Popularly referred to as the princess of R&B and hip-hop, Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas, known widely as Ashanti, featured as a prominent face on the urban music scene during the early 2000s.She sold over half a million copies of her debut album within its first week of release in 2002, which still stands as the record for highest first week sales for a debuting female musician. However, recent times have seen her prominence drop, begging the question ‘what went wrong with all that promising talent?’Grand EntranceAshanti came unto the scene on the platform of Irv Gotti’s Murder INC, in 2002 with the release of the B.I.G sampled, “Foolish” and it’s subsequent remix “Unfoolish”. With the smash hit announcing her arrival, she went on to record critically acclaimed guest appearances on Fat Joe’s “What’s Love” and label mate Ja Rule’s “Always on Time”. Winning eight Billboard Awards, two American Music Awards and two BET Awards amongst many others, she was apparently everywhere in 2002.Out of the SpotlightAfter winning a Grammy in 2003 for Best Contemporary Album, she recorded sophomore album, Chapter II, another success that sold over 300,000 copies in its first week. However, a Christmas album released in November 2003, Ashanti’s Christmas, was poorly received and didn’t sell more than a hundred thousand copies in the U.S.The period also saw the label’s headline artist Ja Rule embroiled in a lyrical feud with 50 Cent, with Ashanti occasionally referenced in the beef that continued till the better part of 2005. A lot of critics believed the beef ended sourly for Murder Inc as their perceived loss rendered them redundant on the Hip-Hop scene. If the proverbial boat sinks, the fate of those who can’t swim is pretty obvious.Missing PrincessIn 2007, she started promoting her fifth album, The Declaration with the release of two singles; “Switch” featuring Nelly and “Hey Baby”. She decided to work outside of the Murder INC. circle which reportedly did not go down well with Gotti. She featured artists from other labels and worked with producers not used by the label.The album recorded her worst sales on release selling less than a hundred thousand copies in its first week and not much has been heard from her since. Gotti announced her departure from Murder INC, in March this year and former label mate Ja released a track titled “Judas” which contained disses aimed at her and rapper DMX, after Ashanti had announced that it may be inappropriate for her to be in the middle of a beef-ridden label.Although not much can be said about her plans for the future, the singer/actress who has about five movie roles to her credit was reported in July to have announced that she would begin recording a new album that month. To expect her to bounce back right now might be unfoolish but at the same time, it might be a very foolish thing to do.Sources: WIKIPEDIA, REALTALKNY.UPROXX.COM, RAPDIRT.COM, M
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