If you’re old enough to remember R&B in the early 00s, why does Ashanti get disregarded?

[dora_da_destroyer]

An urban act but yet Foolish was more successful than Fallin. And Ashanti came out the gate and broke the first week sales record for a female debut album.

This the type of revisionist history shyt I’m talking about. Y’all just keep proving my point lol

ny nikka, who cares about first singles and first week sales - ashanti did not hit anywhere near alicia's peak, and she never had the same level of crossover. just on their debuts:

ashanti - 6m albums sold WW(3m US), 3 grammy nomincations
alicia - 16m albums sold WW (6.3m US) , 5 grammy WINS

we dont even need to keep the comparison going cuz their sophomore albums and achievements are even further apart

 

[brownsugah]

I feel like Ashanti just came out at the right time, like someone said in here earlier. Aaliyah died, and people needed someone they could connect to in place of her for that moment. And then Beyoncé came out that year after and Ashanti has been trying to play catch up ever sense.

In my opinion, Ashanti could've had moderate success (post-Beyoncé's rise as a solo artist) if she would've stuck to the Hip-Hop/R&B sound she had on her first album along with working with other writers more.. I think she is overrated lyrically. Repeating "baby" over and over again doesn't qualify as being great with the pen. Also, she needed to fire her annoying ass mother as her manager as well.

I will say that she had heaters in her prime.. "Rain On Me" and "Only You" are like my two favorite songs of hers. It would've been kinda interesting to see her elevate on the Rock infused sound of the latter, especially.

 

[Crayola Coyote]

Being associated with Murder Inc.
The rise of Beyonce
She really wasn't that talented

Remember this he movies she was in

 

[TheDarkCloud]

I feel like Ashanti just came out at the right time, like someone said in here earlier. Aaliyah died, and people needed someone they could connect to in place of her for that moment. And then Beyoncé came out that year after and Ashanti has been trying to play catch up ever sense.

In my opinion, Ashanti could've had moderate success (post-Beyoncé's beginning as a solo artist) if she would've stuck to the Hip-Hop/R&B sound she had on her first album along with working with other writers more.. I think she is overrated lyrically. Repeating "baby" over and over again doesn't qualify as being great with the pen. Also, she needed to fire her annoying ass mother as her manager as well.

I will say that she had heaters in her prime.. "Rain On Me" and "Only You" are like my two favorite songs of hers. It would've been kinda interesting to see her elevate on the Rock infused sound of the latter, especially.

This is a good point again. I keep forgetting about the timing of Ashanti’s debut. I remember reading a while back people thought the timing of her debut had everything to do with how successful that album was. It’s like she was holding that lane down after Aaliyah until the rise of Beyoncé. Even though Ashanti was still going strong even after 2003. I do wonder if she had come out in 2001 or 2003, would that had been the same result..?

 

[brownsugah]

Also, it didn't help when Ashanti performed "Rock With U" after Bey performed "Crazy In Love" earlier in the evening at the 2003 BET Awards. And in a similarly cut outfit with the brown/blonde hair as well.

 

[TheGreatMTB]

If we're being honest a lot of female rnb singers from the 2000s got washed out by Beyonce...who I personally think its just an average performer...but her hype base can't be matched.

Mya
Amerie
Alicia Keys
Ciara
Rihanna
Tearra Mari
Ashanti
Keri Hilson
Christina Milian

In my opinion all produced music I enjoyed more than Beyonce's (maybe not Tearra but you get my point)...ultimately Beyonce's hype is too much.

To put it in perspective, Rihanna has essentially outperformed Beyonce in terms of musical and acting careers...and it's been like that for a while. But the narrative is that Beyonce is still on top...despite the fact that Rihanna has literally outperformed her.

 

[QuintessentialBM]

All the points have been made, so....

I can't understand why either. I personally value artists that write their own songs and/or own music over artists that are completely manufactured. Ashanti is good in my book.

 

[TheDarkCloud]

Also, it didn't help when Ashanti performed "Rock With U" after Bey performed "Crazy In Love" earlier in the evening at the 2003 BET Awards. And in a similarly cut outfit with the brown/blonde hair as well.

I remember this. People swore that was what ended Ashanti.

I think people gave Bey too much credit for that, though. Ashanti was still running shyt at THAT point. It wasn’t until probably ‘04 when Bey started passing her.

Ashanti’s second album and Bey’s debut were released like a week a part or something close like that. Ashanti’s album sold more its first week and I remember a NY times write up saying “The Solo Beyoncé is no Ashanti” I posted in that Ameriie thread.

 

[TheGreatMTB]

+ if we're being honest...as fine as Ashanti is...the 2000s market was super saturated with fine singers...meaning looking good couldn't get you on top alone...and Ashanti still lacks stage presence to this day.


One thing you can never say about Beyonce is that she lacks stage presence. She's successfully sold sex and wet dreams since she was in Destiny's Child

 

[brownsugah]

This is a good point again. I keep forgetting about the timing of Ashanti’s debut. I remember reading a while back people thought the timing of her debut had everything to do with how successful that album was. It’s like she was holding that lane down after Aaliyah until the rise of Beyoncé. Even though Ashanti was still going strong even after 2003. I do wonder if she had come out in 2001 or 2003, would that had been the same result..?

If she would've dropped in 2001 when Aaliyah was alive I think she would've seen some success, since more female artists were dominating at that time. But I don't think she would've stand a chance coming up in 2003 alongside Beyoncé. Either way she wouldn't have seen as much success as she saw when she first dropped self-titled..and she wouldn't have broken the records that she's broken with the chart success of "Foolish" and the first week sales of self-titled.

 

[brownsugah]

I remember this. People swore that was what ended Ashanti.

I think people gave Bey too much credit for that, though. Ashanti was still running shyt at THAT point. It wasn’t until probably ‘04 when Bey started passing her.

Ashanti’s second album and Bey’s debut were released like a week a part or something close like that. Ashanti’s album sold more its first week and I remember a NY times write up saying “The Solo Beyoncé is no Ashanti” I posted in that Ameriie thread.

Bey has grown a lot as a performer since then, it's CRAZY.

I remember seeing that article when both albums first dropped. I always laugh at it looking back.. Those people really were clueless imo.

A lot of people say that the Murder Inc legal issues is what damaged her career..and I think that had a bit to do with it as well in addition to the other things i've mentioned in my previous post.

 

[Wear My Dawg's Hat]

Ashanti didn’t have any staying power becuz she couldn’t sing


Still a dime tho

I've seen her sing live a number of times over the years. Her early recorded material did not do justice
to her actual vocal talent.

 

[QuintessentialBM]

+ if we're being honest...as fine as Ashanti is...the 2000s market was super saturated with fine singers...meaning looking good couldn't get you on top alone...and Ashanti still lacks stage presence to this day.


One thing you can never say about Beyonce is that she lacks stage presence. She's successfully sold sex and wet dreams since she was in Destiny's Child

This is the answer, especially the oversaturation of fine R&B female singers of that era.

 

[Optimus Prime]

she had hits, Foolish reminded folks of Biggie's "One More Chance" remix, but she was never respected. I remember radio stations making fun of her in their promos.

 

[brownsugah]

I also think the chaos surrounding Ashanti recieving the Lady of Soul Entertainer of the Year at the Soul Train Awards in 2002 impacted her as well. People didn't think she was deserving of the award because she couldn't sing..and ever since then, she was trying hard to prove to people that she could sing.. and with that, her albums/music got worse.