ASHANTI Chapter II (Murder Inc/Def Jam) Rating: NN Rating: NN
Ashanti broke the quadruple-platinum threshold with last year’s self-titled debut on the success of hits Foolish, What’s Luv and Always On Time. Now she’s back with Chapter II. Unfortunately, she sounds exactly like every other female R&B/rap singer out there. Ashanti Douglas can sing, and the production is top-notch, but you’d hope producer Irv Gotti would at least attempt to break away from the J.Lo and Beyoncé sound and give us something more than four goofy skits. Sixty-five minutes is about 30 more than neccessary.