ASHANTI

This sultry songstress burst onto the music scene in 2002 and hasn't stopped belting out the hits since. There's nothing Foolish about this multi-talented performer, who is not only a gifted singer/songwriter but a powerful actress as well. She's appeared in such films as Coach Carter, John Tucker Must Die and Resident Evil: Extinction.

The platinum selling artist has four studio albums under her belt and Young Hollywood caught up with the singer in the studio during the making of The Declaration. Truly beautiful on the inside and out, Ashanti is active in several charities including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Family Violence Prevention Fund. With so much talent and heart, this is one artist we can't get off our radar!

FUN FACTS:

• Ahsanti is of African American and Native American descent.

• Her mother named her after the Empire of Ashanti in Ghana.

• She has had fourteen Top 400 hits in a matter of six years, 10 of them went into the top Ten of Billboard's Hot 100.

• Her ahtletic ability in the 100- and 200-meter dash as well as the triple jump got her athletic scholarships to Princeton and Hampton, and also scouted by the Olympic committee.