Ashanti | "Braveheart" Era - 03/04/14

[Deleted]

I don't think people expected Ashanti to have a Top 3 R&B hit in 2008 after a 4 year hiatus from an underperforming album, but she did.

[tamed09]

If she goes with the Wayne assisted record as a first single then she'll be good

[d.t.m]

Sept 21, 2011 6:38:59 GMT -5 stunnedout said:

Aahanti was NEVER on Monica's level and doesn't have her solid core audience so her having that type of comeback is unlikely. Monica also has exceptional vocal talent which is another reason she has been so warmly welcomed and Ashanti certainly doesn't have that either.

I beg to differ. Overall, Monica's never had an era quite as big as Ashanti, Alicia or Beyonce's debuts although she came close with TBIM. Even with that 'solid core' audience Monica has she still needed a reality show to reignite interest.

[Deleted]

Monica didn't have an album with a 500k debut week like Ashanti, but I think The Boy Is Mine was a bigger success overall. The album had 3 major crossover hits that went all the way to #1 on the Hot 100. Ashanti's album had one crossover hit.

[d.t.m]

I believe Ashanti outsold TBIM in the US and WW. Her popular features around the time also helped push the album. Brandy benefited more from TBIM duet if anything, but Monica had a really nice era.

[stunnedout]

I'm not even going to make this into a big debate but Ashanti had 1 big era where she sold 500k first week (after putting her album on sale for $5) and she went downhill ever since. Monica has had a consistent career selling platinum and scoring major hits since the 90s and Ashanti was the "it" girl for 15 minutes and is a non factor. Monica actually built a real following and earned respect for what she does. Comparing their 2 situations is a joke.

[d.t.m]

Really? Then why has Ashanti outsold Monica in both the US and WW and racked up more top 10 hits?

Her follow-up era was still very solid for a R&B artist and her 3rd went plat. with really one single. Her last offering was basically done to get away from the Inc, but showed that with decent backing she could be successful again.

Thought we were discussing success and not respect, but Ashanti also still has industry respect from her peers as a songwriter even after being absent from the scene. Even Keyshia, who never was a big fan, gave her props for this. It's obvious you don't like her, but don't let hate downplay the facts.

[Deleted]

Ashanti may have been on more hits because of her doing rap hook after rap hook for a couple of years, but Monica's been way more consistent as a lead artist.

[think pink.]

Ashanti over Monica any day. But I still love me some Mo.

[SHOOTER]

Monica and Ashanti aren't even in the same league as far as I'm concerned.

[George]

I'm glad to see her at work on some new music. I'll be excited when she releases the first lead single off her new album. I wonder if she'll shoot a video for this soundtrack cut?

[Musiq]

Monica had two or three triple platinum albums, she has been here longer, and she has sold more albums atleast in the states than Ashanti has. Therefore how is Ashanti more successful? Monica's lowest selling album equaled Ashanti's last one if not it sold a little more than Ashanti's. They have nothing to do with each other. This is a horrible comparison.

[d.t.m]

Actually according to Soundscan Ashanti has scanned more than Monica by at least a million. Ashanti has also outsold her world wide.

Ashanti's also received several more Grammy noms which isn't the end all be all of success, but indicative of industry respect. They both are now mainly R&B artists at around the same age so the comparisons will come.

[vantiboy3]

Wow.
Pulse never seazes to amaze me (fan wars and rivalry).

Never in a million years did i think an Ashanti vs Monica comparison would turn so heated! In an Ashanti thread, of all places!

I would just like to add:

*Monica Arnold has never been a huge seller. Ashanti WAS a huge seller. Once. And that includes Worldwide. So baby, now they are in the same league. R&B singers running hard to always at least get the GOLD record.

* US sales, Smoolash sales! They both sold 5 million in the US. So lets not even go there. Just like comparing Grammy Award Nominations, which is also ridiculous. It aint a Grammy win baby. The fact is they BOTH won a Grammy. Years ago.When they were churning out 3xplatinum albums. Which happened ONCE! So they are both "equally" respected by their peers, and that completes that comparison.

So, lets enjoy the music and forget about the rest.

Now,

[stunnedout]

Ashanti got more Grammy nominations because of her being a resident hook hoe for years. Thank God they changed Grammy rules this year, for this exact reason of people getting undeserving wins and nominations.

