Ashanti - Chapter II
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CD Details
Artist: AshantiEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2003-07-01
Music Label: Def Jam
Product features:
- ASHANTI CHAPTER II
- Intro/Medley
- Shany's World - (featuring Chink Santana)
- Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)
- What Are The Gonna Say Now - (skit)
- Breakup 2 Makeup
- I Found Lovin'
- Rain On Me
- Then Ya Gone - (featuring Chink Santana)
- Living My Life
- Black Child - (skit)
- Feels So Good
- Carry On
- Sugar Shack, The - (skit)
- Story Of 2
- Ohhh Ahhh
- Shany Shia
- Sweet Baby
- U Say, I Say
- I Don't Mind
- Outro - (featuring Chink Santana)
Music reviews of Chapter II
Music Review: Ashanti Needs to "Carry On" Finding Her Niche
Rating: 3 Stars
After the rampant success of her debut, Ashanti was expected to deliver just as strongly with her sophomore effort. The platinum certification and three Grammy nominations this album achieved would seem to suggest that she had done so. However, many fans criticized this album as overstuffed and as further evidence that Ashanti couldn't sing. Critics similarly panned it as a weak follow-up to a strong debut. The amount of competition certainly didn't help matters, being released only a week after Beyonce's highly anticipated debut, and about three weeks after Monica's long-awaited follow-up to the classic The Boy Is Mine. Unlike the darker sound that was prominent on her debut, this summer album appropriately takes on a much lighter tone. Although many seemed quick to try and bring this album down, what Ashanti has delivered is a solid sophomore effort with enough good material to make it an enjoyable listen.
Intros are usually considered a fairly pointless way to start out an album, and an artist really has to do something special with it to make it worthwhile. For some inexplicable reason, Ashanti decided to start this album off essentially with two intros. The first is a medley of her past hits that serves to transition from her debut to the new album, including tracks she was featured on. For people who are less familiar with Ashanti it would be a good introduction, but one would assume that people buying or listening to her album would know who she is. In any case, it's a pretty good intro. "Shany's World", on the other hand, is an odd choice that most people find completely pointless. This track has Ashanti vocalizing in the background while Chink Santana talks about the album. This is one of a few places on the album where the label seems to completely take over unnecessarily, although Ashanti does sound nice. Hit single "Rock Wit U (Aww Baby)" gets the actual music off to a great start, even if the repetitive chorus does become irritating at times. This was a very wise single decision, and perfect for the summer. It's a very light track that sets the tone for the album perfectly. Unfortunately, the flow is immediately disrupted again by the very annoying "What Are They Gonna Say Now" skit, which features a woman hearing the previous song on the radio and going on about how hot it is. This is definitely a case where it's better to let the music speak for itself.
Luckily, things pick up again with "Breakup 2 Makeup", which has Ashanti singing about seeing her ex with a new woman. At times, the vocals sound a little strained, which will only give her detractors another reason to criticize. It seems as though Ashanti tried to do a little too much in places, making it sound like she was struggling. However, when she eases up on the bridge and just sings it straight, she sounds much better. "I Found Lovin'" picks up the pace even more, as an overly cheerful track that Ashanti actually pulls off very well. Some may find this track a little dated, but it is a cover after all. The lyrics aren't the strongest, but they suit the tone so it works. "Rain On Me" brings things back closer to the tone of her debut, with a darker and more sombre theme. This track addresses domestic violence, and is easily one of the strongest tracks in Ashanti's entire catalogue. The lyrics are easily the strongest that the album has to offer, and the production makes very effective use of an Issac Hayes sample. This track proves once again why Ashanti does best on darker-toned material. "Then Ya Gone" keeps up the streak of strong material, and is easily one of the most underrated tracks in the set. Chink Santana is featured here again, and delivers a strong performance that complements Ashanti well. Some have criticized this track for relegating Ashanti to a "hook singer" on her own album, although that seems a little extreme. This is definitely a strong track that deserves a fair chance, especially the bridge.
