Birth name: shanti Shequoyia Douglas
Also known as Shany, Shan, Princess
Born: October 13, 1980 (1980-10-13) (age 26)
Glen Cove, New York, United States
Genre(s): R&B, hip hop soul, Urban Soul, Pop rap
Occupation(s): Singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, dancer, model, fashion designer
Years active: 2001–present
Label(s): Murder Inc./Universal Motown Records
Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October 13, 1980), better known as Ashanti, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, dancer, model and fashion designer who rose to fame in the early 2000s.
She is most famous for her eponymous grammy award winning debut album Ashanti which featured the hit song "Foolish", and sold a record-breaking 503,000 copies (gold) in its first week of release in the USA in April 2002. In the same week, she became the first female performer to simultaneously hold the top two places on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with "Foolish", and "What's Luv" (with Fat Joe). She broke records again by having three Top Ten songs (Foolish, What's Luv, and Always on Time (with Ja Rule)) on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the same week, being the first female to accomplish this feat and being second only to The Beatles.[1] Ashanti also wrote and sang background on the song "Ain't It Funny" (Murder Remix) sung by Jennifer Lopez which was also in the top 10 charts at the same time as "Foolish", "Always on Time" (with Ja Rule), and "What's Luv" (with Fat Joe).[2] In 2002, she was acclaimed as the "Princess of Hip Hop and R&B."[3] By 2007 Ashanti had sold more than 7 million albums in the U.S., and more than 12 million albums worldwide.
Ashanti cites Mary J. Blige, Ella Fitzgerald, and Blue Magic as her musical influences.[4] She is currently working on her fourth studio album entitled The Declaration, which is due out in December of 2007. Ashanti appeared in the Sci-Fi horror thriller Resident Evil: Extinction as a fire-powered Florence Nightingale named Nurse Betty.
Acting career
Ashanti got her first taste of acting as a child extra in the Spike Lee directed movies Malcolm X starring Denzel Washington & Who's Da Man. She also started as a dancer in the Disney TV film Polly.
Ashanti (as Kyra) in a scene from the movie Coach Carter (2005).
Ashanti (as Kyra) in a scene from the movie Coach Carter (2005).
After success with her music career, Ashanti ventured back into acting and in 2004, she appeared in the English-language Bollywood film Bride and Prejudice, in which she sang "My Lips are Waiting" and "Touch My Body'. Ashanti's appearance in the film was meant as homage to a tradition in Bollywood films where a celebrity would make a cameo appearance to sing a song that has no direct involvement in the plot. The rest of the characters do not interact with the celebrity but are seen in the crowd enjoying the show.
In January 2005, she made her feature film acting debut in the film Coach Carter alongside Samuel L. Jackson. She played a pregnant teenager named Kyra who has to decide whether or not to abort her unborn child. The movie opened at number-one at the U.S. box office, eventually grossing $70 million in the U.S. Later in 2005, Ashanti beat out Hilary Duff and Jessica Simpson to star as Dorothy Gale in the made-for-television film The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, which pulled in nearly 8 million viewers.
In 2006, she starred in the teen comedy John Tucker Must Die, which opened and peaked at #3 at the U.S. box office (competing with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Miami Vice) and grossed $67,989,780 million worldwide.Ashanti played Heather, the head cheerleader who participates in a vengeful scheme against John Tucker, her unfaithful boyfriend and the school's biggest heartthrob.
In 2007, Ashanti appeared in the Sci-Fi horror thriller "Resident Evil: Extinction" as a Florence Nightingale named Nurse Betty. There are many rumors circulating about Ashanti's upcoming movie roles. One rumor is that she will work with Quentin Tarantino (who had a cameo in The Muppets' Wizard of Oz) to revive the 70's show Get Christie Love as a film. The second rumor is that she is among the tops picks to star as Eartha Kitt in a biopic. In an interview Ashanti stated: "I can't say too much about them because we haven't signed on the dotted line, but there are a lot of interesting irons in the fire," she says. "Hopefully, by the next conversation, we'll be talking about the next two flicks." Ashanti will also be starring in You're Nobody till Somebody Kills You, a forthcoming film being directed by Spike Lee's protege Michael Pinckney.
Other activities
In addition to singing, Ashanti has emerged as a songwriter penning songs for Christina Milian, Ja Rule, Jennifer Lopez, Nas, Toni Braxton, & many more. She released a book of poetry titled Foolish/Unfoolish Reflections on Love in 2002 and a fragrance, "Precious Jewel by Ashanti," in October 2005. In 2005, she signed an exclusive deal with MUDD to promote their brand of jeans titled "Delicious Curves." In early 2006, she released "Ashanti's OPC-3 Beauty Blend," a nutritional supplement. Ashanti also has a clothing line in Europe for teenage girls titled "Princess."
