Admitting “a lot of things have happened,” former The Inc./Murder Inc singer Ashanti is looking forward to a fresh start.
In promoting her rising single “The Woman You Love” this week, the former “Foolish” and “Always On Time” singer has compared the last three years of her life to getting out of a “black cloud.”
“It was like a black cloud that I had to come out of,” said Ashanti. “I wanted to kind of distance myself from that. I did Broadway. I did some films. John Tucker Must Die. Resident Evil. And I just kind of had to regroup and say okay, we’re going to start, we’re going to have a fresh start. I’m going to put my business hat on and approach music at a different angle because it felt like the industry, the music industry, was changing dramatically.”
Undeniably attentive, Ashanti is now working on making sure her music is not only right but provides monetarily.
“We know that music changes and three years is a lot of time. I have my own record label, called Written Entertainment, which I am super excited about. Being with the majors it taught me that I need a way bigger percentage than what they were giving me,” said Ashanti. “Everything (now) is digital. I’m cutting my own deal with iTunes. It’s about learning the behind the scenes to become a better businesswoman.”
With a distribution deal with E1 in place, things appear to be looking up for the woman listeners fell for in 2002. In that year, Ashanti debuted atop the Billboard 200 with over 500k sold. That self-titled album went on to sell over six million copies worldwide.
Ashanti’s new single and fresh start, “The Woman You Love,” featuring Busta Rhymes, is now available.
It’s been a turbulent few years for Ashanti and her former label, The Inc. Now, the Grammy-winning singer is opening up about their rocky past, calling it a “black cloud” that she hopes to move on from. In an exclusive interview with HipHopDX, Ashanti talks candidly about being released from The Inc and finally getting the freedom to make music her way – without all the drama. She also reveals why she was so hesitant to leave in the first place and what this fresh start means for her career going forward. So if you’re wondering how one of R&B’s brightest stars managed to break free from such an oppressive situation, read on!
Background Of The Dispute
The dispute between Ashanti and her former label, The Inc. Records (formerly known as Murder Inc.), has been a long-standing one. It dates back to the late 2000s when Ashanti first began expressing dissatisfaction with how her career was being managed by the label’s founders— Irv Gotti and Ja Rule. In 2009, she filed a lawsuit against them for alleged breach of contract and unpaid royalties. Since then, there have been numerous allegations made on both sides regarding what went wrong during their working relationship.
Recently, in an interview with Variety Magazine, Ashanti opened up about the tumultuous past few years and referred to The Inc. as “the black cloud” over her career. While acknowledging that it had taken time to move on from all the drama, she expressed excitement at having a fresh start with her new team of collaborators. She also acknowledged that this newfound freedom would allow her to take more risks within her music which is something she had not previously felt comfortable doing under the label’s umbrella.
As Ashanti moves forward into 2020, she looks ahead optimistically towards creating art without any restrictions or expectations placed upon her work by others—which will surely be welcomed by fans of hers around the globe.
Overview Of Ashanti’s Comments
Ashanti has made it clear that she’s ready to put the past behind her and move forward with a fresh start. In her recent interview, Ashanti revealed how The Inc.’s grip on her career had been stifling her creativity and suppressing her artistic freedom—describing them as “the black cloud” over her work. With this newfound liberation from such constraints, she is looking ahead towards taking more risks in order to create music that truly reflects who she is and where she comes from.
The singer-songwriter also expressed optimism about having control over decisions relating to her career, something which was not previously possible under the label’s rule. This newfound power will allow Ashanti to make choices based on what best suits her creative vision, instead of being restricted by someone else’s agenda or expectations.
As fans eagerly await new music from the artist, they can rest assured knowing that all future projects coming out of Ashanti are entirely hers—creatively and businesswise. There’s no doubt that 2020 will be an exciting year for both Ashanti and those lucky enough to listen to whatever musical magic she brings forth next!
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ongoing dispute between Ashanti and The Inc has been a long-running feud. It appears that Ashanti is ready to move on from her past experiences with the label. She’s calling them “Black Cloud” in order to signify a new start for both parties involved.
This just goes to show how powerful words can be and how they can change the way we view certain situations. Although it may seem like there’s no hope of reconciliation, hopefully this fresh start will help both sides come together and work out their differences.
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that even though two people may have conflicts or disagreements, communication is key when attempting to reach a peaceful resolution. By using positive language and taking time to understand each other’s points of view, we can all better ourselves as individuals and create meaningful relationships in our lives.
