Ashanti invited us into her living room last night (February 12) for an intimate first listen to her long overdue LP Braveheart. There is nothing more real than watching an artist bare all for her supporters and unsupporters. Surrounded by her family and press heads – Jungle City Studios was candle lit with complimentary Svedka cocktails. The air in the room felt more like a family of distant cousins finally catching up with songstress.

Right from the intro track, it is self explanatory that Ashanti wants her listeners to see, feel and live the concept of what it means to be bravehearted in relationships. Dealing with her own relationship rise and falls, the songstress penned lines that represent the reality of her own situations.

“I write about what I’ve actually gone through. Betrayal, tears and joy, real life,” Ashanti addressed the small crowd before playing the first track. “Where I am in my life and my career this album is just mirroring.”

The emotional roller coaster that is Braveheart tells the story of the tumultuous nature that we see in any toxic relationship. The love shared, hate felt, make up sex and rediscovery of yourself in finding the love for yourself you may have lost along the way.

There certainly is a track on the album that represents any stage of a relationship. But one particular track that invokes silence and personal reflection in the small studio is “Scar.” Like any great movie, this track is the climax of leaving that toxic situationship but as expected in life you leave no battle unscathed. Ashanti’s raw emotion and rebirth is felt through the speakers leaving the room in a stunned silence.

The overwhelming emotion swings into the happy ending with tracks like “She Can’t” and a soon to be summer favorite “First True Love” featuring Jamaica’s own Beenie Man.

Braveheart drops March 4 and is available for pre-order on iTunes and Target.