Ashanti to Face Off Against Keyshia Cole in Next Verzuz Battle

Ashanti is preparing for a big musical battle…

The 39-year-old part-Dominican American Grammy-winning singer and actress will face off against Keyshia Cole in the next Verzuz battle on December 12.

Ashanti

“Yeah, it’s official! The paperwork is IN,” the official Verzuz Instagram teased the “legendary Ladies Night,” with a split image of the singers’ faces.

The matchup is no surprise for fans, who’ve been buzzing about the potential pairing since May, when Cole commented under a side-by-side comparison of the duo’s hits. “My fans sent me this @timbaland @therealswizz @ashanti @verzuztv,” she wrote at the time. “is this accurate?”

The matchup marks the fourth female-charged battle, following Erykah Badu and Jill ScottMonica and Brandy, and Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle.

Ashanti’s biggest hits include the chart-topping singles “Foolish” and “Always on Time,” with Ja Rule.

Don’t miss Cole and Ashanti’s Verzuz battle on Saturday, December 12 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on Verzuz’s Instagram page and on Apple Music.

Ashanti Launches Swimwear Collection with PrettyLittleThing

Ashanti’s bringing the heat this summer…

The 38-year-old part-Dominican American singer has designed a line of swimsuits.

Ashanti

The “Always On Time” singer has joined forces with online boutique PrettyLittleThing to introduce a line of bold swimwear pieces perfect for the summer.

“I feel like everyone deserves to look and feel amazing,” Ashanti told E! Newsahead of the official launch. “I wanted pieces that would empower women.”

Ashanti

Ashanti’s swim collection features unique styles and patterns like a neon lime suit, peacock print two-piece and silver metallic bikini.

“These all stand out because they’re so different and exotic and they come in a variety of cuts for each body,” she remarked.

Ashanti’s swimwear is inspired by her travels to many tropical places, like The Amazonand The Caribbean.  The line, which features plus sizes, also includes one pieces and cover-ups.

Cardi B Earns Six Soul Train Awards Nominations

Cardi B has plenty of Soul

The 26-year-old half-Dominican American rap sensation has earned six Soul Train Awards nominations, tying her for the most nods this year with her “Finesse” collaborator Bruno Mars.

Cardi B & Bruno Mars

Cardi B and the 33-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer earned five nods for their hit collaboration. “Finesse” is up for Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Best Collaboration Performance, Best Dance Performance and The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award.

Additionally, Cardi B’s “I Like It,” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin, is up for Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year, while Mars is up for Best R&B Soul Male Artist.

Other Latino nominees include Ashanti,Miguel, Daddy Yankee and Mariah Carey.

Filming on November 17 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, BET Presents: 2018 Soul Train Awards will air on BET and BET HER on November 25 (8 p.m. ET). See the complete tally of nominations below.

Presenters and performers for BET Presents: 2018 Soul Train Awardswill be announced in the coming weeks.

Here’s the complete list of nominees for the 2018 Soul Train Awards:

BEST NEW ARTIST
Daniel Caesar
Jorja Smith
Kali Uchis
Leon Thomas
Normani
Queen Naija 

SOUL TRAIN CERTIFIED AWARD
Ashanti
Jorja Smith
Ledisi
Lenny Kravitz
MAJOR.
Tamia 

BEST R&B/SOUL FEMALE ARTIST
Beyoncé
Ella Mai
H.E.R.
Mariah Carey
SZA 

BEST R&B/SOUL MALE ARTIST
Bruno Mars
Childish Gambino
Daniel Caesar
John Legend
Khalid
Tank 

BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD
Andra Day
Kirk Franklin
Lecrae
Snoop Dogg
Tori Kelly 

RHYTHM & BARS AWARD (BEST HIP-HOP SONG OF THE YEAR)
Cardi B – “I Like It” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin
Childish Gambino – “This is America”
DJ Khaled – “No Brainer” featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper and Quavo
Drake – “In My Feelings”
The Carters – “Apeshit” 

SONG OF THE YEAR
Bruno Mars – “Finesse” (Remix) featuring Cardi B
Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up”
H.E.R. – “Every Kind of Way”
SZA – “The Weekend”
The Internet – “Come Over” 

