Rihanna's Biography

Birth name -
Robyn Rihanna Fenty
Born -
February 20, 1988(age 19)
Origin -
Saint Michael,Barbados
Genre(s) -
Pop, RnB, reggae, dance
Years active -
2005–present
Label(s) -
Def Jam
Occupation(s) -
Singer-songwriter, model
Website:
Rihanna
Biography -
Rihanna was born in Saint Michael, Barbados to Ronald and Monica Fenty. Her mother is a Guyanese of Barbadian origin and her father is Barbadian. She has two younger brothers named Rorrey and Rajad. Rihanna went to Charles F. Broome Memorial School, a primary school in Barbados, and then on to one of Barbados' Grammar (older secondary) schools, the Combermere School, where she formed a musical trio with two of her classmates. In 2004, she won the Miss Combermere Beauty Pageant and performed in the Colours of Combermere School Show, singing Mariah Carey's "Hero". At the age of 15, Rihanna received her big break when one of her friends introduced her to music producer Evan Rogers, who was vacationing in Barbados with his wife. Rogers, along with his partner, Carl Sturken, helped Rihanna record material in the U.S. which was sent to various recording companies. One copy of Rihanna's work was sent to Jay-Z, who eventually signed her to Def Jam Records. Rihanna stated in an interview that her friend and former Island Def Jam record label artist Fefe Dobson was someone that she admired and looked up to, having a fellow artist writing, singing, and performing the music she truly loves.
Musical Video..
Rihanna feat jay-Z - Umbrella

MUSIC CAREER..

Music of the Sun

Rihanna's debut album Music of the Sun, which she co-wrote, was released in August 2005. The first single released from the album was the track "Pon De Replay", which peaked at number two on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart due to considerable airplay. The second single, "If It's Lovin' That You Want", was less successful than its predecessor, peaking on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at number 36, and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. The album itself peaked within the top ten in Canada, and the U.S., and within the top forty in the UK. It has received platinum certifications in several countries, and received a Gold certification in the U.S. by the RIAA. To further promote the album, Rihanna toured as an opening act for American pop singer Gwen Stefani. The album sold over 500,000 units in the U.S. and over 2 million worldwide. The album features many dancehall songs that harken to her island upbringing. Because her second album, A Girl Like Me was released so soon after Music of the Sun, no more singles were released. However, a third single, "Let Me" was officially released in Japan, and peaked at number eight there.

A Girl Like Me

In 2006, Rihanna participated in several endorsement deals, including for Nike and J.C. Penney. She released her second album, A Girl Like Me, in April 2006, less than eight months after the release of her first album. The album debuted at number five in the U.S. and number four in the UK. The lead single, "SOS", was used in her endorsement deal with Nike. The song became Rihanna's first number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it also debuted at number one on the Hot Digital Songs chart. "SOS" peaked at number one in Australia and number two in the UK. The second single, entitled "Unfaithful", was written by R&B singer Ne-Yo, and addresses the feelings of guilt that the protagonist of the song faces as she cheats on her former boyfriend. The song became her third top ten hit in the U.S. and in the UK. The third single "We Ride" wasn't as successful as her previous releases, failing to chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, however, it became her fifth UK top 20 single, where it peaked at number 17 on that chart and peaked number one on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. Rihanna's fourth single from the album "Break It Off" featuring Sean Paul, had already climbed to number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 based soley on airplay. It was released as a digital download on February 19, 2007, which made the song jump from number 52 to number ten and then eventually peak at number nine.

In total Rihanna has had 11 different number-ones on the Billboard charts and has had major success on the Hot Dance Club Play chart with four number-ones ("Pon De Replay", "SOS", "Unfaithful" and "We Ride"). When Rihanna received an endorsement deal from Clinique, she recorded a song written by Ne-Yo entitled "Just Be Happy" as part of the deal to promote their Happy fragrance. The song can be heard on her Myspace page. Rihanna also recently recorded a song called "Winning Women" with Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger for P&G’s female deodorant Secret.

