” Began Dancing as a ChildĪshanti Douglas was born on October 13, 1980, and grew up in Glen Cove, a neighborhood on Long Island, New York. She told mtv.com, “From the moment she was born … I just had the feeling she was gonna be a star. ” Her mother, Ashanti ’s self –described “momager, ” seemed to expect Ashanti ’s scorching success all along. It ’s never happened to me, where I thought we could do something and it went beyond my expectations. Irv Gotti, CEO of Murder Inc., Ashanti ’s record label, and a man known as a visionary in the rap and hip –hop realms, told Music Television (MTV) of the debut, “I always say we can go beyond our expectations, but she went beyond my expectations. Within a week it had sold half a million copies -a record for first week sales by a female artist. Of this unprecedented success she said in an on –line interview with the night before her album hit, “Oh my gosh, it feels crazy, and overwhelming! It ’s a blessing! ” More blessings were soon to follow. Meanwhile, a song she wrote for another artist was sitting in the number three spot. Two of those songs went on to grab the number one and two spots, a feat no other woman in U.S.

That week she had already become the first artist since The Beatles to have three songs in the Billboard top ten. April Fool ’s Day 2002 found R & B songstress Ashanti awaiting the midnight release of her self –titled debut album.

Ashanti discography