MC Lyte once posed the question in her hit single Cold Rock A Party, “Who rocks the party that rocks your body?” The answer was herself, but Lyte’s self-proclamation might be challenged as Ashanti just rocked Fat Joe’s birthday party.
But it’s not just with her voice that got everybody talking. In true Ashanti form, the 40-year-old singer’s party-stopping, eye-popping outfit is the topic of conversation.
Ashanti and Fat Joe’s friendship dates back to the early 2000s. The single, “What’s Luv” was released in February of 2002 and became Fat Joe’s biggest hit to date. Oddly enough, Ashanti already occupied the #1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for her debut single “Foolish” at the time. “What’s Luv” would go on to peak at #2 on the same chart, making her the first female artist to achieve this feat.
Unbeknownst to Ashanti, she almost did not make the cut. Fat Joe only recently revealed the song’s backstory via Instagram Live while speaking with Ashanti. It was then that he shared with Ashanti that she originally was not intended to be featured on the song.
“Irv [Gotti] and Ja [Rule] had called me, and they woke me up [at] like 3 in the morning, and they say, ‘Yo, come down, we made a song for you,” said Fat Joe. “I go to the studio, it was like 4 in the morning. They played ‘What’s Luv?’ and you on it,” he says to Ashanti. “And they was telling me, ‘Yo, this is for you and J. Lo. We want the Latinos on this.”
A visibly stunned Ashanti admits that she never knew this information. Fat Joe continued saying, “I was like, yo, J. Lo? [Ashanti] sound amazing on here. I was like, ‘Nah, we leaving her there.’”
Both artists would continue on to create and produce big hits that would live on for years. While Ashanti has not released a full album since 2014’s Braveheart, she’s dropped a few singles since.
Perhaps what remains most consistent is the content that Ashanti drops on her social media. Oftentimes, the singer shares both pictures and videos that excite her fans, thanks to her fashion sense. And let’s not forget the body!
Normalize the thought that wherever Ashanti shows up, she’s bringing a look. This did not go unnoticed at Fat Joe’s 51st birthday party held on a rooftop at Rockefeller Center in New York City. With a guest list that boasts the likes of Swizz Beatz, Remy Ma, and husband Papoose, Busta Rhymes, and many others, Ashanti showed up and showed out.
Ashanti decided to give us the blues, and she did just that! In a revealing blue Louisa Ballou dress, long dazzling earrings, and her usual long hair in a bun, Ashanti’s body was on full display.
Unable to contain himself after helping Ashanti out of her car, Fat Joe was motivated to hand Ashanti a mic. Gracefully, Ashanti offered a surprise performance for Fat Joe on his birthday. She was said to have performed quite a few of her classics, while Fat Joe could be both seen and heard hyping her up in the background.
.@ashanti performing with @fatjoe at his party last night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/30Ny3cAdvN
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) August 21, 2021
Fans who were not in attendance that witnessed the night’s events via social media took time to praise the singer for her look. “[Ashanti] looked [fire] at [Fat Joe’s] party. Sis needs to drop the skincare routine, work out, and diet plans cos…[fire emoji],” wrote one fan. Another wrote, “Ashanti is obnoxiously fine…. She’s that ‘frown ya face up’ fine… Bless her.”
The fans weren’t the only ones who thought Ashanti stole the show. The birthday boy himself took to his social media to graciously sing her praises as well.
“When Ashanti comes out that car, Je-sus Christmas,” exclaimed the “Lean Back” rapper. “I mean, what wasn’t she wearing? In all the years I’ve known her, she’s never looked better. She walks in, I automatically rush her to the stage because I thought the f*****g outfit was gonna fly off her.”
He continued, “When we do it, we do it big. COVID taught us that you can die at any moment. We live every day like it’s our last day. You can’t take your money with you…”
Ashanti would soon catch wind of Fat Joe’s comments and share the video clip on her own page. “If your brother don’t hype u up like this he’s trash!!!” Ashanti captioned the post. “Love u bro!!!! I am f##### cryinnnnnnnnnnnngg.”
Check out Fat Joe’s comments on Ashanti below, as well as some fan reactions.
I really need fat joe to recap everything for me from now on because his commentary on Ashanti’s dress is>>> 😭😭😭😭😭😭
— 🍰The Cake Lady🍰 (@GotMiAAngel) August 23, 2021
Ashanti so damn FINE! 😩 pic.twitter.com/cN39KVH3Gl
— missparkerletmefuck. (@angieeemonique) August 21, 2021
But it was the hype from @fatjoe for me! @ashanti you wore that shit tho! #Ashanti pic.twitter.com/dXEOYe46gh
— ♑Ashley♑ (@AshleyD1286) August 23, 2021
So we not gonna talk about how sexy Ashanti looked at Fat Joe’s bday party last night ?!🤯😛😍🤩 pic.twitter.com/N2DanC0L8k
— Poet Sippin’ Moët 🥂 (@Keisha_Plum) August 21, 2021
honey, Ashanti had fat Joe sweating 😂😂😂
— y (@__yanni) August 23, 2021
How Fat Joe hyped up Ashanti 😍 Omg I love that, goals, she looked really good.
— theresalikewhoa (@theresaAnn96) August 23, 2021
NAAHHHH cuz Fat Joe is RIGHT, Ashanti had the timeline SHOOK! 🔥😍🔥
(📸: walik1) pic.twitter.com/Z5VTFP52xO— 935 KDAY (@935KDAY) August 23, 2021
NAAHHHH cuz Fat Joe is RIGHT, Ashanti had the timeline SHOOK! 🔥😍🔥
(📸: walik1) pic.twitter.com/Z5VTFP52xO— 935 KDAY (@935KDAY) August 23, 2021