00:00I feel like we were destined to be the Honey Girls.
00:06I'm Deshonda, and I'm from Essence.
00:08Hey.
00:10Hello, how you doing? You look awesome.
00:12Thank you. Thank you. I'm doing good.
00:15Good. I'm so glad to meet you. It's an honor.
00:18Thank you so much. Nice to meet you, too.
00:21Thank you so much. So first and foremost, I got to talk to you about Honey Girls.
00:25Like, how does it feel to be part of the project?
00:27And how did you know that this project was really something that you wanted to move forward with?
00:31It's an amazing feeling, you know, to be part of the project.
00:35The narrative is so cool, you know, and it's very necessary.
00:38I think especially right now, just for women, you know, and just exuding women empowerment and women camaraderie.
00:45You know what I mean? Coming out of a pandemic.
00:48I think it's important to have a vehicle to talk about, like, uplifting each other, you know.
00:53So timing was perfect.
00:55And as someone who's been in the industry for quite some time, why is it so important to you to really communicate the importance of women empowerment in such a cutthroat industry?
01:06For that very moment, you know, I think that it's a very male-dominated industry.
01:12And I feel like the more we uplift each other and inspire each other and, you know, give each other our flowers, the bigger it becomes and the more successful we become, you know what I mean?
01:26And we make a bigger impact and a bigger imprint, you know, on building our empires, you know, just as women, you know.
01:34And I think that's really, really important.
01:38And if you could go back and tell younger Ashanti a few pieces of advice about maneuvering through the industry in ways that, you know, you wish that you would have or lessons that you wish that you would have learned earlier, what would you tell her?
01:50So, you know, it's okay to be a little bit fearful, you know, it's going to be okay.
01:58And don't take things personal.
02:00That I had to find out, you know.
02:02At the end of the day, I had to understand and learn that in this business, people look at you as a commodity as opposed to a person.
02:09And you can't kind of let that affect you and take it personal, you know what I mean?
02:15You have to know how to compartmentalize and separate, you know what I mean?
02:19So that's a big, big lesson, you know, for newcomers, don't take it personal.
02:27And then also, you are going to be starring and producing The Plus One.
02:33So congrats on that as well.
02:35So how does it feel to be in the production seat as well as being the star of this new project?
02:43What I will say is it's definitely more on my plate.
02:48You know, there are a lot more details to pay attention to.
02:52And, you know, just being a lot more hands-on with everything from casting to lighting to budgets to, okay, let me memorize my lines.
03:01What name is the best?
03:02Oh, my gosh, do these jeans fit right?
03:04So it's like a whole bunch of, you know, things to take in.
03:09But I'm super up for it, you know.
03:12I'm excited about the project.
03:14And, yeah, you know, it's something to add to the list.
03:18And how has your experience as an artist really helped you in your experience as an actress?
03:24I would just say it's really important to have fun and be passionate about whatever it is, whether it's performing, whether it's writing, you know, if I'm on set and I'm portraying a character and really put yourself into that.
03:43You know what I mean?
03:44So in playing Fancy G, I had to find pieces of myself that I could really put into Fancy G.
03:51When I'm writing records, obviously I'm writing from my heart and things that I've really gone through.
03:55So those two things intertwine.
03:57And speaking of records, you are re-recording one of the albums to my soul.
04:06And I am so excited for it.
04:11Like, what made you want to go back and celebrate the 20th anniversary of your album this way by re-recording it?
04:18Um, the business side of me.
04:23I mean, it makes the most sense, you know, after being in the game for 20 years and having the rights to be able to go back and re-record, you know, my first album is an amazing feeling, you know, to sonically make it feel that same rawness.
04:41But with the 20-22 spin on it, just sonically, you know, making it crispy.
04:47And I don't want to stray too far because I'm really proud, you know, of what we created.
04:54But I'm excited about it.
04:55You know, I feel like a lot of people are going to have some great memories.
05:00And I'm pretty sure you hear your own music all the time, everywhere.
05:04But which one of your songs from that album would you say are you the most proud of?
05:08Um, it's a hard question.
05:13So what I'll say is there are records that are important to me for different reasons.
05:21Obviously, Foolish is my biggest record.
05:24You know, the fact that it's been remixed and sampled.
05:28You know, I'm on the Waukesha remix with Moneybagg.
05:30Yo, Tula Leans did it.
05:32You know what I mean?
05:32So it's, it's, it's an amazing feeling to know that a record I wrote 20 years ago is like scorching again right now, you know, in another generation.
05:43And then there's records that I feel like lyrically, the metaphors that I created with Baby, you know, I think those are really special.
05:53You know, there's a cut called Rescue that's not a single, but visually how I wrote the record, I love, that's like one of my favorite songs.
06:02And it's like seven minutes.
06:06So I, you know, a lot of those, all of those records touched me differently.
06:10You know, at a point in my life, I was 20 years old and writing about what I was really going through.
06:15So it was a good time.
06:18And how does it feel to know that that album really is a staple and a must have in the R&B space?
06:27Like to know that you came in, you know, 20 years old, which you did way more at 20 than I did at 20 and I'm only 25.
06:35The album was like, it, it was played in my household so many times.
06:39Like when I hear Foolish, when I hear movie, like there's just so many like nostalgic moments when I hear your record.
06:46So how does it feel to know that your music is really the stamp of what true R&B is?
06:54Wow, that's a big statement.
06:59It's really an amazing feeling.
07:01You know, just me being just a young girl from Long Island in, you know, in Soho writing records in the studio with a bunch of rappers, you know, I never knew that this was going to be the end result, you know?
07:14So going into that headspace, being a little naive, a little green and super vulnerable to see this success story out of it is, is full circle.
