Ashanti must’ve attended the same Emancipation Master class with Mariah Carey when she decided to name her fourth album The Declaration. Released on June 3, the 13-track set pops the cherry on the singer’s 4-year hiatus from the music scene. Ashanti’s last studio album Concrete Rose received cricket sounds across the board when she attempted to invent a new sound leaving her sample-driven, catchy duets with JaRule a thing of the past. In the album’s intro Ashanti answers early on The Declaration is her. This is her first album without direction of Murder Inc. head Irv Gotti.

The album features the singer’s on and off public sweet thang Nelly on the track “Body on Me(featuring Akon)”and contains a flow of producers (Rodney Jerkins, Babyface, LT Hutton). Ashanti even takes the Mimi route a little further with help of Mariah Carey’s partner Jermaine Dupri on “Good Good.” “The Way I Love You,” Declaration’s first single, showcases the 27-year-old’s strongest vocal and lyrical effort to date. Declaration almost continues the delivery of her 2003 hit “Rain on Me.” Ashanti clearly went for a mature sound when she decided to declare herself. Songs like “Things You Make Me Do,” a duet with Robin Thicke, “In These Streets,” and “Girlfriend” are her best sensual performances to date. She’s also taken on a new swagger with “Your Gonna Miss” catchy, symphonic Irreplaceble-esque track that would make Diddy proud and the Rodney Jerkins early nineties flavored “So Over You.” But there is something missing from The Declaration, perhaps its singer’s lack of energy constantly giving you a vibe that you can’t feel what she’s trying to convey. Not to mention, there is no other song on the album that gives the impression of her effort for the album’s lead single. Ashanti still has a lot to prove despite spreading her wings from her posse at The Inc.

Mp3 Sound Share

Your Gonna Miss

Things You Make Me Do (feat. Robin Thicke)