Adam Ant

SOON TO BE RELEASED - ANT DVD (Definitive Video History 1977 - 1993). Jackson. Antvideo - Compilation - released 2001. In January 2005, Ashanti made her feature film acting debut in the movie Coach Carter with Samuel L. Live in Tokyo - Concert video - released 1994. However, R&B newcomer Lloyd has released a duet with Ashanti, "Southside", as his first single; and it became a hit at American radio, as well as MTV Jams, over the summer of 2004. Antics in the Forbidden Zone - Compilation - released 1990. Most recently, in 2004, Ashanti released the third single from Chapter II, "Breakup 2 Makeup"; its complete lack of video play on any American music video stations, including the cable channels, VH1 Soul and MTV Jams, and almost total lack of American radio airplay had some speculating that Ashanti's career as a superstar pop diva might have run its course.

Prince Charming Revue - Concert video - released 1981. Even with the help of a remix version of both the single and video, it was not able to reach "Rock Wit U"'s level of success on either pop or urban radio. A television special entitled "The Madness of Prince Charming" was aired in the UK in 2003 documenting Adam's career highlights, as well as his struggle with mental illness. The second single and video, "Rain On Me", was released in the fall of 2003. Since the 2002 incident, Adam has occasionally been featured in news stories surrounding potential projects, his medical condition, as well as tribute bands devoted to celebrating his career. In the summer of 2003, Ashanti released an album called Chapter II. Its first single, "Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)" became one of the summer's biggest hits and its steamy video, which showed Ashanti in a bikini frolicking on a beach, was nominated for a 2003 MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video. The plans were derailed when an altercation in a pub in England led to a brush with the law, and the revelation that Adam suffered from bipolar disorder, the mental illness commonly known as "manic depression" - to which some attibute his extraordinary creativity. She would later make a special guest appearance in a season 7 episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, First Date.

Adam was poised to join an 80s focused tribute tour in early 2002. family. The box set included 66 tracks on three CDs, and quickly sold through the initial 10,000 units. Ashanti was not spared from 50 Cent's criticism of the entire Murder Inc. "Antbox," a retrospective box set spanning Adam's career from the late 1970s through the 1990s, was released in late 2001. In early 2003, Ja Rule and Ashanti teamed up again and scored a massive pop hit with "Mesmerize", the music video for which parodied the plot of the movie Grease. 50 Cent would later mock Ja Rule as being soft and "not a true gangsta", citing the "Mesmerize" video and its pop-culture appeal as an example. A new generation of Ant-influenced artists covered Adam and the Ants' hits during the 90s, including Elastica, Sugar Ray, Trent Reznor, and Robbie Williams. During the summer of 2002, Ashanti also appeared on a Ja Rule song called "Down 4 U," along with labelmates Vita and Charli Baltimore.

While Adam and his group (which included longtime partner Marco Pirroni) played in smaller venues than they had played in the 1980s, the houses were often packed with enthusiastic fans. Ashanti's follow-up singles, "Happy" and "Baby" were smaller hits later that same year. in support of the album. "Foolish" became 2002's biggest hit, according to Billboard, spending eleven weeks at number one on the pop charts (Hot 100), thanks in part to a remix called "Unfoolish," which featured a rap by Biggie, and got heavy urban radio airplay. The mid-1990s was a time of reinvention for Adam, as he re-entered the pop music world with the album "Wonderful." The title track was a success, as was a tour of the U.S. record label. "Foolish" contained a sample of the late Biggie Smalls' hit remix, "One More Chance". He had also acquired a stalker which placed him under great stress and as Graham's career took off the relationship faltered. Shortly afterwards, Ashanti released her own debut album, Ashanti, and debut single, "Foolish," on Ja Rule's own Murder Inc.

