Trivia

Her mother, Tina Douglas, named her after the Ashanti Empire in Ghana; in this nation, women had power and influence, and Tina wanted her daughter to follow that model.

Her songs "Foolish", "Always on Time" and "What's Luv" made the top 10 all in one week.

Her grandfather, James, was a civil rights activist who associated with Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s.

Wrote all 12 tracks on her self-titled debut album.

Became the first African-American female to lead a national campaign for Herbal Essence. [2004].

Turned down a track scholarship to Hampton University to pursue her singing career.

Cites Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Prince, Madonna, Tupac Shakur, Smokey Robinson and Donna Summer as musical influences.

Was the first R&B singer to join Murder Inc. Records.

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. Only The Beatles have achieved this. Ironically, Ashanti wrote and sang background on the remix of "Ain't It Funny" 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) so the singer actually had four top 10 singles in the top ten.

Names Mary J. Blige, Ella Fitzgerald and Blue Magic as artists who inspired her.

Before she joined Murder Inc. Records, she was signed by Jive Records.

Attended Glen Cove High School in Glen Cove, New York.

In 2002, she took home a record eight Billboard Awards, winning all the categories she was nominated for.

A native of Long Island, she began singing at age 12.

Ranked #13 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2005 list.

She is most famous for her eponymous debut album "Ashanti" which featured the hit song "Foolish", and sold 503,000 copies in its first week of release in the USA in April 2002, a record-breaking feat. It was the highest first week sales for a female artist's debut ever.

She met rapper Nelly at a press conference for the 2003 Grammy Awards on January 1, 2003, and they began dating on February 17. They ended their relationship on March 6, 2004.

Friends with Q-Tip, Anthony Anderson, Flo Rida and Adrienne Bailon-Houghton.

Launched her career when she was recognized at a talent show (1994).

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on April 7, 2022.

Released her own fragrance line "Precious Jewel" [2005].

Ranked #37 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2008 list.

Ranked #81 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement.

Rolling Stone magazine readers picked her as Best R&B Artist [2002].

She was one Askmen.com's singers of the week [2002].

FHM-Romania's 100 Sexiest Women (Ranked: 92) [2004].

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).

Daughter of Tina Douglas.

Lycos' Top 10 Female Searches (Ranked: 17) [2002].

According to a report by Billboard.com in 2009, she has had the most top 10 songs (16 to date) on the R&B/Hip-hop charts by a female for that decade.

Spike/TNN 100 Most Irresistible Women (Ranked: 82) [2003].

Ranked #46 on VH1's 50 Greatest Women of the Video Era [2005].

Has worked with Ja Rule, Big Pun and Fat Joe.

E!'s 25 Sexiest Women in Entertainment (Ranked: 23) [2002].

E!'s 25 Young Hollywood Stars (Ranked: 14) [2003].

VH-1's 25 Greatest Rock Star Cameos (Ranked: 18) [2003].

FHM-US's 100 Sexiest Women (Ranked: 76) [2003].

FHM-Netherlands' 100 Sexiest Women (Ranked: 71) [2003].

Status World's Top 100 Female Celebrities (Ranked: 57) [2003].

Lycos' Top 10 Musician Searches for the First Half of 2002 (Ranked: 10) [2002].

FHM-Singapore's 100 Sexiest Women (Ranked: 99) [2003].

FHM-Singapore's 100 Sexiest Women (Ranked: 95) [2002].

FHM-France's 100 Sexiest Women (Ranked: 82) [2003].

Real Access Top 24 for 2004 (Ranked: 15) [2004].

Billboard's Top 100 Selling CD's (Ranked: 76) [2005].

BET's All Shades of Fine - 25 Hottest Women of the Past 25 Years (Ranked 14) [2005].

VH1's 100 Most Wanted Bodies (Ranked: 44) [2005].

Marc's List of Hottest Women (Ranked: 26) [2005].

E!'s 25 Sexiest Pop Stars (Ranked: 19) [2009].

Ranked #29 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2004 list.