Ashanthi De Alwis

Ashanthi
Ashanthi De Alwis in 2014.
Background information
Born Colombo, Sri Lanka
Genres Hip hop, crunk&B, folkhop
Occupation(s) Rapper, singer, songwriter
Years active 2006 – present
Labels Sony Music, Universal Music, M Entertainments
Associated acts BnS, Randhir, Ranidu Lankage
Website Official Website

Ashanthi De Alwis (Sinhala:අශාන්ති ද අල්විස්), known simply as Ashanthi, is a Sri Lankan rapper, singer and songwriter. She is the only Sri Lankan female rapper who signed with international record labels Sony Music and Universal Music in 2006.[1][2][3] She began her career as a rapper with BnS, and continued that role after achieving solo success.

Career

Ashanthi's first major label album was as half of the duo Ashanthi n' Ranidu, with the album Oba Magemai released in 2006 through M Entertainments.[4] Her debut solo album Sandawathuren was released in 2006.[5][6] This was the first hip hop solo album to be released by a Sri Lankan female.[1] Her general style of music is ethnic hip hop with massive market appeal. Sandawathuren was sung in Sinhala, with the exception of two English songs.[6]


Ashanthi has toured internationally in countries throughout Europe, North America, Australasia and Asia.[1][2][7] In 2008, Dialog signed up Ashanthi to be a brand ambassador for their pre-paid brand KIT.[8]

At the 2013 Derana Music Video Awards, Ashanthi won the award for 'Best Hip Hop Video' for Alawanthiyak. [9] She also recorded the 11th anniversary jingles for Y FM, Sri Lanka in November 2016.

She provided Kushani Sandareka's background vocals in "Katakaranam" which featured Iraj in 2016.

2013–present: "Rock the World" and international recognition

Ashanti released her first English Language Album 'Rock the World' in August 2013, aiming for an international market. The lead single off the album was 'Let's Give Peace a Chance', which was also recorded in Sinhala with additional vocals by Benny Dayal.

Gangnam Style (English R&B Remix)

In November 2013, She released a Track named "Gangnam Style (English R&B Remix)" and was released as a single on November 24, 2013, uploaded in her official YouTube Channel

The song received a highly negative reception, mainly for copying an international song and Ashanthi's singing performance. When the ratings of the YouTube video disabled by her on December 2013, it had already amassed more than 75,000 views, and had "dislikes" (95% of total ratings) from YouTube users. Later all the negative comments were deleted and from December 19, 2013, all new comments will be held on approval. Shortly after the video released, parodies and reaction memes began appearing on Facebook and Sri Lankan Online Forums.

Discography

Albums

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Infinite Success". The Sunday Times online. 2006-11-19. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  2. 1 2 "Ashanthi to perform in London, Goa and India". Daily News online. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  3. ↑ "Play that funky music". Mirror Magazine (The Sunday Times). Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  4. ↑ "Ashanthi and Ranidu". Sunday Observer. 2006-01-12. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  5. ↑ "It's all in a song". Morning Leader. 2006-10-25. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  6. 1 2 "Ashanthi uncovered". Sri Lankan Daily Mirror. 2006-11-29. Archived from the original on 30 January 2007. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  7. ↑ "In a sense I am a solo artist - Ashanthi". Daily News. 2007-03-10. Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  8. ↑ "Ashanthi and Chinthy sign up as KIT's new brand ambassadors". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 21 August 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
  9. ↑ "Art & Soul". Daily News. 2013-04-22. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
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