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Black Eyed Peas to replace Fergie with Ashanti

andPOP Staff — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:29:38 +0000

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Are the Black Eyed Peas getting a little Foolish?

No disrespect to the Peas here, that was just a pun off the fact that with Fergie taking an “indefinite leave” from the group as of November 23rd, the Black Eyed Peas are reportedly working on filling her spot with Ashanti, whose debut single was Foolish. Good one, right?

Ashanti has been touring with the Black Eyed Peas for a month now and it’s thought that this has been a test to see how well she worked with the Peas and if they thought she would fit well with the group.

An unnamed insider says that although the announcement hasn’t been made yet, expect it to be public in the next couple of days.

Not only does Ashanti have a Grammy under her belt, she has also sold more than 30 million albums so there’s really no question about it she can pull this off. However, it really won’t be by past achievements that she’ll be judged, it’s up to listeners everywhere to decide what they think of her as Fergie’s replacement.

Does Nelly Owe Ashanti $500,000?

andPOP Staff — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:16:25 +0000

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Well that’s what one tipster is claiming. A source close to Ashanti is saying Nelly owes her $500,000. Nelly and Ashanti were on and off in a relationship for years.

The source told MediaTakeOut, “It’s not fair. Nelly has [over the course of their relationship] borrowed more than $500K from Ashanti. It was not gifts either, he promised to pay it all back.”

The tipster continued, “But Ashanti hasn’t seen one penny. He bought her a couple of dresses, and took her on some trips, but what about a check . . . He really needs to give her back her money.”

Granted, we don’t know Nelly very well, but we did interview him once. To this day, he is one of the nicest guys we ever met. So we have no proof that the tipster is wrong, but we certainly find it surprising.

Ashanti To Make Stage Debut In The Wiz

Eva Lam — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:18:15 +0000

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Ashanti is off to see the Wizard.

The R&B singer has scored the lead role of Dorothy in this summer’s revival of “The Wiz” in New York City. The role marks Ashanti’s stage debut, though she played the character in the 2005 made-for-TV movie “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz.”

No other casting has been announced for the musical, which will be directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler with music direction by Alex Lacamoire. The three collaborated previously on “In the Heights,” which won the Tony Award for best musical last year.

“The Wiz,” a soul-tinged adaptation of the book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, made its Broadway debut in 1975 with Stephanie Mills as Dorothy and won seven Tony Awards. It was also made into a movie in 1978 starring Diana Ross.

The New York City Center’s “Encores! Summar Stars” production of “The Wiz” is scheduled to run from June 12 to July 5.

Ashanti, who has acted in such films as “Coach Carter” and “Resident Evil: Extinction,” released her fourth studio album, “The Declaration,” last June.

Ashanti Sued by Former Manager

andPOP Staff — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 12:32:57 +0000

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R&B singer Ashanti is being sued by her ex-manager, Linda Berk, for millions of dollars. The suit claims that Berk’s contract was cut short in 2003 after she’d helped make Ashanti “a music and entertainment superstar,” reports the BBC.

According to a spokesperson for the 25-year-old performer, “The contract expired naturally and we didn’t renew it.”

This isn’t Ashanti’s first tiff with co-workers. Last year, she was ordered to pay $630,000 to her first producer in a different breach of contract lawsuit.

Producer Genard Parker worked with Ashanti before she inked a record deal, and released her on the condition he could produce two songs on her debut record. The condition was not met.

When that verdict came out, Ashanti’s lawyer said they would appeal the ruling.

Ashanti’s Cousin Killed by Drunk Driver while on Tour

Adam Gonshor — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 17:46:34 +0000

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Ashanti’s cousin, best friend and personal assistant, Quinshae Snead, was killed while on tour with Ashanti in South Africa Saturday night.

According to UPI, Snead, 20, was en route to their hotel before what was to be Ashanti’s first concert in South Africa.

She went to pick up a few items her cousin forgot at the hotel when she was struck by a drunk driver, according to the report.

Ashanti pulled out of the concert, which also featured Lauryn Hill.

“It has been very traumatic. They are not coping at all. You experience the death of a loved one in a foreign country. It has been difficult,” promoter Morris Roda said.

Snead was listed as Ashanti’s “personal assistant” on the liner notes to her albums.

A car being driven by a drunk and unlicensed 17-year-old who took his mom’s car without permission reportedly hit Snead’s car.

Ashanti Plays a Woman Scorned

andPOP Staff — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 13:40:09 +0000

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Ashanti is going for the kill.

The singer turned actress has just finished work on John Tucker Must Die, a black comedy in which she tries to murder her ex-boyfriend.

The movie also stars Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives) as the title character and Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill) as one of John Tucker?s ignorant girlfriends.

?It?s basically about this one guy who?s dating all these girls in high school, and we find out that we?re all dating the same guy,? says Ashanti.

?We find out in volleyball class. We’re actually talking about a party, and one girl mentions, ‘I’m dating John,’ so we end up having this huge altercation. Oh, yeah ? we get it popping.?

After first turning on each other, the girls decide it would be better to exact revenge on their deceitful ex. They attempt to break his heart by setting him up with the new girl in school, Kate, played by Brittany Snow (American Dreams).

But their plans for retribution soon take a twisted turn.

?We try to kill him in the end,? says Ashanti.

Although the premise seems dark, Ashanti is quick to insist that the film is actually ?light, fun,? and ?a little more smiley? than her first movie, Coach Carter, in which she played a pregnant teenager.

Filmed in Vancouver this past summer, John Tucker Must Die will be released in theatres next spring.