Rihanna made her acting debut in a cameo role in Bring It On: All or Nothing, which was released on August 8, 2006, she also appeared on an episode of American soap opera All My Children and drama Las Vegas.

Good Girl Gone Bad

Rihanna went in the studio in the early 2007 with Ne-Yo, Stargate, Timbaland among others to record her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad. The album was released on June 5, 2007. It features Jay-Z and Ne-Yo as featured artists. The first single, "Umbrella", featuring Jay-Z, was released on March 29, 2007 reaching number one in various countries, including the U.S. It was produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The Dream" Nash. Her second single, "Shut Up and Drive", was sent to radio stations on June 5, and has debuted on the Billboard Hot 100. Rihanna also stated that the album has a different feel from her previous two, with more up-tempo and mid-tempo melodies.

Rihanna worked with Timbaland on three songs in the album. Justin Timberlake co-wrote and provides background vocals on "Rehab".[7] In interviews, many have questioned the meaning and reasoning of the album title. During an interview on UK radio station Capital FM, Rihanna explains: "Bad is not sleazy. Bad has its own term to every individual and in my case it just means I’ve gotten a little rebellious on the album, broken out of my shell and I'm taking risks... Michael Jackson "bad" kind of way.

Rihanna was recently named 2007 Venus Breeze 'Celebrity Legs of a Goddess' by Gillette, and she insured her legs for $1,000,000. [8]. Rihanna is also set to be going on tour with Chris Brown and Bow Wow.

Faith Evan's Biography

Birth name:
Faith Renée Evans
Born:
June 10, 1973
Origin:
Lakeland, Florida,United States
Genre(s)
R&B, soul
Occupation(s)
Singer, songwriter, actress
Years active
1992–present
Label(s)
Capitol (2005–present)Arista Records,Bad Boy Entertainment (1995–2003)
Website:
Faith Evans.

Biography.

Evans was born in Lakeland, Florida to an Italian-American father and an African-American mother. Her father was a musician who left when she was very young. She was raised in Newark, New Jersey by her aunt, Johnnie Mae, and her mother, Helene, who had Evans when she was 18. Evans began singing at church at age two and later sang in school musical productions. She was an honor student in high school and won a full scholarship to Fordham University. However, she dropped out after one year of college to pursue a singing career.

Early Career.
At 19, she had a child named Chyna with musician and producer Kiyamma Griffin, from whom she later split. Griffin helped Evans get work as a session singer with Al B. Sure, who she met through producer Sean "Puffy" Combs. Combs liked Evans's sound and signed her to his fledgling label Bad Boy Records. She co-wrote and sang backup on Usher's debut self-titled CD as well Mary J. Blige's My Life, two projects in which Combs served as an executive producer. The breadwinner of the label was a Brooklyn rapper The Notorious B.I.G.. He and Evans met at a Bad Boy photoshoot and married only ten days after meeting in August 1994. She was first featured as a guest artist in Biggie's 1994 hit, "One More Chance (remix)."

Marriages.
Notorious B.I.G(1994 until his death in 1997)
Todd Russaw (1998-current)

Children

Chyna Evans — born 1993 (daughter with Kiyamma Griffin)
Christopher Jordan Wallace — born 1996 (son with Notorious B.I.G.)
Joshua Russaw — born 1998 (son with Todd Russaw)

Filmography
Turn It Up (2000)
The Fighting Temptations (2003)

Faith Evans ft Puff Diddy{I'll be Missing You)

source:wikipedia

Jennifer Lopez's Biography.

