When Ashanti released her single “Say Less” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, we said she was doing the most. That statement remains true for the music video but in a good way. In the Noyz and LT Hutton-directed clip Ashanti is caught up the scandal that comes with being a megastar and everyone wanting a piece of you.
The “Say Less” visual starts with Ashanti giving us the lowdown on how the media sensationalize events of her life. We then see a TMZ special report accusing her of pushing a fan into a pool. She ends her commentary by saying, “Honestly, people just need to say less.” The beat drops and she steps out on the balcony of her mansion in a gorgeous black and gold swimsuit. Say what you will, but she’s still living her best life. We see her chilling with her girls and sipping on numerous flavors of Ciroc while they come across scandalous stories about her on World Star and Baller Alert and watch Wendy Williams flapping her trap. Later in the video, Ty joins Ashanti in a few scattered club scenes, and we see the actual events leading up to the infamous pool pushing incident showing what really happened.
While Ashanti wants people to say less about what she’s doing, she gives them a lot to talk about with her wardrobe. Mama is out here wearing everything from sparkling robes to sitting in a cage in the club dressed like Vanessa Bell Calloway in Coming to America. Of course, her myriad of swimwear and barely-there-outfits also reminds us of a scandal where a fashion designer was throwing a fit after she allegedly ruined a swimsuit she borrowed for a Ciroc commercial shoot.
Overall, “Say Less” is a cute visual that pokes fun at the way news media treats celebrities. While clever, what would have really made us gag would be incorporating her un-relationship with Nelly or her infamous booty scoot. But we’ll just say less about that. Instead, since a picture is worth a thousand words, we’ll let you watch the video and judge for yourself.
"Say Less" is the first single from Ashanti's forthcoming as-yet-untitled album. It will feature work from DJ Mustard, Metro Boomin, Tory Lanez, Swae Lee and J. Balvin. In addition, she'll be keeping busy, appearing Steve Harvey's daytime talker Steve and RuPaul’s Drag Race in early June. She also filmed a CBS series pilot entitled Murder, and she's co-headlining the Natural Born Hitters Tour with Ja Rule. Your girl Ashanti is booked, busy and blessed. While we wait for all of her upcoming projects, get an eyeful of the singer in the "Say Less" video right here, and like Marvin Gaye said, "believe half of what you see and none of what you hear."
