Music
Store

2. Shany's World feat. ... Santana - 1/5. That was REALLY dumb. ... just talks and talks and talks with Ashanti's adlibs in the background. REALLY STUPID.

3. Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) - 5/5. The single is of course a success. I love it. Because of Shany's World, the album's flow into Rock Wit U sucks. Thank God I review songs as individual

4. What Are They Gonna Say Now (Skit) - 2/5. Basically its a girl and Gotti askin each other What they (the critics/fans/ppls) gonna say about Ashanti's new album. Really stupid, but I guess it is something you'd expect from Irv Gotti

5. Breakup 2 Makeup - 4/5. The song about how a Ashanti breaks up but sees the guys with another girl so she's asking if they can make up. Her vocals are really good on this song. VERY good.

6. I Found Lovin' - 5/5. Such a Michael Jackson, disco/RnB flare. I love it. Such a nice feel and lyrics are superb. Reminds me of "don't stop til you get enough" and "Rock with You". It's VERY VERY good.

7. Rain On Me - 5/5. Way too good. Such a smooth RnB feel. That OLD RnB the one that always has meaning. It's great.

8. Then Ya Gone feat. ... Santana - 4/5. Really good blues song. ... Santana messed this song UP!!! His first part makes him sound like he has a cold. Thank goodness he only had that part because he kept this song from five stars.

9. Living My Life - 3/5. Ashanti addresses the way she is now and hopes people realize she didn't get to where she is easy. She uses some lyrics from her other songs.

10. Black Child (Skit) - 2/5. This was not even Ashanti, this was Irv Gotti presentin somebody that messes up the ENTIRE flow of this album. IRV GOTTA GO!

11. Feel So Good - 3/5. Has a nice Jazz flavor. After that stupid Black Child thing and with Irv with his stupid talking in the background makes this song sucks.

12. Carry On - 4/5. You feel that she must have experienced this before. About how a boy breaks her heart, but she can carry on by herself.

13. The Sugar Shack (Skit) - 4/5. Nice blues flavor, I really didn't listen to the talking. All I know is that they were in Missouri...

14. The Story Of 2 - 2/5. About Ashanti being in love with a boy. This sounds like a Supreme Song, but it's still pretty good.

15. Ohhh Ahhh - 4/5. Nice smooth flavor. Almost sounds like a TLC song.

16. Shany Shia (Skit) - 4/5. She tries to display her vocals without music, and it works! Thank goodness this was not an Irv Gotti thing....

17. Sweet Baby - 3/5. A Mary J Blige feel to it. But...only Mary J could make this song a perfect five. Ashanti is way too far from the level Mary is at to sing this song.

18. U Say, I Say feat. Gunnz - 3/5. Some lyrics to those of Carry On... nothing special about this song

19. I Don't Mind - 2/5.

20. Outro feat. ... Santana - 1/5.

Sorry but Ashanti's album is a B-. In her first album she had many songs where she really feels the song. Ashanti simply tries toohard in this album and does not remember to put the soul and her whole heart that she used in her first album. BUT what also contributes to the B- is Irv Gotti's insistance on putting other ppl on her album and make it all "Murda-fied".But this is a good album.


Ashanti does Mary J's "My Life" with good results.   July 1, 2003
 10 out of 11 found this review helpful

On her second album Ashanti is out to prove critics and naysayers with a cool collection of more adult oriented material.

The CD is more of a showcase for what she can do vocally. Apparently she held back on her 1st CD to showcase the hip hop beats that provided the soundtrack to last summer. For anyone who thought Ashanti could not sing, they should listen to this CD. She reaches notes and sings songs in ways we haven't heard before. I myself was shocked by the song Break Up 2 Make Up, a cool slow grove that has the singer actually belting the best to her ability. She's no Patti Labelle, but hey I am not a fan of vocal gymnastics.

Other stand out tracks include the lead off track "Rock Wit U (Aww Baby)" a cool driving home after the beach cruising down the highway kinda song. My most favorite track is "Rain On Me" which is probably the best track on the CD. It's sure to be a hit if released.

Anyway the CD is a well rounded effort hampered by annoying interludes. Also a couple of more uptempo jeep tracks wouldn't have hurt. But overall the CD warrants being in any R&B fans collection.

It's her attempt at getting full fledged R&B credibility and it works. This is Ashanti's "My Life" and with Mary J. sounding horrendous on her new single singing over hip hop beats, I am glad we have an heir apparent in Ashanti.


A delicious chapter   July 2, 2003
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

She's back, and in a big way. Ashanti returns not only with a more well-rounded, cohesive effort, she has returned with a better sense of music altogether. "Chapter II" is coated with a summery sheen. It, in fact, would like to be sort of bible of summer anthems, the CD you hear blasting from cars zooming underneath the hot sun, and it succeeds...but to a certain degree. Granted, "Chapter II" does have its bouncy moments (the 80's banger "I Found Lovin'", the sizzling "Rock Wit U"), but Ashanti's latest is, in its core, a display of an artistic move forward and a push for respect.

Irv Gotti has been known for his relentlessly glossy production, and for his overly excessive use of samples. Neither are apparent on this Chapter. Ashanti and Gotti utilize samples, yes, but in a stylish and sort of "nudge-nudge" fashion. In the soulful, sultry "Story of 2," Gotti uses "Dreammaker" (written by Rick James) not simply as a shortcut, but as a throwback to 70's soul music and singers, in which he undoubtedly succeeds. "Rain On Me" samples Burt Bacharach's "Look of Love" to create a delicious pallette of visions and emotion.

"Chapter II" also seems dead-set on focusing on its artist, not the production team or surrounding artists, and, spare an advertisment for labelmate Black Child, Ashanti is the center of attention. Vocally and lyrically masterful, Ashanti slides through this Chapter obviously more savvy and more in control. She has grown up, but not overtly so. Her music is enriched with more emotion, more experience, and possibly, more talent altogether. Whereas "Ashanti" was a break into the industry, a record aimed at sales, "Chapter II" is a true album, a true statement of love and life, a statement of an urgency to get a point across: Ashanti is here to stay.


Mary J. Blige she is not!   July 9, 2003
 8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Normally i don't buy a CD after hearing one song, but considering how much I liked Rock wit U and her first album, I figured that buying Chapter II would be a good bargain. Boy, was I wrong. Ashanti is considered the "princess of R&B". And while I'm not sure if that's the truth, she is trying to be way too soulful on this album. Ashanti, stick to R&B, and let Mary J. Blige handle hip-hop and soul.
How dare someone compare this album to Mary's "My Life"? That album has feelings, emotions... you can actually feel Mary pour out her heart and soul onto those records. And since she's my favorite artist, I'm a little picky when it comes to someone compared to her.
Despite her short-comings (and extremely annoying skits), I'll still give the album 3 stars. I dont see her coming out with another video unless she does some remix, since most of the songs are slow (or just not worth being mainstream).