Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A delicious chapter, July 1, 2003
She's back, and in a big way. Ashanti returns not only with a more well-rounded, cohesive effort, she has returned with a better sense of music altogether. "Chapter II" is coated with a summery sheen. It, in fact, would like to be sort of bible of summer anthems, the CD you hear blasting from cars zooming underneath the hot sun, and it succeeds...but to a certain degree. Granted, "Chapter II" does have its bouncy moments (the 80's banger "I Found Lovin'", the sizzling "Rock Wit U"), but Ashanti's latest is, in its core, a display of an artistic move forward and a push for respect.Irv Gotti has been known for his relentlessly glossy production, and for his overly excessive use of samples. Neither are apparent on this Chapter. Ashanti and Gotti utilize samples, yes, but in a stylish and sort of "nudge-nudge" fashion. In the soulful, sultry "Story of 2," Gotti uses "Dreammaker" (written by Rick James) not simply as a shortcut, but as a throwback to 70's soul music and singers, in which he undoubtedly succeeds. "Rain On Me" samples Burt Bacharach's "Look of Love" to create a delicious pallette of visions and emotion. "Chapter II" also seems dead-set on focusing on its artist, not the production team or surrounding artists, and, spare an advertisment for labelmate Black Child, Ashanti is the center of attention. Vocally and lyrically masterful, Ashanti slides through this Chapter obviously more savvy and more in control. She has grown up, but not overtly so. Her music is enriched with more emotion, more experience, and possibly, more talent altogether. Whereas "Ashanti" was a break into the industry, a record aimed at sales, "Chapter II" is a true album, a true statement of love and life, a statement of an urgency to get a point across: Ashanti is here to stay.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ashanti does Mary J's "My Life" with good results., July 1, 2003
On her second album Ashanti is out to prove critics and naysayers with a cool collection of more adult oriented material. The CD is more of a showcase for what she can do vocally. Apparently she held back on her 1st CD to showcase the hip hop beats that provided the soundtrack to last summer. For anyone who thought Ashanti could not sing, they should listen to this CD. She reaches notes and sings songs in ways we haven't heard before. I myself was shocked by the song Break Up 2 Make Up, a cool slow grove that has the singer actually belting the best to her ability. She's no Patti Labelle, but hey I am not a fan of vocal gymnastics. Other stand out tracks include the lead off track "Rock Wit U (Aww Baby)" a cool driving home after the beach cruising down the highway kinda song. My most favorite track is "Rain On Me" which is probably the best track on the CD. It's sure to be a hit if released. Anyway the CD is a well rounded effort hampered by annoying interludes. Also a couple of more uptempo jeep tracks wouldn't have hurt. But overall the CD warrants being in any R&B fans collection. It's her attempt at getting full fledged R&B credibility and it works. This is Ashanti's "My Life" and with Mary J. sounding horrendous on her new single singing over hip hop beats, I am glad we have an heir apparent in Ashanti.
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31 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Chapter Eleven., July 2, 2003
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?
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