BraveHeart (Ashanti album)

BraveHeart
Studio album by Ashanti
Released	March 14, 2014 (2014-03-14)
Label	Written eOne
Producer	7 Aurelius Chink Cool & Dre Detail LT Hutton Irv Gotti Rico Love Mansur[1]
Ashanti chronology
The Vault (2009) BraveHeart (2014)
Singles from BraveHeart
"The Woman You Love" Released: December 15, 2011 "Never Should Have" Released: March 25, 2013 "I Got It" Released: November 26, 2013

BraveHeart is the upcoming fifth studio album by American entertainer Ashanti, due to be release on March 14, 2014.^[2][3] It will be the singer's first album since The Declaration (2008), and first record released since setting up her own record label titled Written Entertainment. BraveHeart will be independently distributed through eOne Music. Alongside working with record producers Lil Ronnie, Mansur and Dr. Dre, Ashanti collaborated with the likes of rapper Busta Rhymes on the first single "The Woman You Love". The third single, "I Got It" featuring Rick Ross, was released to Radio stations worldwide on November 26, 2013.

Background

On June 3, 2008, Ashanti released her fourth album The Declaration,^[4] which spawned the singles "The Way That I Love You", "Body on Me" (with Akon & Nelly) and "Good Good". The first peaked within the top-forty on the Billboard Hot 100, whilst "Body on Me" peaked at number forty-two; "Good Good" managed to reach top-forty on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. These singles became the lowest charting amongst Ashanti's career thus far.^[5][6] Whilst The Declaration peaked at number six and sold 86,000 copies in its first week, Concrete Rose (2004) reached number seven with 254,000 copies sold.^[7] The Declaration became her first album to not to be certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).^[8] Just under a year later in May 2009 Irv Gotti, the president of Ashanti's label Murder Inc., told MTV News that Ashanti's affiliation to the label was over. He said "The relationship has run its course. The chemistry of what's needed — we're in two totally different places. You're talking to somebody that took her and shaped and molded her and put her out there for the world, and it blew up. We [hold the record] for the [fastest] selling debut by a female R&B artist — 503 [thousand]. We did it! My views and philosophies and her views and philosophies are not meeting up."^[9]

Production

By the time February 2010 came around, Ashanti had begun work in the recording studios for a brand new album,^[10] and in December the same year, Ashanti confirmed that fans could expect new music in 2011.^[11] In July 2011, a promo picture was released announcing that new music was on the way and a brand new single was due in August 2011.^[12] On July 26, 2011, Ashanti announced that her fifth album would be the first to be independently released via her own newly established record label, Written Entertainment.^[13] Details of the label and distribution came out in December, when it was unveiled that Written Entertainment would be independently distributed worldwide through eOne Music.^[14][15] in an press release from eOne music they stated “eOne is proud to have a partnership with Ashanti and her label Written Entertainment,” said Alan Grunblatt, President of eOne Music. “Ashanti truly has the independent entrepreneurial attitude that eOne was built on, and we’re thrilled to be working with her".^[16] Ashanti added, “I’m so excited to have my own record label, Written Entertainment. With eOne as my distributor, I feel that their innovative and ambitious approach to the music industry, really gives my label a worldwide presence. They have the top radio people in the business and are hungry to win! The more I learned the business the more I knew this is what I wanted. Ownership is so important. As a business woman this was a great move for me!”^[14]

In an interview with 106 and Park, Ashanti revealed the there was two collaborations on the album one being with a male vocalist and one being with a female vocalist, however boombox revealed that the male artist was R. Kelly and the female was Keyshia Cole.^[17] Ashanti worked with R. Kelly, Rico Love (“Perfect So Far”), and Keyshia Cole. She’s unsure if the latter collaboration will end up on her album or just Keyshia’s upcoming project. “The record is dope. I love it,” she said.^[18]

Title and artwork

In an interview with Power 99 FM Ashanti explained how the Oscar-winning film Braveheart inspired her album title. “The metaphor that I took was basically in the movie you have the Europeans, you have the soldiers from London and the U.K.,” she said. “They have the big horses, they have the shields, the guns, the weapons… They’re all armored up. And then you have the Scots. They’re all raggedy, homemade weapons, and paint on their faces. It’s not an even playing ground, so I feel like with the [major labels], they’re bossed up. They have the big engine and all the artists signed to them and with the indies, it’s depending. It’s homemade, it’s homegrown. It’s a lesser engine. So the metaphor I was using was being brave and putting your blood and guts into it and fighting passionately to win".^[19] The album's artwork was released 22 March 2012 the artwork was described as "The warrior princess strikes a bold pose on the dramatic cover art."^[19] The image used is a screenshot from the music video for "The Woman You Love"; it was since revealed that on April 13, 2013, that Ashanti flew out to Atlanta to shoot a brand new artwork with photographer Robert Ector.^[20] In January 2014, the singer unveiled the brand-new album artwork on her official Instagram account.^[21]