Birth name:
Jennifer Lynn Lopez.
Also known as::
J.Lo, Jenn.
Born.
July 24, 1969 (age 37)
Origin
The Bronx, New York, United States
Genre(s)
Pop, Latin pop, R&B, dance
Occupation(s)
Actress, singer, songwriter, dancer, fashion designer
Years active
1987–present (acting)1998–present (singing)2001–present (fashion design)
Label(s)
Epic Records,Work Records
Website:
jennifer lopez

Biography

Lopez was born and raised in the Castle Hill neighborhood in the Bronx, New York City, New York to Puerto Rican parents Guadalupe Rodríguez and David Lopez. Lopez spent her entire academic career in Catholic schools. She also financed singing and dancing lessons for herself from the age of nineteen. After leaving a one semester-long career at Baruch College, Lopez divided her time between working in a legal office, dance classes, and dance performances in Manhattan clubs at night. After months of auditioning for dance roles, Lopez was selected as a dancer for various rap artists' music videos, and was given a guest spot on the American Music Awards. After being rejected for the gig twice, Lopez gained her first regular high-profile gig as a "Fly Girl" dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color in 1991. Soon after, Jennifer Lopez became a back-up dancer for famed singer Janet Jackson and made an appearance in her 1993 video "That's the Way Love Goes". Scheduled and contracted to go on Janet's world tour, she asked the superstar to be let out of her contract to pursue her acting career.

Jenifer Lopez - Love Dont Cost A Thing.

source:wikipedia

Ciara's Biography

Birth name:
Ciara Princess Harris.
Born:
October 25, 1985 (age 21).
Origin:
Austin, Texas, United States.
Genre(s):
R&B, pop, hip-hop, dance.
Occupation(s):
Singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, actress.
Years active.
2004–present (singer)2006–present (actress)2006–present (record producer).
Label(s):
Sho'nuff Records.
Website:
ciara
Biography.
Ciara was born in Austin, Texas. She grew up in army bases in Germany, New York, California, Arizona, and Nevada, since her father was in the United States Army
She has said that it was seeing a televised performance by Destiny's Child while staying home from school one day that inspired her to pursue a career in music. In her early teens she formed the goal to become a professional singer. She once was a cheerleader for her North Clayton High School team, until she quit. She then joined a girl group called Hearsay, worked on her songwriting, eventually left the group, got a publishing deal, and found a "musical soulmate" when she met producer Jazze Pha.
"Goodies" became a hit, reaching the top of the United States pop charts, and also charting in the United Kingdom (in January 2005, also reaching number one), Australia, Germany, Sweden, and New Zealand. With help from Pha, Garrett, and Lil Jon, Ciara released her debut album, Goodies in September 2004. It entered the Billboard 200 chart at number three, and selling three million copies in the United States alone. The second single, "1, 2 Step", featuring Missy Elliott, reached the top ten in the U.S., peaking at number two in early 2005. "1, 2 Step" was released in the UK on April 11th the same year, and reached number two, benefiting from the fact that it was the first week that downloads were incorporated into the singles chart. 1, 2 Step then climbed up to number two making the single it's highest peak in the UK charts.
In May 2005, Ciara's third single, "Oh" featuring Ludacris, reached number two on the Hot 100. In August 2005, Ciara's fourth single, "And I" was released and peaked at #96 which was poor compared to the first three singles.
In July of 2005 Ciara released her DVD of all three of her music videos, the makings and commentaries of two of them, behind the scenes footage of her rehearsals for the Soul Train Awards, and multi-angle shots of Goodies, entitled Goodies: The Videos & More.
Discography By Years
Goodies (2004)
Ciara: The Evolution (2006)
*Ciara feat Missy Elliot - '1, 2 step'

source:Wikipedia

Brandy's Biography

Birth name:
Brandy Rayana Norwood.
Born:
February 11, 1979:
Origin
Carson, California,United States
Genre(s)
R&B, pop
Occupation(s)
Actress, singer
Years active
1992–present (actress)1994–present (musician)
Label(s)
Atlantic (1994–2005)Knockout (2005–present)
Website:
Brandy

Biography.