And are you SERIOUSLY saying Monica and Ashanti are EQUALLY respected by their peers? Monica who has been doing this consistently for how long and remains relevant while Ashanti was washed up after 3 or 4 years? LMAO...seriously in what world? Certainly not this one.

Really its not worth discussing because there is only 1 or 2 delusional people that thinks Ashanti and Monica are even close to being in the same league and i'll let them have their fantasy.

[vantiboy3]

excuse me, but take a seat right there in the corner.
I was clarifying the comment above mine.
D.T.M said Ashanti is more respected because she had more Grammy nominations. If you read my reply, you would have seen i rebuked his sentiments because i do not believe nominations show how much respect you have. Grammy WINS does however somehow show that, if you want to believe the Grammies.

It would be best for you to read the whole page, and understand what is being said, BEFORE jumping in and attacking.

Again, d.t.m says Ashanti is more respected because she has more nominations.
I said, if you want to go there, than they are equally respected, because i do not believe nominations prove anything. They both won a Grammy, so in terms of that, they both stand in the same league. Grammy wise. Respect wise. According to d.t.m

[Musiq]

In terms of talent there is no comparison. People are just bringing Ashanti up because they are trying to shine a little light on her. Ashanti's grammygrammy nods were mainly based on her success and hype rather than her artistry per say. Monica is also taken more seriously as a singer and not just some fad. At first people were just saying Ashanti was just filling some void.

[d.t.m]

Bish have several seats and get a grip(stunnedout). Ashanti has industry respect and still can pull the same level of producers if not higher than Monica. In fact, she has several hot producers, including Dr Dre(who doesn't just work with anybody) submitting tracks for her next set. That's where the true test lies. So much for some 'fad.'

I also know for a fact that Monica was on the verge of being dropped before this last album and no one was checking for her until she basically tapped into Keyshia's fanbase after their duet. The reality show further reignited interest just as it did with Fantasia, and whether you lose sleep over it or not the same can happen for Ashanti, which sparked this conversation.

Contrary to what some may think, multiple Grammy nominations as well as wins do show a considerable level of industry support. Only 2 of Ashanti's 8 noms were for features and Monica surprisingly never got noms outside of TBIM single (w/ Brandy) until last year. Not even a Female R&B Vocal Grammy nom before. At least Ashanti won one on her own. No shade but Monica has yet to do that.

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

I like both artists and I like Monica's music better overall. I still can't help but feel like Ashanti was more of a force than Monica was. Apparently that is also reflected in their albums sales and Ashanti has been around half the time Monica was. Ashanti is a better writer and Monica is a better singer. The talent is about the same.

[kirby2725]

I think people in the R&B/Urban world would jump to say Monica is a better, more respected artist.
I think people in the Pop world would jump to say Ashanti is a better, more respected artist.

It all depends on what speaks to you, I guess.

[stunnedout]

LMAO back to reality. No1 respects Ashanti and she has no talent. She was fortunate enough to come out at a time when the Grammy's became VERY lenient with their voting to keep up with popularity and attract younger audiences. Thankfully they have recognized their mistake and readjusted their standards so they dont lose whats left of their credibility by awarding and nominating trash. Ashanti wont get another nom and Monica certainly will.

And if all it takes is a reality show where is Ashanti's? ??? Certainly if its that easy she would have done it instead of flopping. Right, moving on.

[Gray.]

Guys, let's be real. In regards to relevancy or popularity, ain't nobody talking about either of these chicks any more.

[d.t.m]

Sept 24, 2011 1:11:36 GMT -5 stunnedout said:

LMAO back to reality. No1 respects Ashanti and she has no talent. She was fortunate enough to come out at a time when the Grammy's became VERY lenient with their voting to keep up with popularity and attract younger audiences. Thankfully they have recognized their mistake and readjusted their standards so they dont lose whats left of their credibility by awarding and nominating trash. Ashanti wont get another nom and Monica certainly will.

wtf bish you again???? If it was so easy to get noms before then what the hell was Monica's excuse? Miss Thang needed Miss Norwood to get her only noms in her long career before this year.

No talent? Trash? Nice to know you still have a dick that bleeds every month. You should get that checked out.