ALBUM/MIXTAPE OF THE YEAR
Chloe X Halle – The Kids Are Alright
Chris Brown – Heartbreak on a Full Moon
H.E.R. – H.E.R.
Leon Bridges – Good Thing
Miguel – War & Leisure
The Internet – Hive Mind 

THE ASHFORD AND SIMPSON SONGWRITER’S AWARD
“Finesse” (Remix) – Written by Gene Hernandez, Belcalis Almanzar, Chris Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Ray McCullough, Klenord Raphael, Jeremy Reeves, James Yip, Ray Romulus (Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B)
“Summertime Magic” – Written by Donald Glover, Ludwig Goransson (Childish Gambino)
Best Part” – Written by Ashton Simmonds, H.E.R., Riley Bell, Matthew Burnett, Jordan Evans (Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R.)
“Boo’d Up” – Written by Ella Howell, Dijon McFarlane, Joelle James, Larrance Dopson (Ella Mai)
“Focus” – Written by H.E.R., Darhyl Camper, Justin Love (H.E.R.)
“Broken Clocks” – Written by Solana Rowe, Cody Fayne, Adam Feeney, Ashton Simmonds, Thomas Beesley (SZA) 

BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE
Bruno Mars – “Finesse” (Remix) featuring Cardi B
Chris Brown – “Tempo”
Ciara – “Level Up”
HoodCelebrityy – “Walking Trophy”
Janet Jackson – “Made for Now” featuring Daddy Yankee 

BEST COLLABORATION PERFORMANCE
Bruno Mars – “Finesse” (Remix) featuring Cardi B
Daniel Caesar – “Best Part” featuring H.E.R.
John Legend – “A Good Night” featuring BloodPop
Khalid featuring Ty Dolla $ign and 6lack – “OTW”
SZA – “Doves in the Wind” featuring Kendrick Lamar

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Bruno Mars – “Finesse” (Remix) featuring Cardi B
Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up”
H.E.R. – “Avenue”
SZA – “Broken Clocks”
The Internet – “Come Over”

Camila Cabello: The Best Dressed Latina at the Grammy Awards

She may not be a Grammy Award nominee (yet)… But Camila Cabello is already a Grammys red carpet all-star.

Camila Cabello

The 20-year-old Cuban/Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member rocked la carpeta rojo at Madison Square Garden on music’s biggest night, earning the title of Best Dressed Latina.

Here’s a look at the night’s most stylish red carpet stars:

Camila Cabello

Camila Cabello
Cabello looked as sizzling hot as a “Havana” night in a rouched red Vivienne Westwood gown. She paired her glam, strapless gown with $175,100 worth of diamonds from Bulgari’s Serpenti Collection, a disco-ball-like purse by Judith Leiber and a Time’s Up rose.

Cardi B

Cardi B
Two-time Grammy nominee Cardi B looked angelically delicious in a white Ashi Studio dress with train, which the 25-year-old part-Dominican American rapper paired with Christian Louboutin heels and Messika jewels.

Ashanti

Ashanti
Ashanti proved to be the night’s golden girl… The 37-year-old part-Dominican American singer and actress shined bright in a shimmering gold gown by Yas Couture by Elie Madi. It featured long sleeves, high neck and dramatic skirt.

Erika Ender

Erika Ender
Erika Ender, who co-wrote the Grammy-nominated global hit “Despacito,”wore a black long-sleeve gown with bead detailing. The 43-year-old Panamanian singer/songwriter’s dress, by Mac Duggal, featured parallel, thigh-high slits.

Kristin Maldonado

Kirstin Maldonado
Pentatonix member Kirstin Maldonado wore a ruffled, semi-sheer dress, which the 25-year-old half-Mexican, part-Spanish singer topped off with a smoky eye.

Cardi B Joins The Beatles & Ashanti in Rare Billboard Hot 100 Feat

Cardi B is making Beatles-size history…

The 25-year-old half-Dominican American singer has become just the third act – and the first rapper – to place her first three Billboard Hot 100 entries in the chart’s top 10 simultaneously, joining only The Beatles and Ashanti in achieving the feat.