Norwood is the elder of two siblings born to Willie Ray Norwood, a pastor and choir director, and his wife Sonja Bates-Norwood, a former financial analyst, in McComb, Mississippi She is the sister of singer and actor William Raymond "Ray J" Norwood Jr, and a cousin of blues singer Bo Diddley, and rapper Snoop Dogg.
Due to her father's work Brandy started singing at his Brookhaven church at an early age of two. By the time she was four, Norwood's parents moved the family from McComb to Carson, California, in hopes of jump-starting careers for their children.Inspired by singer Whitney Houston, Brandy began performing at many West Coast functions as part of a youth singing group and then, at 11, barely a teenager herself, met manager Chris Strokes who landed her gigs as backup singer for the group Norment and more successful teen R&B trio Immature
In 1993, while shopping around record companies, seeking a record deal, Norwood attended a party held by the Atlantic Recording Corporation. After performing in front of hundreds of people, an executive indicated interest in her persona and eventually offered Brandy a recording contract with Atlantic Records.
She is best known for her starring roles in the sitcom Moesha and the 1997 version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, and for her hit songs such as "Sittin' up in My Room" and "The Boy Is Mine". Brandy has gone on to sell more than 18 million albums and singles in the US alone and 35 million albums and singles worldwide. More recently, she has been cast as being one of three judges on the TV reality show America's Got Talent in 2006.
Brandy in Sittin' up in My Room

Mariah Carey's Biography

1}Birth name:
Mariah Carey.
Born:
March 27, 1970 (age 36)
Origin:
Long Island, New York, United States.
Genre(s):
Pop, R&B.
Occupation(s):
Singer, songwriter, record producer, actress.
Years active:
1990–present.
Label(s):
Columbia (1988-2001)Virgin (2001-2002)Island/Def Jam (2002-present).
Associated acts:
Babyface, C&C Music Factory, Jermaine Dupri, Trey Lorenz, David Morales, DJ Clue.
Website:
mariah carey

2}Biography.

Carey was born in Huntington, Long Island, New York. She is the third and youngest child of Patricia Hickey, a former opera singer and voice coach of Irish American extraction, and Alfred Roy Carey (formerly Nuñez), an aeronautical engineer of Afro-Venezuelan heritage. As a multiethnic family, the Careys endured racial slurs, hostility, and sometimes violence, causing the family to frequently relocate throughout the New York and Rhode Island areas. The strain on the family led to the divorce of Carey's parents when she was three years old.
Carey had little contact with her father, and her mother worked several jobs to support the family. Spending much of her time at home alone, Carey turned to music as an outlet. She began singing at around the age of three, performing for the first time in public during elementary school, and was writing her own songs by junior high. Carey graduated from Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, New York although she was frequently absent because of her popularity as a demo singer for local recording studios. Her renown within the Long Island music scene gave her opportunities to work with musicians such as Gavin Christopher and Ben Margulies, with whom she co-wrote material for her demo tape. After moving to New York City, Carey worked numerous part-time jobs to pay the rent and completed five hundred hours of beauty school. Eventually, she became a backup singer for Puerto Rican freestyle singer Brenda K. Starr.
In 1988 Carey met Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola at a party, where Starr gave him Carey's demo tape. Mottola played the tape while leaving the party and was very impressed with what he heard. He returned to find Carey, but she had left. Nevertheless, Mottola tracked her down and signed her to a recording contract. This Cinderella-like story became part of the standard publicity surrounding Carey's entrance into the industry.

3}Discography.

Studio albums:
1990: Mariah Carey
1991: Emotions
1993: Music Box
1994: Merry Christmas
1995: Daydream
1997: Butterfly
1999: Rainbow
2001: Glitter
2002: Charmbracelet
2005: The Emancipation of Mimi
2007: TBA (two albums)
4}U.S. number-one singles
Further information: Mariah Carey singles discography
1990: "Vision of Love"
1990: "Love Takes Time"
1990: "Someday"
1991: "I Don't Wanna Cry"
1991: "Emotions"
1992: "I'll Be There"
1993: "Dreamlover"
1993: "Hero"
1995: "Fantasy"
1995: "One Sweet Day"
1996: "Always Be My Baby"
1997: "Honey"
1998: "My All"
1999: "Heartbreaker"
2000: "Thank God I Found You"
2005: "We Belong Together"
2005: "Don't Forget About Us"

5}Video:

Neyo's Biography.

