ign. Please note that it contains explicit lyrics. :)
Pretty Little Thing feat. Afro B
In August 2019, Ashanti released the single Pretty Little Thing with British DJ and singer Afro B. It was related to her collaboration with the clothing line PrettyLittleThing, which came out in summer 2019. The song has an Afrobeats style, which is cool.
2.35 (I Want You)
2.35 (I Want You) came out in January 2021. I hadn't heard it before today. It's a smooth R'n'B song about late night/early morning thoughts of taking a relationship further.
Falling For You
Finally, this is Falling For You, Ashanti's latest single. It was released last October and is about getting over a lover who has treated you badly.
Hope you liked the post! :) Both of them were fun to write, it was good listening to Ashanti's older music again and discovering new songs. What's your favourite song and/or album of hers? My favourite albums are Ashanti and Chapter II. Not sure if I have an all-time fave song, but Foolish is a classic and I really like Rain On Me too.
P.S. Want more Ashanti? Before Christmas (2022) I shared the video for Christmas Time Again, from her 2003 album Ashanti's Christmas: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2022/12/weekly-music-video_21.html
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