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The pictures on Ashanti's album covers mean something -- not just because she's gorgeous, but because they signal in which musical direction she's heading. On her first album, she was a streamlined, diva-esque spin on Alicia Keys; on her second, she was styled like Beyoncé Knowles, the Destiny's Child leader who had released her solo debut a week before Chapter II. Ashanti is malleable like that. She has a sweet, appealing voice that has no defining characteristics -- she doesn't have the dizzying range of Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston, the sexiness of Janet Jackson, the riskiness of Aaliyah, the elegant smarts of Alicia Keys, the sheer ambition of Knowles, or, needless to say, the hell-bent skankiness of Christina Aguilera. She sings well and sounds good on modern R&B tracks, fitting into the fabric of the production more than delivering the song. That lack of personality, incidentally, makes her a good vocal foil for rappers, since she never overshadows them. This explains why Irv Gotti used her as the diva for his Murder Inc empire; he's also savvy enough of a producer (along with his colleague Chink Santana) to keep Chapter II entertaining -- more entertaining than her debut, actually -- all the way through. The key is that the production is seductive, whether it's on the actual ballads or the bright, sunny dance numbers, and that Ashanti's crooning fits right in without ever drawing attention to herself. She's not enough of a singer to really belt out the tunes and depart from the melodies with showy runs that are all about her, so she just sings the material straight, which is quite refreshing. The songs have about as much personality as Ashanti's voice, but that actually is a point in its favor, since it keeps everything on an even keel and makes Gotti and Santana's stylish production the star. They are the secret ingredients that make Chapter II good romantic mood music for the summer.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Jeffrey Atkins, ComposerLyricist - Etterlene Jordan, ComposerLyricist - Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Raymond Calhoun, ComposerLyricist - Brad Jordan, ComposerLyricist - Larry Troutman, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Mark DeBarge, ComposerLyricist - Tom Bell, ComposerLyricist - ROGER TROUTMAN, ComposerLyricist - LINDA CREED, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Thomas Bell, ComposerLyricist - Chink Santana, Producer - 7 Aurelius, ComposerLyricist - Tiffany Lane Jarmon, ComposerLyricist - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael George Dean, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer, FeaturedArtist - Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Demetrius McGhee, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Rob Bacon, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Chairman Of The Board Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Demetrius McGhee, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Irv Gotti, Producer - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Andre S. Parker, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Rob Bacon, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Michael Walker, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Johnny Flippin, ComposerLyricist - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Demetrius McGhee, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Burt Bacharach, ComposerLyricist - Hal David, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Rob Bacon, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Chairman Of The Board Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 Murder Inc. Records L.L.C.
Marvin Isley, ComposerLyricist - Christopher Jasper, ComposerLyricist - Ernest Isley, ComposerLyricist - Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ronald Isley, ComposerLyricist - RUDOLPH ISLEY, ComposerLyricist - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer, FeaturedArtist - O'Kelly Isley Jr., ComposerLyricist - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marquies "Keez" Parker, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Demetrius McGhee, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Ramel Gill, ComposerLyricist - Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Austin Burnett Johnson, ComposerLyricist - Smead Hudman, ComposerLyricist - Chairman Of The Board Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Irv Gotti, Producer - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Andre S. Parker, ComposerLyricist - Demetrius McGhee, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Rick James, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rob Bacon, Guitar, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Demetrius McGhee, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Rob Bacon, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Chairman Of The Board Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Irv Gotti, Producer - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer - Al Green, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - 7 Aurelius, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer - Rob Bacon, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Chairman Of The Board Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Irving Lorenzo, ComposerLyricist - Andre Parker, ComposerLyricist - Ashanti Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Milwaukee Buck, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irv Gotti, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ashanti, MainArtist - Chink Santana, Producer, FeaturedArtist - Terri "Murda Mac" Hubert, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
Album review
The pictures on Ashanti's album covers mean something -- not just because she's gorgeous, but because they signal in which musical direction she's heading. On her first album, she was a streamlined, diva-esque spin on Alicia Keys; on her second, she was styled like Beyoncé Knowles, the Destiny's Child leader who had released her solo debut a week before Chapter II. Ashanti is malleable like that. She has a sweet, appealing voice that has no defining characteristics -- she doesn't have the dizzying range of Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston, the sexiness of Janet Jackson, the riskiness of Aaliyah, the elegant smarts of Alicia Keys, the sheer ambition of Knowles, or, needless to say, the hell-bent skankiness of Christina Aguilera. She sings well and sounds good on modern R&B tracks, fitting into the fabric of the production more than delivering the song. That lack of personality, incidentally, makes her a good vocal foil for rappers, since she never overshadows them. This explains why Irv Gotti used her as the diva for his Murder Inc empire; he's also savvy enough of a producer (along with his colleague Chink Santana) to keep Chapter II entertaining -- more entertaining than her debut, actually -- all the way through. The key is that the production is seductive, whether it's on the actual ballads or the bright, sunny dance numbers, and that Ashanti's crooning fits right in without ever drawing attention to herself. She's not enough of a singer to really belt out the tunes and depart from the melodies with showy runs that are all about her, so she just sings the material straight, which is quite refreshing. The songs have about as much personality as Ashanti's voice, but that actually is a point in its favor, since it keeps everything on an even keel and makes Gotti and Santana's stylish production the star. They are the secret ingredients that make Chapter II good romantic mood music for the summer.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 20 track(s)
- Total length: 01:05:03
- Main artists: Ashanti
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: I.G. Records, Inc. - Universal Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2003 M.I. Records, LLC. ℗ 2003 M.I. Records, LLC.
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