Birth name:
Shaffer Chimere Smith.
Born:
October 18, 1982.
Origin:
Camden, Arkansas, United States.
Genre(s):
R&B.
Years active:
2005–present.
Label(s):
Def Jam Records
Website:
Neyo
Biography.
Neyo was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Ne-Yo. He is currently signed to Def Jam Records. Ne-Yo's debut album, In My Own Words, was released in early 2006 and debuted at number one on Billboard 200, selling 301,000 copies in the first week. During the same period, Ne-Yo's second single "So Sick" (produced by Stargate) became the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Ne-Yo also wrote Rihanna's Top 10 hit, "Unfaithful" and Mario Vazquez's "Gallery". Recently he was featured on Ghootface's single "Back Like That".
Neyo in ''so sick''

source:MTV

Mario's Biography

Birth name:
Mario Dewar Barrett.
Born:
August 27, 1986.
Origin:
Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
Genre(s):
R&B.
Occupation(s):
Singer-songwriter, actor.
Years active:
2002-present.
Label(s):
3rd Street/BMG
Website:
Mario

Biography.

Mario wanted to become a singer at the age of four. His mother supported his dream and bought him a karaoke machine. He learned to play the piano and used that skill to create musical melodies and songs. This helped Mario stand out in various talent shows. After a talent show, he was discovered at age 11. He was offered a record deal to sign with Clive Davis' J Records, home to singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross, Cassidy, Dos Uno & Monica. His musical influences include Stevie Wonder, Fernando & Q-Bah, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men, and Joe. He currently resides in New Jersey. His first introduction to the music industry was the Dr. Dolittle 2 movie soundtrack in 2001. He sang a captivating performance of the Stevie Wonder classic You and I at Clive's Grammy party in 2002, and began recording an album.
Mario in let me love you.

Shaggy's Biography.

Birth: Name:Shaggy
Origin:
Kingston, Jamaica
Years active:
1993-present
Genres:
Reggae Hip-Hop/Pop
Labels:
Geffen.

Biography:

Shaggi's family emigrated to the United States and they settled in the neighborhood of Flatbush, Brooklyn, located in New York City, New York, USA. In 1988, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served during Operation Desert Storm during the Persian Gulf War.
On his return from the Persian Gulf, he decided to pursue his music career and his first hit in 1993: "Oh Carolina", was a dancehall re-make of a ska hit by the Folkes Brothers. The same year, Shaggy appeared on Kenny Dope's hip hop album "The Unreleased Project". He worked together with producers such as Sting Intl., Don One (who cut his first track), Lloyd 'Spiderman' Campbell and Robert Livingston. He had further big hits, including "Boombastic" in 1995.
He then had a major comeback in 2001, featuring worldwide number-one hit singles "It Wasn't Me" and "Angel," the latter of which was built around Merrilee Rush's 1968 hit "Angel of the Morning" (which was remade in 1981 by Juice Newton). The album Hot Shot, from which those cuts came, would hit number one on the Billboard 200.
However, his 2002 release Lucky Day, and the 2005 album Clothes Drop failed to match Hot Shot's success.
Shaggy performed the theme for Showtime (film), a 2002 movie.

Albums:

1993 Pure Pleasure
1994 Original Doberman
1995 Boombastic
1997 Midnite Lover
2000 Hot Shot
2002 Hot Shot: Ultramix
2002 Mr. Lover Lover
2002 Lucky Day
2003 The Essential Shaggy
2003 Boombastic Hits
2005 Clothes Drop

Shaggy in Angel:

R-kelly Biography.

