Yes, Ashanti Is Still Here And Ready For You To ‘Say Less’

Ashanti is hard at work on a new album, and watch out world ― because she says “some feelings are going to be a little hurt” by what she’s writing.

The Grammy-winning singer didn’t specify who or what she’s writing about, but if her previous songs are any indication, the lyrics will come straight from the heart.

“Right now we have so many really cool records,” Ashanti told HuffPost at Build Series, adding, “I know I have some very deep records. I have some records that people are going to be like, ‘Did she really just say that?’ Some big ballads. Some deep records that people are going to be like, ‘wow.’”

Ashanti has already unveiled one new track, called “Say Less,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign.

“I think nowadays we have to make it very clear that if it’s B.S., say less,” Ashanti said of the new song. “I’m a New Yorker. It’s a very New York term. And I think it’s just about being bold and getting to the point. I don’t have time for you to waste it.”

The new album, due out in 2018, follows 2014’s “BraveHeart” and comes 15 years after Ashanti’s self-titled debut and the hit “Foolish,” which catapulted her to fame.

The music industry landscape is a lot different these days for the R&B pop songstress. Ashanti’s upcoming studio album will be released on her own label, Written Entertainment. After spending years at major record labels, Ashanti said she felt like it was time to control her “destiny.” As CEO of the label, she owns the recording masters and controls the publishing, giving her flexibility and financial independence.

I’m “able to broaden the horizons and not just do music — to be able to put my records in television and film without having to pay all these astronomical prices and have my deal be direct with iTunes and cutting out the middle people,” she said. “The labels, they take their percentages. I feel like if I’m going to do the work, why do I owe you a percentage? So I feel like it’s really really important to have that ownership.”