But please. What is this. People wake up Ashanti can't sing to save her life. She sounds like she's in a vacumn. And what is this about her filling the void for Janet Jackson - Irv Gotti get a life; if Ashanti is filling the void for Janet Jackson, then I am filling the void for Leonardo Dicaprio and I'm also engaged to Pink monkey that lays eggs and can sing the Star Spangled Banner!

All of you that thing I'm hating, be warned ...... I am hating! But you will soon see for yourselves when you shell out the money to buy this. Again for empahsis:

THIS ALBUM IS LIKE LISTENING TO FRAN DRESCHER DOING A MONOLOUGE FOR SPANISH AMERICAN T.V. all the songs sound the same, and they annoy the [garbage] out of me! ARRUUGGHH!!

Let's call the FAShion Police for Lil Kim.

LETS CALL THE MUSIC POLICE FOR ASHANTI.

Awwww Please!


Mary J. Blige she is not!   July 9, 2003
LJ (NY, NY)
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).


A delicious chapter   July 2, 2003
Mary B. Daraz (CT United States)
8 out of 9 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.