Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas was born on October 13, 1980 in Glen Cove, New York. She is an American Actress, Dancer and Beautiful Model. Ashanti's overnight jump to superstardom followed that of Ja Rule, a similar urban music sensation helmed by Gotti. she went to Bad Boy Records and sang one of Mary J. Blige's songs in front of P.Diddy and Biggie Smalls.