Singing Guide: Ashanti & Ja Rule

Singing Guide: Ashanti & Ja Rule

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

Are you a fan of early 2000's R&B hits? If so, then you must be familiar with the duo Ashanti and Ja Rule, pioneers of the urban pop genre, and their chart-topping hits that defined an era. In this article, we'll explore some tips and tricks to learn singing like Ashanti, with a focus on her unique vocal style, popular songs that showcase her skills, and recommended Singing Carrots resources to help you develop your voice.

Ashanti's Vocal Style

Ashanti is known for her sultry and seductive vocals, often making use of melismas and vibratos to add texture and emotion to her singing. Her signature style is characterized by a smooth, breathy tone and a knack for transitioning between singing and rapping with ease. She also relies heavily on adlibs and background vocals to create a rich, layered sound.

Songs to Showcase Ashanti's Style

To get a sense of Ashanti's unique vocal technique, we recommend studying some of her most popular tracks. Songs like "Foolish" and "Rain On Me" are great examples of her ability to blend singing and rapping seamlessly, while ballads like "Don't Let Them" and "Mother" highlight her soulful, emotive vocals. In addition, the catchy hooks and memorable melodies of hits like "Always On Time" (with Ja Rule) and "Only U" showcase her talent for writing and performing catchy, radio-friendly tunes.

Tips for Singing Like Ashanti

  • Focus on your breath control: Ashanti's breathy tone is a key part of her signature sound. Practice deep breathing exercises and focus on using your diaphragm to control your breath for a smooth, sustained sound.
  • Work on your vibrato: Ashanti's frequent use of vibrato adds depth and texture to her vocals. Practice incorporating vibrato into your singing and experiment with different speeds and styles to find what works best for you.
  • Practice melismas: Melismas are multiple notes sung on a single syllable, a technique often used in R&B and pop music. Study Ashanti's use of melismas in her music and practice incorporating them into your own singing.
  • Use adlibs and background vocals: Ashanti's music often features layered and harmonized vocals, a technique you can practice by recording and layering your own voice. Experiment with different vocal textures and harmonies to create a unique sound that complements your lead vocals.

Singing Carrots Resources

For additional resources to help you develop your singing skills and learn more about Ashanti's style, Singing Carrots offers a wide range of useful articles, videos, and tools. Here are a few that we recommend:

In addition, Singing Carrots offers several tools to help you fine-tune your voice, including the Vocal range test, Pitch accuracy test, Vocal Pitch Monitor, and Pitch Training. With dedication and practice, you'll be well on your way to mastering your own unique version of Ashanti's sultry vocal style.

Learn more about this artist vocal range, voice type and repertoire.