Birth name:
Robert Sylvester Kelly.
Born:
January-8-1967
Origin:
Chicago, IllinoisUnited States.
Genre(s):
R&B.
Years active:
1991—Present.
Label(s):
Jive Records.
Website:
r-kelly
Biography.
Born in Chicago's Southside Projects, Kelly was the third of eight children. His father was a coal miner who worked as an ice cream man on the weekends. As a teenager, his love for basketball and music provided an escape from the grimy streets he lived in -- in high school(attended Kenwood High School on the Southside of Chicago), Kelly began participating in talent shows. Though one of his music teachers told him that he was going to be a star singer, Kelly allegedly first tried to earn a living as a stripper. Only when that failed did he follow his dream and begin his singing career by performing with a piano in the train stations and streets of Chicago.
In 1989, Kelly formed the group MGM and the next year, released his first single "Why You Wanna Play Me" with the group on Tavdash Records. The group appeared on the TV talent show Big Break (hosted by Natalie Cole) the following year and won. His manager at the time was David Hyatt. However, it wasn't until Kelly sang at a backyard barbeque (which Wayne Williams of Jive Records attended) that he was finally noticed and from there, he was signed by Wayne Williams to Jive Records. Sometime around 1991 he met Barry Hankerson, who became his full time manager after David Hyatt was sentenced to prison for running a large midwest drug ring. In late 1991 Kelly was introduced to Aaliyah and his then-group Public Announcement recorded much of what would become "Born Into the '90s". Within a few months, would be the featured songs in , The group's first album, Born Into the '90s -- featuring songs like "She's Got that Vibe", "Slow Dance", "Dedicated", and "Honey Love" -- was released in January 1992. Kelly had just turned 25. The R&B album was a huge success, producing several hit songs and selling more than a million copies.
Grammy Awards.
Best R&B Song ("I Believe I Can Fly")
Best R&B Male Vocal Performance ("I Believe I Can Fly")
Best Original Song from A Soundtrack ("I Believe I Can Fly")
R-kely in Burn it up.

source:wikipedia

Usher-Raymond's Biography.

Birth name:
Usher Raymond IV.
Born:
October 14, 1978; Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.
Origin:
Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Genre(s):
R&B, pop, dance.
Occupation(s):
Singer, actor.
Years active:
1994–Present
Label(s):
Sony BMG",LaFace Records(1994–2000; 2004–present)Arista Records(2001–2004).
Websit:
Usher
Usher's parents are Usher Raymond III and Jonetta Patton, who lived in Dallas,Texas at the time of his birth.Usher was primarily raised by his mother, who relocated the family from Chattanooga to Atlanta, Georgia when he was a child. Usher's mother focused family life around her faith and religion.
Usher started singing in the church choir, and soon his singing talents were noticed. As early as junior high school, Usher began entering local talent shows in which he won by unanimous vote.
Filmography.
The Faculty.
She's All That.
Light It Up.
Texas Rangers.
In the Mix (2005) (also executive producer)
The Ballad of Walter Holmes (upcoming) (2006)
Billboard-AURN R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
2002 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist
2002 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Artist
2002 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Artist
2005 Top Artist
2005 Top Male Artist
2005 Top Singles Artist
Grammy Awards
2001 R&B Male Vocal Performance ("U Remind Me")
2002 R&B Male Vocal Performance ("U Don't Have To Call")
2005 R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals (My Boo", with Alicia Keys)
2005 Contemporary R&B Album ("Confessions")
2005 Rap/Sung Collaboration ("Yeah", with Ludacris and Lil Jon)
Nominations
2006 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for ("Superstar")
2005 Album of the Year for ("Confessions")
2005 Best R&B Song for ("My Boo")
2005 Best R&B Song for ("Burn")
2005 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for ("Burn")
2005 Record of the Year for ("Yeah")
1999 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for ("My Way")
1998 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for ("You Make Me Wanna")
Usher raymond ft ludacris in Yeah.

Ashanti's Biography.

