In another mixed review , '' Slant '' critic Sal Cinqueman found that " the songs are infectious and fine-tuned and most of the album is underscored with bristling live instrumentation ... But tracks like the flute-infused “ Happy ” are admittedly — and perhaps too obviously — influenced by other R&B divas like Mary J. Blige and rarely give way to anything fresh or new . Ultimately , '' Ashanti '' fails to carve a unique niche for the budding singer . " '' Rolling Stone '' s Kris Ex complimented the album 's overall production with its " bass-heavy , slow-burning R&B grooves that sound like everything else on R&B radio " and noted that Ashanti 's " voice is the perfect radio-ready R&B ; instrument : strong enough to ride over street-savvy beats but unassuming enough to be open to interpretation ; better than Britney but less distinctive than Mary J. Blige . " Alluding to her previous collaborations , '' People '' magazine wrote that " it ’s one thing to sing a hook on someone else ’s record , quite another to carry your own album , as Ashanti fails to do on this desultory debut ... Ashanti , with her sweet but slight soprano , does n’t have the grit and power of other divas . It does n’t help that , despite sporadic sampling ... lack memorable melodies . " Her debut album earned Ashanti three Grammy nominations for Best New Artist , Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards . The same year , she also received two additional Grammy nominations for other projects , both in the category of Best Rap/Sung Collaboration . Ashanti took home a record 8 billboard awards , winning all the categories she was nominated for
45th Annual Grammy Awards
45th Annual Grammy Awards
Ashanti (album)