Album Review: Ashanti - 'The Declaration'

On Ashanti's fourth outing The Declaration, she sets out to prove that she can in fact produce a quality album without long time mentor Irv Gotti and for the most part she succeeds. On the album's Intro she confirms everything she's went through in the past four years, stating "I've experienced life; I've experienced death, I felt pain I've never felt before", as she says that she declaring her and the growth she acquire from experiencing the ups and downs. The most clear thing you can tell Ashanti has experienced is heartbreak, a theme which is planted all over the album just as it was with her previous efforts. On the album's first single, 'The Way That I Love You', which is the opening cut, you hear the infectious chorus that you're accustomed to hearing from Ashanti. The beat is catchy and Ashanti's voice rides the track almost effortlessly. The next cut 'You're Gonna Miss' immediately draws you in with its catchy infectious electronic chorus as she coos, "You're gonna miss this chick right here, you're gonna miss this chick I swear." The Darkchild-produced 'So Over You', which Ashanti has apparently lined up as the next single, is a certified club banger with is immaculate production. 'Struggle', the album's best cut, is a extraordinary midtempo cut which demonstrates how she is prepared to fight for her relationship, despite the fact that things aren't great at the moment. The track is definitely something that you could easily see fitting into one of Mary J. Blige's albums, but Ashanti really does her thing on the track vocally. She manages to not take it overboard, like someone like Mary can often do, but she instead chooses to keep it simple while bringing her passionate vocals to the forefront, which really helps sell the song. 'Things You Make Me Do' a collaboration with blue eyed soul man Robin Thicke, is another highlight, as both of their vocals run effortlessly together, proving that Ashanti really can hit you with something different when ever she chooses to. The song is a definition of pure sexiness as Ashanti and Robin each add a sensual imagery as their airy soft vocal lace the track. 'In These Streets' is another solid cut on which Ashanti's much improved vocals are allowed to shine though and the Jermaine Dupri-produced 'Good Good' is definitely a track the ladies will be feeling, as she goes over how good she is at pleasing her man in bed, while 'Body on Me', with Akon and longtime boyfriend Nelly, is a clear winner for the summer. While the album does however have its low points, on 'Girlfriend', Ashanti sensually goes over all the things that she would do if she was your girlfriend, a concept that is very cliche in R&B music and has been done more times than I can count, but I still give her credit for at least attempting to put a fresh spin on it. 'Mother', produced by the legendary Babyface, sees Ashanti delivering some of her strongest vocals, yet the track tends to drag on and on. On the pop ballad 'Shine', Ashanti is accompanied with the backing vocals of a young choir and you root for her to really take control of the track, but those dreams never seem to materialize. The album's closing track 'The Declaration', has a little too much going on at times, but is still a solid track.

Overall, The Declaration really doesn't have a bad song to be found on the 13-track set and is definitely Ashanti's most solid effort to date. 'Struggle' was a clear standout for me. Another thing that is clearly declared on the album is Ashanti's new found confidence as well as her vocal growth. To be honest, if you would have asked me a few months ago who would have produced the most solid effort her or Usher, she wouldn't have been my front runner, but having heard both albums, she wins by a landslide.

3.5 out of 5