On May 2, 2002 Ashanti received the key to the city of Glen Cove, New York (her hometown), and the day was named Ashanti Day; Ashanti also received a key to the city of Atlantic City, New Jersey (she was crowned princess of hip hop and R&B).
Ashanti is set to showcase her style in a book, titled Ashanti Style, which will be published in late 2007. The book, which is being touted as Ashanti's "life and style guide" will offer fans a behind-the-scenes look into her style, both in her personal and professional life. Ashanti Style will be published by Jump at the Sun, an imprint of Disney's Hyperion Books for Children. Another venture Ashanti has enlisted in is her own handbags and pocketbook to be revealed in 2007.
Philanthropy
In 2003, Ashanti partnered LidRock and the San Francisco-based Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to distribute the "Rain On Me" mini-movie using LidRock’s unique platform. Proceeds from the $5 mini-disc went towards helping to stop domestic violence. Ashanti also recorded a public service announcement that appeared in more than 4,000 film screens and reached millions of people. Ashanti also gives back by raising money for sickle cell research and she is active in helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation stating, "I’ll go and do just about anything for them." In 2005, Ashanti helped by recording public service announcement and raising money for the Southeast Asia tsunami disaster. Later that year she helped raise money for the Hurricane Katrina victims and storm evacuees.
Legal dispute
In July 2005, record producer Genard Parker claimed Ashanti owed him money for records that never were completed or distributed. A New York court heard Parker's claims and ordered her to pay Parker $636,000. But as the court stated no time records were ever produced. Parker is claiming over $2.3 million, while Ashanti's lawyers, say Parker never delivered any records and no records were ever distributed. In late 2005 a judge later rejected most of the award, ruling that there were not sufficient facts to determine the proper amount of damages. The case went to court on September 17th, but was dropped in light of each party voluntarily dropping pending lawsuits against each other.
Identity theft
In May 2007, Ashanti and Nia Long were discovered to be just two of several other people defrauded by Henrietta, New York couple Charles Curry, Jr. and Shameika Drain Curry. To defraud Ashanti, whose MusicFest appearance helped set an attendance record, the couple allegedly ordered a replacement driver's license in her name from the state Department of Motor Vehicles in August 2006 and claimed she had moved from Nassau County to Wilkins Street in Rochester, New York, the complaint alleged. When they received the new ID, Shameika reportedly impersonated the singer to purchase a 2003 Infiniti and secure a $36,789 loan from M&T Bank. The bank has since seized the car and Ashanti has filed an affidavit "stating that she was the victim of identity theft and did not give anyone permission to use her personal information to obtain credit and/or financial loans in her name," court documents said.
In another incident, Shameika also impersonated Nia Long to write a check for upwards of $8,000 to Shameika’s cleaning service. The couple also was also receiving mail at their residence in Mariah Carey’s name, though it wasn’t immediately clear whether or not they had attempted to defraud her as well.
As of June 2007, Shameika was allowed to remain free on her own bond after turning herself in to U.S. Marshals pending her arraignment while her husband Charles had to secure his own release by posting up his home and his parents' home as collateral as ordered by a judge. Charles, according to Memphisrap.com, told the judge that he hasn't worked for their cleaning business since February due to an auto accident, but records shows that he recently purchased a home in Greece for $315,000 on April 3. If convicted, the couple faces a $1 million fine and a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison.
Personal life
Since mid-2003, Ashanti has been dating Nelly, but she has denied reports that they were engaged.
Filmography
Films
* Bride and Prejudice (2004)
* Coach Carter (2005)
* John Tucker Must Die (2006)
* Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
* You're Nobody till Somebody Kills You (2007)
Television
* American Dreams (2002)
* Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2002)
* The Proud Family (voice) (2003)
* Buffy The Vampire Slayer (2003)
* Pepsi Smash (2003)
* Punk'd (2004)
* Oxygen: Custom Concert (2004)
* The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005)
* Las Vegas (TV series) (2005)
* All That (2005)
* Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball (2006)
Discography
Albums
* 2002: Ashanti
* 2003: Chapter II
* 2003: Ashanti's Christmas
* 2004: Concrete Rose
* 2005: Collectables by Ashanti
* 2007: The Declaration
DVDs
* 2004: Ashanti: The Making of a Star
Awards
shanti Douglas awards and achievements
Grammy Awards
* Career wins: 1
* Career nominations: 8
* 2003: Best Contemporary R&B Album — Ashanti
Source: Wikipedia
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