07:29And it kind of ties into the movie Honey Girls as well, you know, like you never know and you got to just keep going.
07:35You got to keep grinding.
07:36And I was just really passionate, you know, I was, I was happy that as a young female, I was writing my own records.
07:44A lot of the guys didn't believe me.
07:45They thought I had a ghostwriter.
07:47They would make me sit in front of them and write, you know, so it's a really, really amazing feeling just to hear these stories, even you saying how, you know, it touched you and you played it in your household, you know, like it's, it makes me feel like really, really good.
08:06And then speaking of full circle moments, we also have to talk about the Millennium Tour.
08:11When I tell you when I went, I want to say before the world, yeah, before the world shut down, I went and my best friend and I, we lost our mind to hear like so much of like our like elementary school years and our middle school years, like being really like put back out.
08:29It reminded us of how amazing music really is, like the fact that it can bring so many people together, so many different age groups.
08:38It's like music is a universal language.
08:40So what, what, what made you make the decision to be part of the Millennium Tour?
08:45You know, it's so crazy.
08:46They had asked me a few times in the past years to be a part of it.
08:52And it just wasn't, you know, the direction where we were at, at that time.
08:59But when the promoter came and sat down, like with my mom and, you know, attorneys and all that stuff, he actually flew to LA to meet with me face to face to talk about it.
09:08And, um, I was like, well, this could be something really cool, you know, because the, the Millennial Tour has been amazing and so successful for so many years, you know, they, they've been killing it.
09:19Um, and I just felt like the timing was right.
09:23And I loved the fact that I was the only female.
09:27So, you know, I feel like the special guests, you know, with all the guys.
09:32And, um, again, it's a chance to show like, you know, women, we run things too, you know what I mean?
09:39And I'm going to represent for the girls.
09:43And to get out there and perform again, you know, the pandemic has really stripped a lot of creatives of their outlets, whether it's going on stage to perform or going to concerts to take photos for like photographers or videographers.
09:55So how does it feel for you to get back on stage and be part of this music thing again, to be able to grab a mic, to be able to reach out and touch fans and to really connect with not only fans that have been rocking with you for 20 years, but also gain a new fan base as well.
10:13Um, it, it's an incredible feeling.
10:15It's a blessing.
10:16You know, um, the pandemic hit everyone very hard, some harder than others.
10:21You know what I mean?
10:22It's a blessing to just wake up tomorrow.
10:24You know what I mean?
10:25Um, so to be out there on the stage and to feel that energy and to really be outside is, is, is, is like the coolest feeling, you know, after being locked up for so long and it makes you appreciate it.
10:42You know, um, I just did a show in Toronto.
10:45Is that the last night?
10:47The night before last.
10:48I'm like, I was in another country a few hours ago.
10:50Um, but, um, to be outside and to feel that energy and the crowd, you know, it's, it's like nothing else, you know, and it makes you appreciate it.
11:00Um, and then as an artist yourself, why do you think that 2000s, like early 2000s music is really something that's just so feel good and so nostalgic for us?
11:12Like, what do you love the most about 2000s music?
11:14Um, I just love the rawness.
11:18I love that the records had merit, lyrics, you know, meaning, you know what I mean?
11:27There was, there was like, you know how you have food that you like make from scratch and then you have like food that you pop in the microwave?
11:34I like that you make from scratch and I just feel like they were like, it was love and passion and like seasoning and, you know, a little seasoning and cut that up and put that on the cabbage and you know what I mean?
11:48Like I need a little seasoning and then some, some time put into that.
11:52Um, so I just feel like there was a, a, a, a certain kind of rawness and, and heart into 2000s music.
12:03And also you are getting a well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
12:10Congratulations.
12:11Well overdue in my opinion.
12:13Oh, thank you so much.
12:14You are an absolute star.
12:16So how did it feel to get the news that you are going to be receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
12:22Oh my gosh.
12:23It, it was surreal.
12:25Like I, I'm still kind of stunned, you know, and, and still kind of like, I can't believe like this is happening.
12:32Like really?
12:33Um, it was super humbling.
12:35I had to go outside of my house and like sit on steps a little bit and kind of like reflect, you know?
12:41Um, the fact that everything is happening in God's timing, that I'm celebrating my 20 year anniversary.
12:47And with that celebration, I'll be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
12:52Like the timing couldn't have been planned better, you know?
12:55So, um, I'm just grateful.
12:57I'm, I'm grateful.
12:58And I'm still a little like.
12:59And then my last question for you before we part ways is, I always like to start the beginning of the conversation with this question, but I was just so floored that I'm even talking to you that I forgot to ask you in the beginning.
13:13But how is your mental health doing?
13:16You know, there's been a lot that's been happening in the music industry and in the entertainment industry and life in general.
13:22So how's your mentor doing?
13:24You know what?
13:25I am in such a happy place.
13:29You know, uh, this is the happiest I've been in a very long time.
13:32And I really feel like, again, like there's like a certain synergy where things are just like aligning up.
13:38I'm really big on energy and, um, it's just on a personal level, on a business level, just career wise and opportunities and certain people I'm meeting.
13:48And, you know, things in passing that are just happening, um, God is like, Hey, I've got you.
13:59You know, so I'm, I'm just super happy right now.
14:03Incredible.
14:03I'm so glad to hear that.
14:05And from my lips to God's ears, hopefully this will not be the last time we talk.
14:08It was such an honor to meet you and I'm excited to write this piece.
14:12Thank you so much and stay blessed.
14:14You too.
14:15Anytime.
14:16Bye.
14:16Bye.
14:17Bye.
14:18Bye.
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