Ashanti‘s new single may be titled “Say Less,” but the R&B vixen is saying more.
In the wake of sexual harassment and assault accusations that have shaken the entertainment industry in recent months, the R&B songstress opened up about her own experiences in the music world during an interview with “The Breakfast Club.”
“I was in a situation where this producer, who’s super dope, super talented, has a gazillion No. 1s, he was trying to take me out,” she revealed. “[He said] ‘If we do this and we go out…I’ma give you all of this for free.’ I’m just like, ‘What? Son. That’s never gonna happen.’ So, then he’s like, ‘Alright. I need $45,000 for this one, $50[,000] for this one.’ What? He didn’t understand that I had a bunch of big brothers at the time. You know. Had to get handled. That’s moved on now but it happened.”
She went on to say that she’s “sure” the producer has offered the same proposition to others, as well. “It’s very unfortunate,” she said, refusing to name the man in question.
Ashanti, who’s promoting her new single “Say Less” with Ty Dolla $ign, also addressed another issue that she’s encountered in her career. “I wrote ‘Ain’t It Funny’ for J.Lo,” she said. “I didn’t get my credit but I wrote it.”
When asked if she was paid for the work, the former Murder Inc. star revealed that she was compensated, but that she’s looking for more in the future. “We’re working on other things,” she said, “to make things complete.”
But, the “Foolish” hitmaker also described other issues that she’s faced while trying to elevate her career. “I think a lot of things happened beyond my control,” she said. “Obviously being a part of a record label that was federally indicted and having associated with that and everything that came along with the extra-ness that I was a part of, it affected it beyond my control. Without having an amazing team, I think things would have went way under.”
Watch the full interview above.