[Deleted]

Sept 24, 2011 4:08:07 GMT -5 Gray. said:

Guys, let's be real. In regards to relevancy or popularity, ain't nobody talking about either of these chicks any more.

Maybe that's true for dem white girls, but...

Also seems like the majority of Pulse thinks Monica was more successful...

pulsemusic.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=polling&action=display&thread=110134&page=1

[stunnedout]

Sept 24, 2011 8:57:27 GMT -5 d.t.m said:

Sept 24, 2011 1:11:36 GMT -5 stunnedout said:

LMAO back to reality. No1 respects Ashanti and she has no talent. She was fortunate enough to come out at a time when the Grammy's became VERY lenient with their voting to keep up with popularity and attract younger audiences. Thankfully they have recognized their mistake and readjusted their standards so they dont lose whats left of their credibility by awarding and nominating trash. Ashanti wont get another nom and Monica certainly will.

wtf bish you again???? If it was so easy to get noms before then what the hell was Monica's excuse? Miss Thang needed Miss Norwood to get her only noms in her long career before this year.

No talent? Trash? Nice to know you still have a dick that bleeds every month. You should get that checked out.

Girl stop. Monica came out in a time when they were not giving out Grammy noms like candy. It's common knowledge that from 2000-2010 the Grammys have been Shit, which is why they have changed their rules and categories. Ashanti hasn't received not one nomination since her popularity peaked with Chapter 2. She was popular for 15 mins, they nominated her and they are done with her. This is the same person that had a petition against her because people didn't think she was worthy of a SOUL TRAIN AWARD but u think people respect her???? LMAO. These are facts, deal. No1 agrees with u. Chalk it up as a loss just like Ashanti's career.

[stunnedout]

Sept 24, 2011 9:14:41 GMT -5 @jazzysoul47 said:

Sept 24, 2011 4:08:07 GMT -5 Gray. said:

Guys, let's be real. In regards to relevancy or popularity, ain't nobody talking about either of these chicks any more.

Maybe that's true for dem white girls, but...

Also seems like the majority of Pulse thinks Monica was more successful...

pulsemusic.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=polling&action=display&thread=110134&page=1

The majority of the world knows Monica is more successful lol.

[d.t.m]

Sept 24, 2011 11:46:48 GMT -5 stunnedout said:

Sept 24, 2011 8:57:27 GMT -5 d.t.m said:

wtf bish you again???? If it was so easy to get noms before then what the hell was Monica's excuse? Miss Thang needed Miss Norwood to get her only noms in her long career before this year.

No talent? Trash? Nice to know you still have a dick that bleeds every month. You should get that checked out.

Girl stop. Monica came out in a time when they were not giving out Grammy noms like candy. It's common knowledge that from 2000-2010 the Grammys have been Shit, which is why they have changed their rules and categories. Ashanti hasn't received not one nomination since her popularity peaked with Chapter 2. She was popular for 15 mins, they nominated her and they are done with her. This is the same person that had a petition against her because people didn't think she was worthy of a SOUL TRAIN AWARD but u think people respect her???? LMAO. These are facts, deal. No1 agrees with u. Chalk it up as a loss just like Ashanti's career.

Bish, you still have yet to explain why Monica, who released 2 albums during that period before her last, failed to yield any nominations if she's so respected in the industry. And before that her rival Brandy was able to secure several noms, including BNA, and Monica even had Clive backing her so your argument is invalid.

And btw you sure spend a lot of time in someone's thread you claim no one is checking for. Speaking of threads, hold up PAUSE.

Weren't you the same one who was previously supporting Christina Milian in her thread? Christina Milian???? And you got the nerve to trash Ashanti? Girrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl....don't do it.

[Dammn Baby]

So the big topic in the Ashanti thread is Monica vs. Ashanti. Meanwhile, Monica has a new album. Ashanti? So 2001.

[Musiq]

What do grammys have to do with anything? Lots of artists deserve those but some don't have them. Monica is still very relevant and is a major force in the r&b circuit. I'm not saying that Ashanti won't be successful again because her last album didn't do that terrible inspite of what she was dealing with. But Monica as a singer/artist has alot of respect. Monica has been successful for a good period and she still is.

[vantiboy3]

To sum it up:
Monica started with a bang, and has stayed relevant for almost 20 years.

Ashanti started with a bang, and burned out faster than that candle in the wind!

No shade intended.