Composition

Sound and influence

Ashanti spoke on the influence of the album saying she also explained how the Oscar-winning film Braveheart inspired her album title. “The metaphor that I took was basically in the movie you have the Europeans, you have the soldiers from London and the U.K.,” she said. “They have the big horses, they have the shields, the guns, the weapons… They’re all armored up. And then you have the Scots. They’re all raggedy, homemade weapons, and paint on their faces. It’s not an even playing ground, so I feel like with the [major labels], they’re bossed up. They have the big engine and all the artists signed to them and with the indies, it’s depending. It’s homemade, it’s homegrown. It’s a lesser engine. So the metaphor I was using was being brave and putting your blood and guts into it and fighting passionately to win.”^[18]

Songs and lyrics

"She Can't" was produced by Mansur, which was described as a sexy mid-tempo number with a chaotic beat. "Never Should Have" which was also produced by Mansur, sees the singer cooing of a former lover she now regrets over a marching band-driven beat that could easily sit on the pop charts. "Paradise" details an unhealthy relationship. Rico Love co-wrote the guitar-laden track "Perfect So Far". "That's What We Do," which features R. Kelly was produced by Lil' Ronnie. "R.I.P.," is a departure for Ashanti, who said it was first time she recorded with live instruments. The grown-up ballad rides the concept of finally putting a relationship to rest, with a burial, black dress and roses included.^[22]

Promotion and release

Ashanti performed "The Woman You Love" on February 13, 2012 live on Good Morning America,^[23] and also performed the song on April 17, 2012 as the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.^{[citation needed]} Over a year later, in June 2013, Ashanti took to the stage of Marie to perform "Never Should Have" live for the first time.^[24] "Never Should Have" along with snippets of "She Can't" and "I Got It" (featuring Future) all featured on DJ Ty Boogie's Str8 RnB pt. 6 mixtape, hosted by Ashanti.^[25] On July 30, 2013, the date BraveHeart was supposed to be released, Ashanti confirmed that the album would now be released in September 2013. Via for Instagram account she posted a new promotional picture and said, "Hey y'all! So Braveheart is NOT coming out today we have clearances & legalities to take of... It costs to be the boss!!!".^[26] According to the latest reports, the album is due for release in early 2014, preceded by the new single, "I Got It" featuring rapper Rick Ross.^[27] Originally set for a February 18 release,^[28][29] the album is now scheduled for release on March 14, 2014.^[2][3]

Singles

On December 15, 2011, "The Woman You Love" featuring American rapper Busta Rhymes was unveiled as the album's lead single.^[30] The song which samples Cream's single "White Room" was released for digital download a day later.^[31] Trent Fitzgerald of Popcrush wrote "This song is a great start for Ashanti" and expressed great interest in "what she is going to bring in 2012 now that she is an independent woman".^[32] The video premiered on BET's 106 & Park on March 13, 2012 and peaked at number 5 on April 23, 2012 ^[33] "The Woman You Love" debuted at number ninety-seven on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for the week of January 7, 2012.^[34] Three weeks later the song re-entered at number ninety-five for the week of January 28, 2012.^[35] An "R&B Mix" of the song, sans Busta Rhymes, was released on February 14, 2012.^[36] "The Woman You Love" peaked at number fifty-nine.^[37] However, The next song to receive full single treatment was "Never Should Have" which was released for digital download on March 25, 2013.^[38] The official music video was filmed in March 2013 by director Sanji.^[39] The song impacted US Rhythmic and Urban radio on April 29, 2013.^[40][41] After it was announced that the album was pushed back from July 30, 2013, Ashanti announced that two exclusive remixes, The JButtah and AllStyle Remixes of "Never Should Have" would be released and promoted to radio stations.^[42] The album's next single "I Got It" featuring Rick Ross, was made available for purchase via iTunes on November 26, 2013.^[27][43] It will be sent to US urban contemporary radio stations on January 28, 2014.^[44]

Recorded songs

• "Bona fide Survivor"^[22]
• "Don't Tell Me No"^[22]
• "Get It"^[22]
• "I Got It" (featuring Rick Ross) (produced by L.T. Hutton)^[45]
• "Mine" (produced by Mansur)^[22]
• "Never Should Have" (written by Mansur Zafr & Ashanti Douglas) (produced by Mansur)^[22][46]
• "No One Greater" (featuring Meek Mill and French Montana)^[47]
• "Paradise"^[22]
• "Perfect So Far" (written by Rico Love, Ashanti Douglas, Pierre Medor) (produced by Medor & Love)^[22][48]
• "R.I.P."^[22]
• "She Can't" (produced by Mansur)^[22]
• "That's What We Do" (featuring R. Kelly) (produced by Lil Ronnie)^[22]
• "The Woman You Love" (featuring Busta Rhymes) (written by Arden Altino, Eric Bellinger, Peter Brown, John Bruce, Douglas, Jerry Duplessis, Shama Joseph, Trevor Smith, Alozono Stevenson) (produced by Jerry Wonda & Sak Pase)^[49]
• "Three Words"^[22]
• "Woman to Woman" (duet with Keyshia Cole)^[18] (written by: Cole, Betty Wright, Frederick Taylor, Earl Powell, Walter English III, Douglas) (produced by: Frederick "Toxic" Taylor,

Earl Powell of Eptone Prouctions, Walter English III)

Release history

References