Wondering what Ashanti’s been up to? The R&B singer has been keeping herself busy by helping a Buffalo, NY family’s dreams come true! Ashanti will make an special appearance on an episode of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” which will air next year, however taping for the episode took place yesterday. Buffalo’s Eyewitness News cameras caught up with the songstress who was  in a hurry to get on the set to get her hands dirty.

Peep the clip below of Ashanti surprising the “Extreme Makover” family at a high school football game.

Glad to see Ashanti’s keeping busy by giving back!

]]> http://str8nyc.com/2009/11/14/ashanti-set-to-appear-on-extreme-makeover-home-editions/feed/ 0 http://str8nyc.com/2009/10/05/good-hair-nyc-premiere/ http://str8nyc.com/2009/10/05/good-hair-nyc-premiere/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:14:16 +0000 LexAve http://str8nyc.com/?p=25785 “GOOD HAIR” NYC PREMIERE…

Word is Ashanti and Nelly are the latest Hip-hop couple to call it quits. These two supposedly ex-lovebirds managed to keep their relationship a secret for a hot minute until Nelly blew the whistle and finally admitted that Ashanti was indeed his girl. Earlier this year, talk of marriage was even swirling around after Ashanti admitted that a wedding was “absolutely in the cards” for them. According to the NY Daily News, Nelly wasn’t ready to settle down with Ashanti and commit to just only her. Snitches say that Nelly has moved on and found himself a new piece of arm candy. Word is video vixen Melyssa Ford is the new woman in Nelly’s life. Apparently, they’ve been spotted spending a lot of quality time together.

Damn, I guess four years meant nothing to Nelly seeming as though he’s already wifed up another broad.

Yesterday afternoon, Ashanti attended the unveiling of the “Be Amazing” billboard in Times Square, NYC as part of the Boys & Girls Club of America’s new advocacy campaign. And of course no photo-op is complete without her No. 1 fan, momager Tina by her side.

POP THE TOP FOR FLICKS OF NE-YO…

Meanwhile, R&B crooner Ne-Yo was on his grown man tip at the Fall Ad Campaign reveal for Macy’s and Alfani at The Metropolitan Pavilion in NYC. In related news, Ne-Yo is itching to be part of the star-studded line up at the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna, Austria next month. Although, Ne-Y hasn’t gotten a call yet, he’s already picked the track he wants to sing. He says,

“I’d love to take part in it. My favorite Jackson song is Lady in My Life.”

When it comes to making friends in the industry R&B singer Ashanti could care less. According to the songstress, making friends in the industry isn’t her main priority. She says,

“Basically it’s hi and bye thing. I can’t speak for other people, but when you get into this music industry you’re told, ‘you’re not here to make friends’ and you definitely have to focus on what you’re doing. It’s tough because there are a lot of shady people and it’s very hard. Me personally, I don’t have like best friends in the industry.”

While Ashanti’s music career is on the brink of extinction so is her acting career! Although, the songstress scored the lead role as Dorothy in “Encores! Summer Stars” production of “The Wiz”, critics don’t think she deserved it. According to tough critics, “The Wiz” lacks that “special something” and Ashanti’s acting doesn’t help. OUCH!

Here’s what the critics had to say:

The New York Times’ Charles Isherwood mainly knocked the show, calling it “busily energetic yet full of dead ends”, while describing Ashanti as “a pretty place-holder, an empty vessel in a sparkly dress”.

POP THE HOOD FOR MORE CRITIQUES!

While Newsday’s Linda Winer thought Ashanti’s acting and singing was far from stellar. She says,

“Ashanti proves not be a natural theater actor, and, even more surprising, her silvery voice sounds thin and bland against the pros”.

Not all of the reviews were negative. Ashanti managed to get a positive review from the Associate Press’ Peter Santilli who called the musical a “lavish, well-balanced production” and really praised Ashanti’s performance. Adding,

“With wide-eyed charm and a can’t-miss voice, Ashanti makes the role her own while distinguishing herself among a skilled troupe of singers and dancers.”

Poor Ashanti can’t seem to catch a break. From the looks of it she should just stick to singing or she can pull a Kelly Rowland and host a reality tv show.

Beyonce is a busy woman! She just kicked off the first leg of her US tour this past weekend and she was spotted yesterday at MSG in NYC announcing The Feeding America: Show Your Helping Hand hunger relief campaign. The songstress is asking fans to bring non-perishable food items or to donate money when they attend any of her shows.

Sidebar: Looks like Beyonce is the only person who rocks House of Done It Wrong!

POP THE HOOD FOR MORE PICS!

Dorothy Ashanti performed at “Century 21 Presents A Check to The Path of Your Dreams Sweepstakes Winner” in NYC yesterday. Is it just me or does Ashanti really think she’s Dorothy?! The songstress sang “Home” from the musical in her costume, but then again the song did fit the occasion. Peep the facial expressions, Ashanti looks like she killed it or at least tried!

]]> http://str8nyc.com/2009/06/23/beyonce-gives-a-helping-handashanti-sings-her-heart-out/feed/ 1 http://str8nyc.com/2009/06/20/ashanti-talks-the-wiz/ http://str8nyc.com/2009/06/20/ashanti-talks-the-wiz/#comments Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:03:18 +0000 J'More http://str8nyc.com/?p=19137 ASHANTI TALKS “THE WIZ”

After realizing her music career is currently at a complete standstill, Ashanti decided to try her luck on Broadway. The songstress ended up scoring the lead as Dorothy in “Encores! Summer Stars” production of “The Wiz” at New York City Center. According to Ashanti, she’s always wanted to try Broadway if the right opportunity came along and luckily for her it did! She says,

“I always said I wanted to at least try it. When I was in high school I did “Oklahoma!” I was Gertie. I said this is something I wanted to try if the right opportunity presents itself. I think this was the perfect one.”

Find out why Ashanti chose “The Wiz” after the cut!

She says,

“It’s such a historical, historical piece. It means so much to my family. I actually played Dorothy in “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz,” ironically. I think Dorothy and I have a lot of similarities in life. She started out very naive, and she learned on her journey to become stronger and stronger — and to, obviously, believe. It sorta parallels my life, starting in the music industry and just being naive and just learning and becoming strong. I think that’s why Dorothy and I—well, we jell.”

Maybe Irv Gotti had a point when he told MTV that Ashanti’s rise to success was the result of a lot of energy. He explains, “When you seen her, it was 30 n—as around her, and she’s the princess so nice and pretty walking through. The music was great, but it was the energy that was created. It wasn’t just her standing there and singing a song”.

While Irv believes Ashanti’s last album, The Declaration didn’t go platinum because he wasn’t involved in the project, the former princess of Hip-Hop and R&B begs to differ and blames the crumbling economy for why it didn’t sell. She tells the Village Voice,

“Obviously, the industry has changed in the past five years. My last album came out in ‘04 and things changed internally, label-wise, and it’s very political in this industry. And sometimes you have to just do what you have to do. I love the album. I think the reviews have been the best reviews on any album that I ever put out so it goes to show you it is what it is and it happens. Obviously, it’s not as successful as we all wanted it to be, but I gained a lot of respect from a lot people who’ve said “Wow, the album is hot, and you did it by yourself.” I mean the biggest artists and biggest acts haven’t been selling nearly as much as they used to, too, so everyone is suffering from this recession–it’s hitting everyone.”

I’m so sick and tired of artists blaming the recession for why people ain’t coppin’ their sh*t! Ashanti, it’s not the economy’s fault that people aren’t into you!