Rap-Up.com || Ashanti Dishes on Album Title, Keyshia Cole Duet, & ‘Coach Carter 2’

Ashanti touched down at Philly radio station Power 99 for a candid conversation in front of a live audience. The “Woman You Love” singer spoke about turning down seven offers from major labels to launch her own label Written Entertainment, her long talk with Ja Rule before he went to prison, and reuniting with Irv Gotti for the first time since his indictment.

“It was a lot emotion, a lot of questions,” said Ashanti. “There’s no animosity between us. Time was needed to heal. … Everything is all positive. We had our black cloud and now we’re all good.”

She also explained how the Oscar-winning film Braveheart inspired her album title. “The metaphor that I took was basically in the movie you have the Europeans, you have the soliders from London and the U.K.,” she said. “They have the big horses, they have the shields, the guns, the weapons… They’re all armored up. And then you have the Scots. They’re all raggedy, homemade weapons, and paint on their faces. It’s not an even playing ground, so I feel like with the [major labels], they’re bossed up. They have the big engine and all the artists signed to them and with the indies, it’s depending. It’s homemade, it’s homegrown. It’s a lesser engine. So the metaphor I was using was being brave and putting your blood and guts into it and fighting passionately to win.”

In addition to Busta Rhymes on the lead single, she has worked with R. Kelly, Rico Love (“Perfect So Far”), and Keyshia Cole. She’s unsure if the latter collaboration will end up on her album or just Keyshia’s upcoming project. “The record is dope. I love it,” she said.

She is also in talks to reprise her role in the sequel to Coach Carter and is executive producing and starring in a movie called I Love Cinema. “The character that I play is very different for me,” she shared. “It’s a little bit more risqué, more sexy than I’ve ever been. It’s weird because she almost has a split personality. She’s a teacher, but she has one of those sides.”

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20 Comments

hyaskway
March 15th, 2012 at 11:51 am
cute so lookin forward to this album. Ashanti one question? Yes Or No on Nelly Love you two as a couple

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James
March 15th, 2012 at 11:56 am
I’m amped! New album and Coach Carter 2!!! I’m on cloud 9!

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angel
March 15th, 2012 at 11:57 am
Damn I’m excited for Coach Carter 2!!!
Ashanti is not playing this year can’t wait!

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Will
March 15th, 2012 at 11:58 am
nothing but great news here!!!

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LJ
March 15th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Independent artists haven’t been able to achieve a lot of success, because it is an uneven playing field.

However, I am rooting for Ashanti. I hope she pulls it off and at least goes gold.

Not sure how there can be a Coach Carter 2, just doesn’t make sense, but I loved the first movie so I will definitely catch the second one if it gets green-lit.

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Mr.NYC
March 15th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Ashanti is B-A-D.

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dylethat
March 15th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
ashanti goin on head and do your thang because niothing cant stop you.

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Jay
March 15th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Awesome! Glad Ashanti is doing more movies. She’s always great in movies. And I gotta hear this duet with Keyshia Cole! :)

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Harry UK
March 15th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
I love Ashanti but soldiers from Europe, uk and London vs the scots? So many things wrong with that! It was the English vs the Scottish ! They are both in the uk and the uk is in Europe ! I thought she was better educated then that.

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Trianna Reply:
March 15th, 2012 at 8:06 pm
@Harry UK, IT WAS IN THE MOVIE YOU IDIOT!

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Harry UK Reply:
March 15th, 2012 at 11:54 pm
@Trianna, Yeah in the film it was the English vs scots u dumb prick

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She_daone Reply:
March 16th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
@Harry UK, Dumb bitch

[Reply]
Ashanti Talks New Album, Label & Ja Rule On Power 99 :: The Lava Lizard
March 15th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
[...] Thanks Rap-Up! [...]
Natalia K.
March 15th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
omg..I love Coach Carter and I can’t wait for Coach Carter 2 :)

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sabrina
March 15th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
We really don’t need a Coach Carter 2.

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Aditya Bose Reply:
April 12th, 2012 at 3:39 am
@sabrina, dats jus plain bullshit & u knw it…coach carter & glory road are da best basketball movies ever…

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Karrucsha Blueei
March 15th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Can’t wait for Coach Carter 2.

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Mrs. Tremaine Aldon Neverson
March 20th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
I forgot she was in Coach Carter.

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ja-rule « Content Study
April 1st, 2012 at 9:46 pm
[...] boss to Mid-State and then Lincoln.) At Mid-State, Mr. Kozlowski — “Koz” to his … Ashanti Dishes on Album Title, Keyshia Cole Duet, & ‘Coach Carter 2’ – Rap-up.com 15 March 2012, 2:08 pm The “Woman You Love” singer spoke about turning down seven offers from [...]
wyng
September 21st, 2012 at 3:29 am
love ashanti, no one greater

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