By 2004, established female R&B artists were suffering. Mya, Brandy, Ashanti, and even Janet Jackson weren’t breaking any records with sales or radio play. There was a shift. Female R&B artists were expected to be voracious vocalists with ranges that would give those listening goose bumps. That shift was Beyoncé. No matter the differentiations and nuances among the pool of singers, after her 2003 solo debut, the paradigm shifted. The successes were the exception. Alicia Keys was a virtuoso; a singer-songwriter with the ability to play an instrument. Later that year, Keyshia Cole would be the newbie on the block with a voice that was rough as it was melismatic. The angelic vocal thinness that was predominant in contemporary R&B for the decade before had waned.
On Ashanti’s latest album, Braveheart, the album title is a direct reference to Mel Gibson’s 1995 film by the same name. In it, the Scottish fight against the English, outnumbered and outmaneuvered. Ashanti likens herself to the Scottish declaring, “A lot of people counted me out and that feeds my hunger and ignites my passion…” This is her way of declaring a comeback. It’s been six years since Ashanti’s fourth album, The Declaration, 12 years since her debut, and 11 years since her last Top 10 hit. There’s really no other way to listen to Braveheart.
“Bangers” were never Ashanti’s thing (2004’s “Only U” being an exception and the one in Braveheart we’ll get to later) and that’s where her missteps arise on the new production, only because it’s questionable whether they play into her strengths. Producer Detail, throws his hat into the ring with “Count” where Ashanti’s distorted vocals linger with, “Baby, don’t make me count your money.” In a land where songs make babies, Rihanna’s “Birthday Cake” and “Pour It Up” met at the strip club to conceive inebriated. It terms of style, it’s the odd-man-out in the album along with the Rick Ross trap-inspired collaboration “I Got It.” Both don’t illicit jaw drops, and that’s what tracks like that aim to do. The main vocal duet, for example, comes in the form of “Love Game” with Jeremih. The production on the track is rich and the chemistry palpable, but not striking.
Not all collaborations fell flat. There’s a gem on the album, of the radio-hit variety, produced by DJ Clue. The bass-heavy slow-groove “Early In The Morning” features a singing French Montana, and it’s, hands-down, the best track on the album. More than just an ode to morning sex, Ashanti’s low register weaves into the subtly arranged verses and hits the mark capturing mood and effortlessness, “Early in the morning, I’mma have you moanin’.” “First Real Love” with Beenie Man is triumphant as it is hopeful and geared to get some club traction. Ashanti’s voice works well with the reggae production and Beenie Man’s, “Zagga zagga zagga zaaah.”
Traces of Ashanti’s debut linger with tracks that are sweet and demure. “Nowhere,” “Don’t Tell Me No,” and “Never Should Have” all contain a fully contagious melody coupled with songwriting centered on vulnerability and regret–it’s good R&B. In theme and vocal arrangement, Ashanti conjures memories of Mary J. Blige during her My Life era, when she sings, “I try to make it work but I just end up hurt” on “Runaway.”
Needless to say the female R&B paradigm continues to evolve. Even the game changers (again, Beyoncé comes to mind) have had to make adjustments in regards to their creative output. There’s a needed “wow factor” with every move made coupled with material that’ll elicit some emotional connection, the way Jhené Aiko’s latest Sail Out EP has done. “Braveheart” has a few of those moments that demonstrate sonic evolution and connectedness. Though it is concise and cohesive, more than any of Ashanti’s albums, it’s still marred with glimpses of wanted grandiosity at the expense of artistic revelation. Brave would have been sacrificing that wanted grandiosity.
Looking at the cover i ask myself if she is ashamed of being black.
^^Smh….
^^Smh…. [2]
^^Smh….[3]
^^Smh….[4]
Big Ashanti fan but after seeing the tracklist i haven’t even bothered to listen to it let alone buy it like her others.
Co-sign.
What is the problem with the track list?
^^Um, the wack features maybe?? French Montana who is trash. Rick Ross who is okay at times but ass during others.
love it
solid album i think yall giving her a low review becuase shes an r&b artist no hiphopdx( no sure what that is either)
This album is definitely a club banger as well as an emotional truth to her love life. She has definitely hit the right notes. This album is a great album and takes us on a rollercoaster ride we want to keep going on. She shows us she can be current with “I Got it” & “Count” and is still to do ballads with “Scars” & “Never should have”. She’s been gone for 6 years. I know where she’s going with this versatility was definitely the motive. Giving us a little taste of everything and wants us to taste more of it. This is definitely her best album to date. She will definiely hit the status she was at in ’02. Welcome back Princess of R&b!!
The album is fire!
So………why were artists like Ciara and Rihanna able to have breakthroughs in 2004 and onwards without “beyonce” like vocals?
