Ashanti & Keyshia Cole VERZUZ Breakdown

Following two COVID-19-related postponements, Ashanti and Keyshia Cole finally sat down for their VERZUZ battle. The battle, which was originally scheduled for December 12, was first postponed after Ashanti tested positive for the virus. The second delay still seems unclear but was stated to be in response to rising COVID numbers in the nation, as well as the recent events at the Capitol in Washington D.C.

The battle started with concerns again as the 8PM start time saw neither Ashanti or Keyshia Cole show, as both artist’s DJs continued to mix records back and forth. The visual feed looked great as well as the sound. Ashanti finally appeared a little after 9 and said the delay was due to technical difficulties. As everyone waited for Keyshia Cole, Ashanti held us over by playing a few of her records and assuring Keyshia Cole was on the way. Keyshia Cole finally appeared around 9:30, clearly upset and went right to starting the battle with no word on what caused her delay.

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VERZUZ BREAKDOWN

Round 1: Keyshia Cole: I Changed My Mind / Ashanti: Happy

Round 2: Keyshia Cole: I Should Have Cheated / Ashanti: The Way That I Love You

Round 3: Keyshia Cole: Enough of No Love [ft. Lil Wayne] / Ashanti: Don’t Leave Me Alone

Round 4: Keyshia Cole: Shoulda Let You Go [ft. Amina] / Ashanti: Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)

Round 5: Keyshia Cole: I Remember / Lloyd: Southside [ft. Ashanti]

Round 6: Keyshia Cole: Last Night / Jennifer Lopez: Ain’t It Funny Remix [ft. Ja Rule and Cadillac Tah] (co-written by Ashanti)

Round 7: Keyshia Cole: Playa Cardz Right [ft. Tupac Shakur] / Tupac Shakur: Pac’s Life [ft. T.I. and Ashanti]

Round 8: Keyshia Cole: Love / Ashanti: Rain on Me

Round 9: Keyshia Cole: Trust and Believe / Charli Baltimore, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Vita: Down 4 You

Round 10: Keyshia Cole: You’ve Changed / Ashanti: Runaway

Round 11: Keyshia Cole: Heaven Sent / Ashanti: Baby

BREAK

Round 12: Ashanti: Only U / Keyshia Cole: Brand New

Round 13: Fat Joe: What’s Luv? [ft. Ja Rule and Ashanti] / Keyshia Cole: Trust [ft. Monica]

Round 14: Fabolous: Into You [ft. Ashanti] / Jaheim: I’ve Changed [ft. Keyshia Cole]

Round 15: Ashanti: Movies / Sean Paul: Give It Up 2 Me [ft. Keyshia Cole]

Round 16: Ja Rule: Mesmerize [ft. Ashanti] / Keyshia Cole: Let It Go [ft. Missy Elliott & Lil’ Kim]

Round 17: Ashanti: Foolish / Keyshia Cole: Never [ft. Eve]

Round 18: Ashanti: Breakup 2 Makeup / Keyshia Cole: You Complete Me

Round 19: Ashanti: Don’t Let Me / Keyshia Cole: You [ft. Remy Ma & French Montana]

Round 20: Ja Rule: Always on Time [ft. Ashanti] / Keyshia Cole: I Don’t Wanna Be 

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ELUSIVE REVIEW

With the VERZUZ starting late and the energy shift once Keyshia Cole entered, major records hit differently. Records that were definite wins for Keyshia, didn't flow or go over as well during the battle as I thought. The order of the tracks may have shifted points that I had for Keyshia Cole. Overall, Ashanti’s energy, singing along and the beginning definitely put Ashanti’s expected win over the edge.

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ELUSIVE SCORECARD

ROUND 1 - KEYSHIA COLE
Keyshia’s breakout record against a big Ashanti record, which I love but not my favorite. Not what I would’ve started the battle with. Although if Ashanti had mixed in the Happy Remix, It would have gone to her.

ROUND 2 - ASHANTI
Keyshia should have saved I Should Have Cheated. Felt it was too early and it didn't hit like expected as one of her bigger records. Ashanti choosing The Way That I Love You was a great answer as I expected Rain On Me to go against I Should Have Cheated

ROUND 3 - ASHANTI
While I love the Enough of No Love track - only recently got in to it. Don’t Leave Me Alone is a fan favorite and one of my favorite Ashanti records. Sucks it didn’t get the treatment and rollout it deserved when it released due to the Murder Inc issues.

ROUND 4 - ALMOST TIE BUT ASHANTI
This was a hard one. Although including the Rock Wit U Remix, slightly gives Ashanti the edge but both strong songs.