Cardi B

Cardi B earns the honor as G-Eazy‘s “No Limit,” featuring A$AP Rocky and Cardi B, lifts from No. 5 to a No. 4 high on the new January 6-dated Billboard Hot 100 chart; Migos, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B’s No. 6-peaking “MotorSport” holds at No. 7; and her former three-week No. 1 debut smash “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” returning to the top 10, rising 12-10.

As Cardi B places at Nos. 4, 7 and 10 on the Hot 100, she joins elite company in ranking in the top 10 with her first three charted titles in the same week.

The Beatles first tripled up at the heights of early Beatlemania, as, on the Hot 100s dated February 29, March 7 and March 14, 1964, their first three entries all charted in the top 10 together. In the last of those three frames, the band monopolized the top three, with their first three hits at Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively: “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “She Loves You” and “Please Please Me.”

The feat remained unmatched for 38 years, until Ashanti reached the Hot 100’s top 10 with her first three charted titles simultaneously. On March 30 and April 6, 2002, she appeared in the tier with her own “Foolish” and as featured on Fat Joe‘s “What’s Luv?” and Ja Rule‘s “Always on Time.”

Cardi B is the first artist overall to chart three songs in the top 10 simultaneously since The Chainsmokers, who became the first duo to earn the distinction on the March 18, 2017-dated Hot 100. She’s the first woman to do so since both Iggy Azalea and Ariana Grande on August 30, 2014.

Cardi B, Azalea, Grande, Adele and Ashanti are the only women with such a top-10 triple.

The only other acts to chart three Hot 100 top 10s simultaneously (dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception): Bee Gees, 50 Cent, Usher, Akon, T-Pain, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Justin Bieber (thus, making Cardi B the 15th act to join the club).

The honor is the latest for Cardi B, who, when “MotorSport” zoomed 15-6 on the December 30-dated Hot 100, became the first female rapper to reach the top 10 with her first three Hot 100 entries.

Cardi B’s current trio of top 10s is driven most heavily by streaming, as “No Limit” leaps 7-4 on the Streaming Songs chart with 34.2 million U.S. streams, up 18 percent, in the week ending Deember. 28, according to Nielsen Music; “MotorSport” reverses 5-7 (30 million, down 4 percent); and “Bodak Yellow” holds at No. 9 (24.2 million, down 1 percent).

Not to be forgotten among Cardi B’s bounty this week: at No. 4 on the Hot 100, “No Limit” marks a new career high for both G-Eazy and A$AP Rocky, the latter of whom surpasses his prior No. 5 peak, as featured on Selena Gomez‘s “Good for You” in 2015.

Meanwhile, Cardi B adds to her haul this week, earning the Hot 100’s top two debuts with her fourth and fifth Hot 100 entries. “Bartier Cardi,” featuring 21 Savage, bows at No. 14 on the Hot 100, as it launches at No. 10 on the Digital Song Sales chart with 45,000 first-week downloads sold in the week ending December 28 and at No. 11 on Streaming Songs (21.1 million opening-week U.S. streams). The song’s No. 14 Hot 100 entrance matches Cardi B’s best, tying the arrival of “MotorSport” (Nov. 18).

Plus, Ozuna and Cardi B’s “La Modelo” debuts on the Hot 100 at No. 52, starting on Digital Song Sales at No. 40 (19,000) and Streaming Songs at No. 41 (11.7 million). It opens at No. 3 on Hot Latin Songs (where it marks Cardi B’s first appearance).

Camila Cabello‘s “Havana,” featuring Young Thug, keeps at No. 3 on the Hot 100, after reaching No. 2, while topping Radio Songs for a fourth week (130.4 million, down 3 percent).

Ashanti Appears on Belly’s New Mixtape “InZombia”

Ashanti has some InZombia

The 36-year-old part-Dominican American R&B singer has joined voices with Belly.

Ashanti

The Canadian singer has released his newest offering, InZombia, a mixtape with guest appearances from a few of hip-hop biggest names, including Ashanti.

She lends her voice to Belly’s single “Seven Day Love.”

Belly’s Inzombia follows previously released singles “You” (featuring Kehlani) and “Ballerina“.

Ashanti’s last album, Braveheart, was released in March 2014.

Ashanti to Perform at Def Jam Recordings’ Special 30th Anniversary Concert

Ashanti is ready to (def) jam out!

