R&B singer and songwriter Ashanti has achieved tremendous success with her record sales and award wins. She gained recognition in 2002 when her first album, titled Ashanti, was released and included popular tracks like “Foolish” and “What’s Luv?”. Her subsequent albums, Chapter II (2003), Concrete Rose (2004), and The Declaration (2008), have also been well-received.
Ashanti Bio Summary
Full name: Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas
Date of birth: October 13, 1980
Age: 44 years old (in 2024)
Place of birth: Glen Cove, New York
Gender: Female
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: Mixed
Parents: Tina Douglas and Ken-Kaide Thomas Douglas
Siblings: Kenashia Douglas
Sexual orientation: Straight
Marital status: Single
Height: 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm)
Weight: 64 kg (141 lbs)
Profession: Singer, songwriter, and actress
Early Life & Education
Born on October 13, 1980, in Glen Cove, New York, Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas will be turning 44 years old in 2024. Her given name is Ashanti, and her parents are Tina Douglas, a former dance teacher, and Ken-Kaide Thomas Douglas, a former singer.
Ashanti and her younger sister Kenashia Douglas were raised together. She began writing songs during her high school years. In the early stages of her profession, she secured small roles in music videos and sang in various venues in New York. However, her breakthrough was when she dropped her first single, Foolish.
Career
Ashanti had a lifelong dream of pursuing a music career, but achieving fame was not an easy journey. Her experiences at both Jive Records and Epic Records were difficult and hurt her professional endeavors.
However, everything changed when she joined AJM Records and caught the attention of Irv Gotti, a highly successful producer at Murder Inc.
He recognized her true skills in writing and singing and allowed her to showcase her talent in the music industry.
As a result, Ashanti made her first appearance as a featured singer on Big Pun’s track “How We Roll.” The song became a huge hit, claiming the top spot on the Billboard charts in 2001.
Before the debut of her album, Ashanti collaborated with numerous artists to build her presence in the industry. She teamed up with rapper Ja Rule for the track “Always on Time.”
Ashanti achieved a groundbreaking achievement in the music industry when her songs “Always on Top” and “What’s Luv” claimed the top two spots on the charts in the United States. Additionally, she also lent her vocals to the title track of the movie Fast and Furious.
In 2002, her first album, also named “Ashanti,” marked a major achievement in her career. Within its first week, it sold more than 500,000 copies, surpassing the Soundscan record for the best-selling debut album by a female singer.
This success carried over to her second album, “Chapter II,” which came out in 2003. Her subsequent album also reached the number-one spot on the Billboard 200 chart.
After that, she put out multiple studio albums such as Concrete Rose (2004), The Declaration (2008), and Braveheart (2014). In addition to her music, Ashanti has also appeared in various films and television programs since she began acting. Some of her roles include Mothers and Daughters (2016), John Tucker Must Die (2006), and Murder (2018).
She was nicknamed the “Princess of Hip Hop & R&B” by her record company and received eight Billboard awards and two American Music Awards for her highly successful album. She also had memorable performances in the films Bride and Prejudice (2004) and About Time (2013).
Personal Life
Ashanti prefers to keep her love life private and does not share many details about it. The only publicly known relationship she has had was with Nelly, a well-known rapper. They both rose to fame in the early 2000s and collaborated on successful songs that reached the top of the charts.
Ashanti and Nelly were once considered the most influential pair in the music world. Despite their decade-long romance, their story did not have a fairytale ending. After they split in 2013, fans held onto the possibility of a reconciliation, but Ashanti confirmed that their relationship was truly over.
In September of 2023, Nelly appeared on the Boss Moves with Rasheeda show on Philo and confirmed the rumors that he and Ashanti had reconciled. He expressed surprise at this development, which was also the same day that Ashanti showed up at the 2023 MTV VMAs with a customized clutch featuring a picture of herself and the “Ride Wit Me” artist.
Net Worth
Ashanti’s net worth is estimated to be around $8 million. She has gained recognition for her talents in singing, songwriting, producing music, acting, and modeling, and has earned her wealth through sales of her music, touring, and endorsements.
She has also received numerous prestigious music awards, such as eight Billboard Music Awards, four BET Awards, and six ASCAP awards.