ROUND 5 - KEYSHIA COLE

ROUND 6 - ASHANTI
Love the Diddy record but Ashanti’s Ain’t It Funny is fire and (I guess for J.Lo) - still gets played more to this day for me.

ROUND 7 - ???
Not a fan of either of these Pac posthumous Records. I guess Ashanti’s record but neither. Different songs could have been used here.

ROUND 8 - ASHANTI
Almost tie. Love is classic Keyshia Cole. Rain on me overall is bigger than Ashanti.

ROUND 9 - ASHANTI
Down 4 U feels like summer and so nostalgic. Trust and Believe always feels like a throw away with Tamar’s Love & War In existence, though it’s a great record.

ROUND 10 - ASHANTI
Another round where other songs could’ve gone. Going with Runaway

ROUND 11 - KEYSHIA COLE
Yeah - nothing was beating Heaven Sent. Though Baby was a great follow.

ROUND 12 - ASHANTI
… and nothing was beating Only U

AND THE REST OF THE BATTLE FELT RUSHED WHICH I DON’T UNDERSTAND. IF INSTAGRAM WOULD HAVE SHUT DOWN THE FEED. OR IF THE FEED WOULD HAVE CONTINUED ON APPLE MUSIC IF THEY WENT OVER

ROUND 13 - KEYSHIA COLE

ROUND 14 - ???? / KEYSHIA COLE
Great Fab record but when Tamia’s version exists, it’s kinda hard to give it a win. I don’t really love the Jahiem/Keyshia record but lets give Keyshia a point … maybe. Ashanti should have mixed in Fabolous - Ashanti Record.

ROUND 15 - KEYSHIA COLE

ROUND 16 - TIE
Great Records. (This should’ve started the battle and set the tone)

ROUND 17 - ASHANTI
Loved Keyshia playing Never but its Foolish. and the addition of Unfoolish. Hands down point for Ashanti

ROUND 18 - ASHANTI
Breakup 2 Makeup - Like “Don’t Leave Me Alone” another missed opportunity with whatever was going on behind the scenes at Murder Inc. A Favorite off of the album. The Mary J Blige influence. Right there with Mesmerized and Rock With U as far as nostalgia and feeling like Summer. Also, great song choice for Keyshia Cole

ROUND 19 - KEYSHIA COLE
It’s the Remy feature that put Keyshia over the edge for the point. Underated record. Even against another great Ashanti record.

ROUND 20 - ASHANTI
Would’ve gone with Keyshia if she went with I Just Want It To Be Over. but a new record against one of Ashanti’s first records, make it an automatic point for Ashanti. Would’ve loved to see Always on Time mixed with Leaving (but she slid that in while we waited for Keyshia)

SO THE SCORE CARD

ASHANTI (12 - 8) KEYSHIA COLE

Ashanti & Keyshia Cole VERZUZ postponed

On Saturday (Dec. 12), just before showtime of Ashanti and Keyshia Cole’s highly anticipated Verzuz, it was announced that the scheduled battled was canceled. Later the news broke that the former Murder Inc. recording artist tested positive for Coronavirus. 

“Hey y’all. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I tested positive for COVID-19. I’m OK and not in any pain. I’m actually down to do the Verzuz from my house...we’re trying to figure it out,” Ashanti admitted on her Instagram account. Though fans were extremely disappointed after learning this, many showed concerned for the star, and wish her a speedy recovery. Ashanti asked fans what they thought and many sided with the idea of the Verzuz being postponed, while some reminisced about the old Verzuz days before artists were in the same room on a stage and they streamed from their perspective locations and played their songs back to back.

Of course since its inception at the start of quarantine, Verzuz has evolved quickly over the pandemic. As the world slowly began to open up; we saw a new stage for what began as an Instagram live battle between two artists. With the addition of the Instagram Live battle, Verzuz was also prepped for streaming on Apple Music with the addition of curated playlist as sort of a cheat sheet for what to expect from each battle.

With this being the first battle affected by Covid-19 directly before its schedule, its clear the anticipation is still high with fans reacting and various memes created in response to its postponement. Keyshia Cole joined Ashanti on IG Live to discuss what happened, and their decision to postpone, also telling Ashanti to take the time to rest and recover. Cole also stated how the battle meant more than them and took a stand on women empowerment and how Female Artists need to be able to come together.

Ashanti Verzuz Keyshia Cole is planned to take place January 9th.

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Here’s ELSV’s Playlist of our favorites for the battle.