The reason why Ashanti fell out of favour is because she had only ONE major hit, “Foolish”. That and the whole Murder Inc flopping post 2005 didn’t help.
Ciara went downhill after she went with 50. He affected her career negatively with all his feuds. Who would work with her, if her “boo” was taking shots at all his rivals that had propped her up?
Everyone knows Rihanna took off only because she was in the right crew, Jay Z and his roc nation. Once she leaves, she is going downhill.
Good comparisons…but: In 2004, Ciara did have a hit, but her album sold 124k her first week – not 500k. Rihanna popped off in 2007, but was never an R&B singer until recently. Ciara showed promising beginnings. Rihanna churned out pop hit after pop hit.
you shoulda put the RULE BABY!!! on the album
woulda went triple PLATT by now
word to GOD
This girl looks better and sounds better than ever !
She is a black woman then why she looks white at the cover. All these black females have color issues
She doesn’t look white at all. you have issues.
Why so much negativity on ashanti this is ridiculous comments about she look white or she can’t sing please and anyway after beyonce had her baby and did a cover she looked white on it she is bright not white but she looked white on the cover and nobody said a word please leave ashanti alone the album is great!!!!!!
She came hard on this album.
Love Nevershould have, vocal perfection !
SAME SHIT DIFFERENT DAY
boring
Fuck rick ross and the corporate hip hop agenda
hhdx stopped ppl from being able to vote this down, 7 been the vote number for a day now, i vote 1 star.
Fire ! Want to see a Ashanti/Bruno Mars collaboration, Prince/Ashanti that would be sexy ass f***, Ashanti/Miguel would b so rawW !
I’m glad she’s back!!!
Best hands down!
Great album!
This album is givin me life! LOVE it!!
Love it!
Missing out on good album! She brings it.
I love the Album. Braveheart gives you real R-N-B!
Braveheart is an amazingly solid album!
Despite the circumstances, Ashanti has majorly delivered. Nearly every track is either extremely amazing or amazingly good. Its extremely consistent, focused well executed conceptual album that for the most part works and delivers. Everything about the album seems flawless and confident! Even the cover is absolutely breathtaking!
Go cop that album on iTunes now!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/braveheart-deluxe-edition/id818938295
Thus album is truly amazing. People underestimate her and judge her music without listening and just because she isn’t “popular”, but don’t knock her takent. She’s an incredibly writer and has an amazing voice. This is what R&B is all about!
I agreee that is exactly the way I feel I love ashanti and this album my favorite is never should have!
Its perfect I loved it scars is my favorite
love everything about this album this is definitely real relatable music & not all that bitchs sluts & hoes crap that is out now Ashanti I salute you & congratulations
This album is perfection currently getting me through some rough times Ashanti your music is therapy thank you I love you congratulations on a great album!!!!
There is nothing thin about Brandy’s voice
I have all of Ashanti’s official albums and the unauthorized ones of her early work. I’ve been waiting for Braveheart for years. It finally dropped and all I can say is I’m disappointed. Yes her voice is still there and I enjoy that but these tracks honestly feel like leftover tracks, very skippable. I think it’s the lack of direction and the fact that The Inc./Ashanti chemistry no longer exists. Can’t really describe it, it’s just missing that spark that her previous albums had. The one good thing is that this album makes me appreciate and love all her previous albums even more. Remember folks, she had years to make this album the masterpiece that she is capable of. Add Braveheart to your Ashanti collection but don’t expect to bump it more than her previous albums. PEACE
I must say that Ashanti albums usually suck, but not this one
4/5 from me
New music, sound great.
I love it. She can’t is my favorite
Ashanti is on fire!!!!!!!!!!! Braveheart
Sounds way too electric/digital. No soul. Call Irv gal.
Love the album
I love this album
But Ashanti was outselling Beyonce in 2004. And Janet Jackson (who is pop, not R&B) whose career was two decades old by than, certainly doesn’t belong in a list of newcomers to be compared to.
New 50 Cent music!! Check out the link!
http://www.jamplify.com/ca72f6
Best out.
The Album was agood comeback album for Ashanti. It seems to be the realest album shes produced so far.
After a few listens this album grew on me I love it, there’s some songs I like more then others that I think she should have made singles but overall job well done
I love this album if some people don’t like it it’s because they didn’t like her from the beginning. She is a great singer people doubt her they just dont know or appreciate her for her gift.
That’s my comment about ashanti and people not appreciating her giftt!
Hands-down…Ashanti is back!…Grammy!
It seems she aimed high and fell short by a measure. She sings from a point of strength and power in some of her tracks which show her maturity. Her lyrics in some songs are spot in as well. Where it fails to me is while she proved she could make a “modern” mainstream album, her essence is missing fro
It was good to hear Ashanti, again after so long!