Reclaiming your music can also mean reclaiming your power, including a say in who controls the work that helped build your career. Ashanti is taking that step with her self-titled debut album. Released in 2002, Ashanti won the Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album in 2003. Over the past few years, she has re-recorded the songs to create new masters she can own. Fans in Australia got a little taste of what they could sound like.
A few days before the Perth kickoff of her Rock Wit U tour on Nov. 9, Ashanti made a surprise appearance at the Marmont marquee during Crown Oaks Day in Melbourne, Australia. The annual event is the premier autumn horse racing event, held at Flemington Racecourse. She got behind the turntable and performed songs from her debut album, including “Foolish,” “Happy,” and “Baby,” much to the crowd’s delight.
@victoriaracingclub Ashanti surprise performance in @crownmelbourne marquee! #oaksday ♬ original sound – VRC || Horse Racing
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Ashanti shed more light on why she chose to rerecord her first album. “Owning my masters is really important to me. Nowadays, obviously, things are a lot different compared with back when I first came out as an artist. But after 20 years, you get the right to go in and legally re-record your masters … and take back what’s yours, so to speak,” she shared. “Hopefully it inspires artists to try and take control from the beginning.”
At Crown Oaks Day, Ashanti also performed iconic collaborations: “Always on Time” and “Mesmerize,” where she was featured with Ja Rule, along with “What’s Luv?” which she recorded with Fat Joe.
“What I’ve learned is that I’m just really grateful to have written records that stand the test of time,” she continued in the interview. “’Foolish’ is turning 25! That I can still go to an arena, hold the mic in the air, and hear everyone sing those lyrics is a beautiful feeling. And a blessing.”
A Season 2 teaser for Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together shows Ashanti thanking Fat Joe for supporting her endeavor to make her debut album finally her own. The new season premieres Nov. 19 on Peacock.