Ja Rule and Ashanti
Showbox, Seattle, WA
08.29.16 & 08.30.16
If only we could all age as finely as an early-aughts Ja Rule and Ashanti collabo. The twosome, known for their chart-topping hip hop/R&B hits, don’t seem to have personally aged a day, and the same can be said for their music. They hit up Seattle for a sold out two-night stand at legendary downtown venue The Showbox. With no openers, and plenty of showmanship, these were two can’t-miss nights for dedicated fans.
Still as fierce and soulful as they were some 15 years ago, the duo came on strong out of the gate with “Wonderful,” Ja’s track that featured R. Kelly and Ashanti, and performed it together to a roaring crowd. The combination of Ja’s gruff growl and Ashanti’s cruelly underrated vocal prowess still sizzling. They then traded off for the majority of the night, taking turns attacking their biggest hits and some newer material. For “Only U” Ashanti proved she can drop it just as low as her backup dancers (yes, there was actual choreography, and outfit changes too boot), making the Showbox feel like a music video.
Then Ja turned it out with “Rock Star,” shirtless and carrying an electric guitar. While there wasn’t much actual musicianship, one female dancer definitely took plenty of liberties. Ja’s stage presence is also still pretty impeccable, his ear-to-ear grin as boyish as ever. From “It’s Murda” to “Can I Get A…” he whipped through one hit after the next. While at most shows you have to wait for an encore to get the major material, these two nights just let them loose.
Ashanti rocked everything from “Happy” and “The Way That I love You” to her chart-topping “Foolish,” gave away a lap dance, and had at least three costume changes. From one bodysuit to the next, she kept it real with sexy, bouncy tracks and major emotional turns, bedazzled microphone in hand. It’s not often that you see a crowd enthusiastically singing (shouting) along with every lyric of every song for the entire show, but there countless moments that the artists just went silent and let the fans sing their endless medley of hits.
They closed the night with their two major collaborative hits, “Mesmerize,” and “Always On Time” before each taking selfies with the crowd. No encore needed, no disappointed fans.
Didn’t make it? Catch the full video here.
Review and photos by Stephanie Dore
Ja Rule and Ashanti
