Musician Ashanti has become the first Black female artist to be a co-founder of a Web3 company, Complex reports. This was after the R&B singer partnered with EQ Exchange, a woman-owned Web3 platform.
“EQ Exchange would like to officially welcome [Ashanti] to the family!,” the Web3 company posted on Instagram. “We’re ecstatic to be partnering with such a force in the music industry. Ashanti, a Grammy Award-winning, multi-Platinum music veteran, is the first Black woman owner of a music NFT company. She continues to lead the charge as the future of the music industry and we’re grateful to be on this journey with her.”
In a statement concerning her work with EQ Exchange, Ashanti said it was important that she gets the message out that artists should own their intellectual property. “By empowering myself through new technology, I’m trying to help other women avoid going through the things that I’ve been through. The future belongs to those who take control and make it their own.”
EQ Exchange was founded by tech entrepreneur Janice Taylor with the aim of empowering musicians through blockchain technology. Through the partnership, Ashanti will release creative experiences and NFTs exclusively with EQ Exchange.
“Ashanti is paving the way for the next generation of artists in the new creator economy. EQ Exchange could not have asked for a better partner as we work together to change the game for all artists, particularly women and people of color,” Taylor said.
In 2021, the Chapter II artist stated that she was in the process of re-recording her self-titled debut album, which will mark its 20th anniversary next month. She is re-recording the album so that she can have control of her work.
“Ashanti” currently holds the Guinness World Record as the highest-selling debut by any female artist in music history. The album sold 504,593 units in its first week. Also, the album made a SoundScan record as the most albums sold by any debut female artist in the chart’s history. It subsequently landed the #1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts.
