The Woman You Love

"The Woman You Love"
Single by Ashanti featuring Busta Rhymes
Released December 13, 2011 (2011-12-13)
Format Digital download
Recorded 2011
Genre R&B
Length 3:15
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jerry Wonda
  • Sak Pase
  • Arden "Keys" Altino
  • Alonzo Stevenson
Ashanti singles chronology
"Want It, Need It"
(2009)		 "The Woman You Love"
(2012)		 "Never Should Have"
(2013)

"The Woman You Love" is a song recorded by American recording artist Ashanti and Brooklyn native rapper Busta Rhymes. It was written by Arden "Keys" Altino, Eric Bellinger, Peter Brown, John Bruce, Ashanti, "Jerry Wonder" Duplessis, Shama "Sak Pase" Joseph, Rhymes and Alozono Stevenson while Sak Pase, Jerry Wonder and Arden "Keys" Altino produced the song. "The Woman You Love" samples elements of Cream's 1968 single "White Room", written by Bruce and Brown.

Background

"The Woman You Love" is notable for being Ashanti's first independent release on her own record label, Written Entertainment. Whilst discussing the move, Ashanti said, "I’m so excited to have my own record label, Written Entertainment. With eOne as my distributor, I feel that their innovative and ambitious approach to the music industry, really gives my label a worldwide presence". Elaborating further, she also said, "they have the top radio people in the business and are hungry to win! The more I learned the business the more I knew this is what I wanted. Ownership is so important. As a business woman this was a great move for me!"[2] "The Woman You Love" samples elements of Cream's 1968 single "White Room", written by Peter Brown and John Bruce.[3]

Composition

"The Woman You Love" features rapper Busta Rhymes (pictured)

MTV writer, William E. Ketchum III, wrote "the song features a pulsating backdrop, and Ashanti singing about a love interest who wasted her time, despite her trying her best to make him happy" while "[Busta Rhymes] caps off the song by admitting the man’s guilt and asking for her back, before insisting that he’s gone for good if he leaves".[2] Likewise, Trent Fitzgerald of PopCrush described "The Woman You Love" as featuring "a thumping beat and a grooving bass line" with lyrics "about a failed relationship with no reconciliation in sight" and a "cameo" appearance by rapper Busta Rhymes who stars "as the apologetic beau looking for a second chance with ‘Shanti."[4] The Prophet Blog wrote that Busta Rhymes adds "some serious street cred to the song that sounds closer to the hood than the radio" before describing the song as being "definitely targeted towards the R&B/Hip-Hop crowd" and thus "should please Ashanti stans and urban listeners alike" but also wrote, £it may be a little too edgy to crossover like the diva’s past records have."[5]

Critical reception

"The Woman You Love" received general acclaim from critics. Trent Fitzgerald of Popcrush wrote "This song is a great start for Ashanti" and expressed great interest in "what she is going to bring in 2012 now that she is an independent woman".[4] The Prophet Blog published that "for her first indie release, Ashanti’s taking it back to basics", writing that the song "harks back to the hard-edged hip-hop of the 90s" and "during a time when most rappers are lining up to collaborate with David Guetta and RedOne, that’s incredibly refreshing".[5]

Music Video

On January 28, 2012, Ashanti began shooting the video for the single. The video features actor/model Marcus Patrick to serve as her leading man in the clip.[6] The video premiered on BET's 106 & Park on March 13, 2012 and peaked at number 5 on April 23, 2012[7]

Live Performances

Chart performance

"The Woman You Love" debuted at number ninety-seven on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for the week of January 7, 2012.[9] Three weeks later the song re-entered at number ninety-five for the week of January 28, 2012.[10]

Track listing

Digital download
  1. "The Woman You Love" — 3:15

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon Chart)[11]
49
scope="row"US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[12] 59

Release history

Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom December 13, 2011[13] Digital download E1 Universal
United States December 15, 2011[14] Written, E1 Music
January 24, 2012[15] Urban contemporary airplay

References

  1. ↑ "WOMAN YOU LOVE (Legal Title) BMI Work #13765725". BMI Repertoire (Broadcast Music Incorporated). Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  2. 1 2 E. Ketchum III, William (12/15/11 5:50 pm ET). "Ashanti Launches New Label, Debuts 'The Woman You Love' With Busta Rhymes". MTV. Retrieved 2012-01-20. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ↑ http://www.whosampled.com/sample/view/151621/Ashanti%20feat.%20Busta%20Rhymes-The%20Woman%20You%20Love_Cream-White%20Room/
  4. 1 2 Fitzgerald, Trent (December 15, 2011). "Ashanti, 'The Woman You Love' Feat. Busta Rhymes – Song Review". Popcrush. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
  5. 1 2 Fitzgerald, Trent (December 18, 2011). "[Review] Ashanti – The Woman You Love Feat Busta Rhymes". The Prophet Blog. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Hot Shot: Ashanti Shoots 'The Woman You Love' Video". ThatGrapeJuice. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  7. ↑ http://c0untd0wn.com/?p=2498
  8. ↑ http://ashantithisisme.com/ashanti/2012/02/02/ashanti-to-perform-on-good-morning-america-2/
  9. ↑ "Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
  10. ↑ "Top Hip-Hop and R&B Songs & Singles Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
  11. ↑ "South Korean Goan International Single Chart (March 25, 2012 – March 31, 2012". Gaon Chart. 2012-09-12. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
  12. ↑ "Ashanti – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Ashanti. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  13. ↑ "The Woman You Love [Explicit]: Ashanti: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  14. ↑ "The Woman You Love (feat. Busta Rhymes) - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
  15. ↑ "Urban/UAC Future Releases". allacess.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
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