Chapter II

Ashanti | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Def Jam
• ASIN: B00009VRDI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (370 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,082 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This sophomore effort by 2002 hip-pop debutante Ashanti is aimed squarely at the mainstream portion of her audience. Where she made her name with radio-ready duets featuring Ja Rule and Fat Joe, Chapter II goes light on the rap, opting for only a small handful of cameos by co-producer Chink Santana. The mostly mid-tempo tracks are pleasant, but much of the album feels like an unfinished structure that’ll only be fully built when the songs are remixed for the airwaves. Still, with the star’s assured (and nicely undersold) vocals front and center, it amounts to a breath of fresh air from production company Murder Inc. Note: "Breakup 2 Makeup" once more updates the Chaka Khan/Mary J. Blige classic "Sweet Thing." --Rickey Wright

Product Description

The award winning singer's second album includes a track not found on the U.S. edition: "I Know". --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Chapter Eleven., July 2, 2003

By 

The Groove (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chapter II (Audio CD)

Despite a million-plus selling debut, a handful of top ten singles, and being hailed as the new princess of r&b, Ashanti Douglas still has a lot to prove. Like Madonna, Kylie, and J.Lo, Ashanti suffers from an affliction common among most young and pretty female artists: success without the respect. The criticism isn't unwarranted: her 2002 self-titled debut was a collection of trendy hip-hop r&b that's high on gloss but low on substance. What's more, her vocal range is limited to a pretty light whisper that lacks the muscle and grit of many of her peers. It'd be refreshing to expect "Chapter II" to represent a mature step forward from her seriously flawed debut, but you'd be setting yourself up for disappointment. The problems with this CD begin right at its very foundation: the songwriting. Actually, "songwriting" is too questionable a term to use since everything here sounds borrowed, stolen, and sampled. Hooks are few, and the beats lack bounce. The lyrics are trite, juvenile, and vapid tales that fall mainly into one of two categories: puppy love and "he-did-me-wrong." Take a sample from "The Story of 2": "Baby I'm just thinking about what I wanna do / just wanna do / I don't care if I'm wrong / think I'm in love with you." Producer Irv Gotti works overtime to conceal Ashanti's strained voice by coming up with stale rhythms and recycled ideas. This is especially evident on tracks like "Living My Life," "Feel So Good," and the tragic "Breakup 2 Makeup." "Chapter II" does have one guilty pleasure of a single: the infectious "Rock Wit U," which has a hook so undeniable you almost forget how empty-headed it is. The rest of the album would succeed if the other cuts were as interesting, but, in the end, Ashanti has released a second album that's all sizzle and no steak. She could have fought back at critics with a tough album that would justify her commercial success. Instead, she and Irv Gotti slavishly follow the very formula that made her a multiplatinum star in the first place, and they take virtually no risks. That's progress?

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Never 2 Late 2 Fall In Luv Again (Ashanti's Music)., June 11, 2006

By 

zooni (long beach ,ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chapter II (Audio CD)

I thought this cd was really bad like everybody else, and it had been in my collection for years. I was feeling the need for new music, so that's when I got out the cds I only listened to a couple times. There are a couple really good songs on this cd. The problem is the way the cd was arranged. Ashanti needs to get rid of the intros and skits. It distracts the listener, and it makes you want to skip thru the whole cd. It would help if there were more songs for me to like, but I did discover a couple songs I forgot about, and a new one I now like. You can't give up on something completely. Ashanti has talent and I knew there had to be more to this cd than just getting rid of it. A cd has to breathe anyways. M' fave song by Ashanti is on here, it's called "I Found Lovin'". It has a 80's beat and it's a positive vibe. I like "Aww Baby" and "Rain On Me". A new song I found is "Then Your Gone". It has a good message and good lyrics. I hope Ashanti follows her heart and flips the script so her next album will be better than all of them.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Awwww Please!!, July 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Chapter II (Audio CD)

I loved her single "Foolish" and "Baby Baby" was Okay.

But please. What is this. People wake up Ashanti can't sing to save her life. She sounds like she's in a vacumn. And what is this about her filling the void for Janet Jackson - Irv Gotti get a life; if Ashanti is filling the void for Janet Jackson, then I am filling the void for Leonardo Dicaprio and I'm also engaged to Pink monkey that lays eggs and can sing the Star Spangled Banner!

All of you that thing I'm hating, be warned ...... I am hating! But you will soon see for yourselves when you shell out the money to buy this. Again for empahsis:

THIS ALBUM IS LIKE LISTENING TO FRAN DRESCHER DOING A MONOLOUGE FOR SPANISH AMERICAN T.V. all the songs sound the same, and they annoy the [garbage] out of me! ARRUUGGHH!!

Let's call the FAShion Police for Lil Kim.

LETS CALL THE MUSIC POLICE FOR ASHANTI.

Awwww Please!