The journey began at age 13 when she scored a record deal; however, Ashanti didn’t even get out of the starting gate. The deal fell through, so she did what any teenager would do. Ashanti went to high school, hit the books and became the star of the track team. A few athletic scholarships were offered (Princeton, Hampton University), but Ashanti turned them down to concentrate on her music.

When deals with other labels - Jive and Epic - didn’t work out either, Ashanti finally got the big break she was looking for. Irv Gotti, CEO of Murder, Inc., teamed her up with Big Pen on “How We Roll.” Blending tough gangsta rhymes with Ashanti’s delicate hooks struck gold and prompted Gotti to meld other big name rappers with the rising star. Both Ja Rule and Fat Joe scored Number One hits with “Always on Time” and “What’s Luv,” respectively, thanks to the sweet and soulful sounds of Ashanti’s vocals. Knowing he had a true songbird under his wing, Gotti signed Ashanti, and she became the first R&B vocalist on the Murder, Inc. roster.