By this time Ant had relocated to Los Angeles and had a long term relationship with Heather Graham. They were two of the biggest pop and urban hits of the year, and both featured Ashanti. The album was another moderate success, and featured the hit single "Room at the Top." In 1993, Adam toured in support of a planned album called "Persuasion." For reasons known only to Adam, his entourage, and MCA Records, the album is still unreleased to this day. Ashanti's big break, however, didn't come until early 2002, when, almost simultaneously, Ja Rule released the song "Always On Time" and Fat Joe released "What's Luv?". The turn of the decade, 1990, saw Adam Ant re-entering the pop music world with the album "Manners and Physique," a collaboration with Andre Cymone, a solo artist and an early member of Prince's band. That same year, she caught the attention of Fat Joe, and he invited her to sing background for Big Pun's unsuccessful posthumous single "How We Roll". In 1985 Ant stlll had enough appeal to secure a spot at the "Live Aid" concert but rather than perform a crowd pleasing set of old hits (as Queen did to revive their career) he did songs from the latest album and as a result his sales continued to decline. As the 80s wore on, Adam's attention turned toward acting, with an emphasis on TV and movie roles. She first was brought into the public eye as a featured background vocalist on Vita's 2001 hip hop remake of Madonna's "Justify My Love," which appeared on the soundtrack to the movie The Fast and the Furious.

Adam's greatest solo success was during the "Friend or Foe" album era, which included the hit single "Goody Two Shoes." Other hits during this early 1980s timeframe were "Desperate but not Serious" and "Hello, I Love You." Later in the 1980s, Adam worked with producers including Phil Collins (on the "Strip" album), and veteran Tony Visconti ("Vive Le Rock"), achieving varying degrees of success on the charts. Ashanti Shaquoya Douglas (born on October 13, 1980) is an American R&B singer, who rose to fame during the early 2000s as a featured singer on many hip-hop songs before releasing her first albums. Adam's colorful, charismatic onscreen persona was perfect for the new medium. Only U (2005) #13 US, #2 UK. Similar to contemporaries Duran Duran, Adam became one of the first pop video stars. Kelly & Ashanti] (2004) #5 US, #1 UK. In the first two or three years of the decade, Adam and the Ants had several chart topping hits, including "Stand and Deliver," "Dog Eat Dog," "Prince Charming," and "AntRap." The early days of MTV provided Adam with another vehicle to get his image and message to the masses - the promotional video. R.

Unquestionably, the high point of Adam Ant's career happened in the very early 1980s. Wonderful [Ja Rule feat. One of the tracks from the Jubilee soundtrack 'Deutscher Girls' was released as a single once the Ants had chart success in 1981. Ashanti] (2004) #24 US. His first major outing as an actor was in 1978 in the Derek Jarman film "Jubilee" both as a character actor and performing songs. Southside [Lloyd feat. Ant was representative of the 'Art School Punk' contingent that were followers of the original punk groups and can be seen in the audience in film of early Sex Pistols gigs. Rain On Me (2003) #7 US, #19 UK.

Similar to David Bowie, Madonna, and other famous shapeshifters in popular music, Adam was notorious for reinventing his image with each subsequent album release. Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (2003) #2 US, #7 UK. Though he started out playing jagged punk rock music, he gradually altered his image, evolving to a more mainstream pop star. Ashanti] (2003) #2 US, #12 UK. Adam Ant is the stage name of Stuart Leslie Goddard (born November 3, 1954, London, England), who was the lead singer of the highly successful 1980s pop group Adam and the Ants. Mesmerize [Ja Rule feat. Antbox - box set - released 2001. Ashanti] (2002) #2 US, #4 UK.

Antmusic EP - extended play - released 1980. What's Luv? [Fat Joe feat. Zerox / Whip in my Valise - single - released 1979. Down 4 U [Ashanti, Ja Rule, & Vita] (2002) #6 US, #4 UK. Deutscher Girls / Plastic Surgery - single - released 1979. Baby (2002) #15 US. Young Parisians / Lady - single - released 1978. Happy (2002) #8 US, #13 UK.

Wonderful - released 1995. Foolish (2002) #1 US, #4 UK. B-Side Babies - released 1994. Ashanti] (2001) #1 US, #6 UK. Persuasion - unreleased 1993. Always On Time [Ja Rule feat. Manners and Physique - released 1990. Concrete Rose (2004) #7 US.

Vive Le Rock - released 1985. Ashanti's Christmas (2003) #160 US. Strip - released 1983. Chapter II (2003) #1 US. Friend or Foe - released 1982. Ashanti (2002) #1 US. Prince Charming - released 1981, re-issued with bonus tracks 2004.

Kings of the Wild Frontier - released 1980, re-issued with bonus tracks 2004. Dirk Wears White Sox - released 1979, re-issued with bonus tracks 2004.