Ashanti Thinks There's A "Void" In Today's R&B Music

BY Erika Marie 9.0K Views
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The singer says there's a lack of passion in the genre.

It's been five years since Ashanti's Braveheart, and while the R&B sensation has been making industry moves by picking up acting roles and expanding her portfolio, fans are awaiting her next project. In a recent interview with Ebony, Ashanti once again teased that new music is on the horizon as she's been working on her forthcoming EP.

"I'm super excited," Ashanti said. "Me and Metro Boomin are executive producing an EP. I've been in the studio for a while and we have been coming up with some amazing records. And it's funny, I just did a Live with my fans Sunday I think? In L.A. I asked them, 'Okay, what do you guys want? You want up-tempos? You want club records? You want R&B records? Ballads? What do you want?' And they were like, a landslide. They want vintage Ashanti R&B with a little 2019 spice...which is why Metro is my guy."

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The "Foolish" singer goes on to say that her new music will feature "more bold" topics, so it'll be interesting to see what she comes up with. When asked about what she believes is missing from R&B, Ashanti said it's R&B itself. “I feel like there’s a void. I feel like people want it, but there’s not a lot of true, passionate, R&B music, when you think about it. Telling a story, being vulnerable and being visual.”

"I respect every artist," she continues. "I respect all my R&B girls...my guys, too. You know, Ella Mai is out there, SZA's out there, Sevyn's out there and I just feel like as a catalog and a genre, it would be great to get that love and that support. You may not necessarily see an R&B record on the rhythmic chart or the pop, the Top 40 chart. But I think people want it and I think people need it."


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.