Birth name:
Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas
Born.
October 13, 1980 (age 26)
Origin.
Glen Cove, New York, United States
Genre(s).
R&B, pop, hip hop soul
Occupation(s).
Singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, poet, actress, fashion designer
Years active.
1994–present
Label(s).
Jive (1994–1995)Epic (1997–1998)AJM (1999–2003)The Inc. (2002–Present)
Website
Ashanti

BIOGRAPHY...
Early life
Ashanti was born in Glen Cove, New York. She was born to an African American/Dominican mother and a African American/Chinese father. She inherited a love of music from her mother Tina, a former dance teacher, and her father Thomas, a former singer. Her mother named her after the former Empire of Ashanti in Ghana. In this nation, the women had power and influence, and Ashanti's mother wanted her daughter to follow that model. Her grandfather, James, was a civil-rights activist who associated with Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 1960s. Growing up, Ashanti took dance lessons and joined the church choir. Ashanti went to Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center where she studied different dance styles including tap, jazz, ballet, African, modern, and hip hop. She danced with the Senior Pro Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Avery Fisher Hall, and the Black Spectrum Theater. She also performed at the 1994 Caribbean Awards and dancing with Judith Jamison of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. With actress and choreographer Debbie Allen at the helm, Ashanti also performed in the Disney television film Polly alongside stars Keshia Knight Pulliam and Phylicia Rashad. Ashanti displayed a knack for singing when she was six by singing in a gospel choir but her mother discovered her full singing potential when she overheard Ashanti singing Mary J. Blige's "Reminisce" to herself at age twelve. By the time she hit puberty, her mom was sending out demo tapes of her daughter's vocal and dancing talents. The family couldn't afford to go to a studio and record a formal demo so when labels called, Ashanti would have to sing and dance in front of the record company executives. Her love of music continued to rise as she attended high school and began to write songs. As a teenager, she performed in a local talent show and at the Soul Cafe, China Club, Madison Square Garden, Caroline's Comedy Club and Greek Fest 2000. In her first major singing performance, Ashanti blew the Apollo Theater audience away with her rendition of Yolanda Adams's "More than a Melody." She also appeared in a number of big-name music videos, in addition to other dance work.

Early career
When Ashanti was fourteen, there was a bidding war going on for her by Jive Records, EMI and Bad Boy Records. Initially, she went to Bad Boy Records and sang one of Mary J. Blige's songs in front of P.Diddy and Biggie Smalls. After being impressed by her singing ability, Diddy then challenged her character. He pulled out a bottle and told her it was his new fragrance, which he loved. After one sniff, Ashanti exclaimed, "Oh pew, it stinks. I hate it!" Diddy just started laughing stating it was just a test to judge her character. In the end, due to a bad contract, Ashanti didn't sign with Diddy. This ultimately led to a record deal with Jive Records in 1994. Unfortunately, this relationship soured when Jive tried to make the soulful singing teen into a run-of-the-mill pop star.

Ashanti regrouped by throwing herself into schoolwork, cheerleading, and running on her school's track team. She was an honor student in English and belonged to the English club where she began writing poetry. She was also in the Drama club and performed in a few plays. However, her skills in the 100- and 200-meter dash as well as the triple jump, her specialty reaching as far as 35 feet , earned her athletic scholarships to Princeton & Hampton University. But she put college pursuits aside when Epic Records came calling with a contract in 1998. However, the label's management changes quickly left Ashanti out in the cold. Undaunted, she continued to croon at local New York clubs and began hanging out at the Murder Inc. recording studio, hoping for another big break

Filmography
☐Bride and Prejudice (2004)
☐Coach Carter (2005)
☐John Tucker Must Die (2006)
☐Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
☐You're Nobody till Somebody Kills You (2007)

Television
☐American Dreams (2002)
☐Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2002)
☐The Proud Family (voice) (2003)
☐Buffy The Vampire Slayer (2003)
☐Pepsi Smash (2003)
☐Punk'd (2004)
☐Oxygen: Custom Concert (2004)
☐The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005)
☐Las Vegas (TV series) (2005)
☐All That (2005)
☐Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball (2006)

Discography
☐2002: Ashanti
☐2003: Chapter II
☐2003: Ashanti's Christmas
☐2004: Concrete Rose
☐2005: Collectables by Ashanti
☐2007: The Declaration

Awards
☐Career wins: 1
☐Career nominations: 8
☐2003: Best Contemporary R&B Album — Ashanti

Ashanti's External links
☐Official Site...
☐Official myspace Page..

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