"Living My Life" brings things back to a lighter tone, but this change unfortunately also takes away some of the quality. Like the intro, this track interpolates some of her earlier hits and while this is quite cleverly done (even the production is reminiscent of some of her hits), artists should not need to remind listeners of who they are on their own albums. Here Ashanti attempts to sing her life story, and although it's a nice enough track, it doesn't stand out compared to the far superior tracks available elsewhere on the album. "Black Child (skit)" just drags thing down further with an unnecessary interruption from Murder Inc's latest new rapper, although the track has nothing really to do with Ashanti and comes across more as a mid-album advertisement. "Feel So Good" is mediocre at best, and only hindered further by Irv Gotti's presence in places. The track fits the light, summery vibe of the album but kind of just floats by without leaving much of an impression. "Carry On" once again proves why Ashanti is strongest on moody material. This track seems like a companion to "Rain on Me," and works just as well. Here, Ashanti angrily sings about not being able to keep going in her situation, and needing to get away. It's a powerful track that again showcases Ashanti at her finest. "The Sugar Shack" is a pointless skit that only really serves as a lead-in to "The Story of Two", a fan favourite. The track is more soulful, with a throwback kind of sound. It's a nice track, although at times Ashanti sounds a little too loud compared to the production. Had she blended in a little better, the track would have sounded more cohesive and much stronger. Still, it's a great addition to the album. As a side note, the very pleasantly sung "it's murda" at the end (in reference to her label) is a little off-putting in an otherwise romantic song.
"Ohhh Ahhh" is a more sensual track, reminiscent of Rescue off her debut. This style also suits Ashanti quite well, although the chorus can become a little irritating at times because of how repetitive it can be. For someone who has proven herself as a songwriter, Ashanti probably could have done more with it. The bridge, however, redeems it quite nicely. "Shany Shia (skit)" is another irritating skit which has Ashanti and her younger sister singing together. Some people have also complained about how condescending Ashanti seems when talking to her sister. They sound pretty good together in the beginning, but quickly try to push too far past their capabilities. Although it has to be said, Shia has some potential, and sounds a lot like her sister. "Sweet Baby" is another mediocre track that is solid when you listen to it, but leaves no lasting impression. Its biggest problem is actually how repetitive it becomes, otherwise it is decent. "U Say, I Say" is another solid track that again suffers from a weak chorus. However, the verses are strong enough to make up for it. "I Don't Mind" is another attempt at a more sensual song, considered by many to be very Janet Jackson-esque. Unfortunately, Ashanti's attempt at sounding seductive does not really suit her voice and at times it can be very difficult to decipher the lyrics. It's a mediocre ending track, although it had serious potential. The true album closer, however, is the Outro which also features Chink Santana, and is merely a continuation of his intro. It's unnecessary, although it does bring the album full-circle.
Overall Mark: 3/5
Following a very strong debut is always a difficult feat for artists, and it is rare that their second album can recreate the same magic. With this album, Ashanti does a decent job of providing a thoroughly listenable album but few of the songs really stand out independently. The latter half of the album especially tends to largely blur together, and while none of the songs are terrible, few are particularly memorable. In that sense, the first half fares slightly better as it has the songs that are more distinct and somewhat stronger. Ashanti is still at her best when she tackles darker, moodier tracks and especially when those songs have some substance to them. Despite the over-reliance on samples, which may have more to do with her label than her, she is a talented songwriter and a capable singer when she doesn't attempt to push too far past her boundaries. The biggest problem with this album is actually the skits, most of which contribute absolutely nothing, and instead only interrupt the flow. Even something as simple as cutting out the skits, or at least cutting back on them, probably would have made the overall album a lot more cohesive. Nonetheless, Ashanti's second effort is a solid one that stands up decently against her ample competition.
Description of Chapter II
The award winning singer's second album includes a track not found on the U.S. edition: "I Know".This sophomore effort by 2002 hip-pop debutante Ashanti is aimed squarely at the mainstream portion of her audience. Where she made her name with radio-ready duets featuring Ja Rule and Fat Joe, Chapter II goes light on the rap, opting for only a small handful of cameos by co-producer Chink Santana. The mostly mid-tempo tracks are pleasant, but much of the album feels like an unfinished structure that?ll only be fully built when the songs are remixed for the airwaves. Still, with the star?s assured (and nicely undersold) vocals front and center, it amounts to a breath of fresh air from production company Murder Inc. Note: "Breakup 2 Makeup" once more updates the Chaka Khan/Mary J. Blige classic "Sweet Thing." --Rickey Wright
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