Def Jam Recordings is celebrating their 30th birthday with a special concert featuring performances from the label’s past and present artists, including the 33-year-old part-Dominican American R&B singer/actress.

Ashanti

Ashanti will be joined by Rick Ross and 2 Chainz at the event slated to take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on October 16.

Other artists set to take the stage include DMX, Fabolous, Jeremih, EPMD,Foxy Brown, Jhene Aiko, Method Man, Redmanand Ja Rule. More acts will be announced at a later date.

As part of the celebration, Def Jam will also release a limited-edition LP and CD box set featuring a collection of songs curated by Def Jam’s founder Rick Rubin. It also includes a commemorative T-shirt and booklet.

Tickets for the October 16 concert go on sale on August 22. However, those who pre-order the box set will receive an access code to a special pre-sale on August 20.

“It’s very exciting to be able to be part of such a special announcement that solidifies and continues forward the enduring mark the brand has made on pop culture,” said Steve Bartels, CEO of Def Jam Recordings, in a statement.

Ashanti to Release “Braveheart” Album in March

Ashanti has a brave future…

The 33-year-old part-Dominican American R&B singer/actress has announced plans to release her oft-delayed album Braveheart on March 4.

Ashanti

In addition to announcing the album’s release date, Ashanti has also unveiled the track list.

The 15-song studio effort, including Target exclusives, features guest appearances by French Montana, Jeremih, Rick Ross and Beenie Man.

While putting the finishing touches on Braveheart, Ashanti is writing music for the soundtrack to the upcoming 2015 Tupac biopic.

Last month, Ashanti recorded the official music video for “I Got It,” her duet with Rick Ross.

Here’s the complete Braveheart track list:

  1. “Intro/Braveheart”
  2. “Nowhere”
  3. “Runaway”
  4. “Count”
  5. “Early in the Morning” feat. French Montana
  6. “3 Words”
  7. “Love Games” feat. Jeremih
  8. “Scars”
  9. “Never Should Have”
  10. “She Can’t”
  11. “Don’t Tell Me No”
  12.  “I Got It” feat. Rick Ross
  13. “First Real Love” feat. Beenie Man/Outro
  14. “Bonafide Survivor”
15. “RIP” (Target Exclusive)

Estrada Dazzles on the Grammy Awards Red Carpet

She may not be a household name, but Desireé Estrada has left many wondering “Quien es esa nina, who’s that girl?” after her appearance on the red carpet at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards.

The up-and-coming Mexican- American singer shined bright like a diamond in a gunmetal and white dress.

Desireé Estrada

Estrada, born and raised in Los Angeles, completed her look with diamonds from Charlie Lapson.

Ashanti

Ashanti turned heads on the red carpet. The 33-year-old part-Dominican American Grammy-winning R&B singer/actress donned a strapless patterned dress on awards night.

The bodycon metallic mini dress was simply stunning, inducing double-takes from people around her.

Gloria Estefan

Gloria Estefan had everyone seeing red on Grammy night. The 56-year-old Cuban singer, nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, wore a striking red partly sheer dress.

Even though she went home empty-handed on Sunday night, Estefan was still a winner with her eye-catching dress.

Ashanti & Rick Ross Film Music Video for Their “I Got It” Collaboration

Oh boy! Ashanti isn’t afraid to show the world she’s “got it!”

The 33-year-old part-Dominican American R&B singer/actress joined forces with Rick Ross to film the music video for their collaboration, “I Got It.”

Ashanti & Rick Ross

Ashanti, who starred on the final season of Lifetime’s Army Wives series, was spotted cozying up to the rapper at The Bank Lounge in Miami this past week.

In a photo posted on Ross’ Twitter page, Ashanti dons a black leather corset dress and knee-high boots. Ross, meanwhile, sports his signature black sunglasses while standing beside her.

“Ashanti lookin like $$.. Video coming soon,” he captioned the pic.

Also spotted on the set were DJ Khaled and the song’s producer L.T. Hutton. It’s not clear whether or not they’ll appear in the upcoming video.

“I Got It” is lifted from Ashanti’s long-delayed new album BraveHeart. Originally scheduled to be released last year, the singer’s fifth studio set is now slated to arrive on February 18 via her own record label Written Entertainment.