Ashanti

Ashanti was better than her first album indicated. Onstage she was a natural, sultry and light, at ease and with real power in her young voice. Only under the guidance of Murder Inc. kingpin Irv Gotti could a hot diva whispering "Baby, baby, baby, baby!" sound so damn boring. Ashanti's self-titled debut followed her appearances in star-making duets with Ja Rule ("Always on Time") and Fat Joe ( "What's Luv"). The sound was strictly radio- ready R&B circa 2002, up-to- date and anonymous, and no threat creatively to contemporaries Alicia Keys and India.Arie. She curses undependable men on "Foolish" in a girlish vamp submerged in gloss, but taps a small vein of funk for "It's Over." Ashanti sounds most genuine on "Dreams," a delicate ballad that edges toward Stevie Wonder's sentimental side. But it's not enough to turn soul clichés into something real.

Chapter II is even lighter, without a single new trick but with plenty of boasting and dumb chatter between songs. "Then Ya Gone" is a torrid and potent funk duet with rapper Chink Santana, while "The Story of 2" is a distant echo of ancient girl- group soul. Too much of the rest is empty of feeling, turning this Murder Inc. princess into just another lovesick diva tumbling back down the charts. (STEVE APPLEFORD)

From 2004's The New Rolling Stone Album Guide