Using the hashtag #DrinkUpAshanti,
anyone was able to 'donate' water on Twitter and Instagram
to bring Ashanti's new single and video to life
GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress and author Ashanti released her newest single "Let's Go," which her fans helped bring to life through #DrinkUpAshanti, a program launched on Nov. 5.
By 'donating' drops of water using hashtag #DrinkUpAshanti on Twitter and Instagram, the song and video – now available for download by visiting DrinkUpAshanti.com – went from low-fi and dark to full, lush and vibrant in a matter of weeks.
This collaboration is Ashanti's latest work with First Lady Michelle Obama's Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) and its Drink Up effort, which encourages everyone to drink more water more often.
Anyone who used #DrinkUpAshanti on Instagram or Twitter is able to watch the video and see the specific part of the project that their post hydrated.
Over the past few weeks, the song and video have transformed from a black, white and gray color scheme to a gorgeous, richly colored palette featuring flowers comprised of fan posts.
The campaign also featured a chance for one lucky winner who used #DrinkUpAshanti to win an all expenses paid trip for two to Grenada to see Ashanti perform in concert on December 19.
"It was such an honor to collaborate once again with First Lady Michelle Obama's Partnership for a Healthier America and its Drink Up effort," Ashanti said. "I love that my words can be used as encouragement to live a healthier lifestyle. Drinking water is an essential part to living life, so remember to Drink Up."Previously, Ashanti lent her talents to Partnership for a Healthier America by participating in an album titled, "Songs for a Healthier America" released in 2014.
Led by PHA, Drink Up was launched in 2013 to encourage people to drink more water more often. "Let's Go," which is being released on Ashanti's own label Written Entertainment, went through four phases, from dehydrated to hydrated, and today is available for sale on iTunes.
"Drink Up Ashanti delivered fan engagement and a positive message to a wide audience, all without coming off as paternalistic or prescriptive," said PHA CMO Drew Nannis. "It's exactly what we try to achieve with Drink Up – to encourage drinking more water without wagging our finger at anyone. The song is now fully hydrated, sounds great and people can hear what they've helped make happen. We can't thank Ashanti enough for all the support and hope everyone downloads 'Let's Go', today."
About PHA
The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) is devoted to working with the private sector to ensure the health of our nation's youth by solving the childhood obesity crisis. In 2010, PHA was created in conjunction with – but independent from – First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! effort. PHA is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that is led by some of the nation's most respected health and childhood obesity experts. PHA brings together public, private and nonprofit leaders to broker meaningful commitments and develop strategies to end childhood obesity. Most important, PHA ensures that commitments made are commitments kept by working with unbiased, third parties to monitor and publicly report on the progress our partners are making. For more information about PHA, please visit aHealthierAmerica.org and follow PHA on Twitter @PHAnews.
ABOUT ASHANTI
Ashanti's smash hit debut album, the self-titled Ashanti, sold over 500,000 units in its first week and landed her the #1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts, and a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most albums sold by a debut female artist. In addition, her first three chart entries landed in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time, making Billboard history, tying the Beatles. That year, her album "Ashanti" won the GRAMMY for Best Contemporary R&B Album, eight Billboard Awards, two American Music Awards and she was presented with the Soul Train Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year Award. Over the last decade, Ashanti has appeared in a number of films (Coach Carter, John Tucker Must Die, and Resident Evil 4), television shows (the 2013 season of "Army Wives" on Lifetime), recorded four more albums, penned a book of poetry, starred on Broadway and launched the fragrance Precious Jewel. Most recently, Ashanti received the 2013 Soul Train Award for Best Independent R&B/Soul Performance for "Never Should Have," a single from "Braveheart." She also stared as Teanna in Lifetime's 2013 holiday movie Christmas in the City. She was prominently featured in the network's it's a Wonderful Life campaign with her version of "Let It Snow." She is currently the first Female African American to own her record label Written Entertainment. She released her 5th Studio Album "Braveheart" on her label which was the Billboard #1 Independent Album in the Country in March 2014. Her latest film "Stuck" has her starring along side Oscar Winner Amy Madigan and Giancarlo Esposito and will be released in 2016. Ashanti guest stars in "Unforgettable" on A&E airing December 4, 2015 and appears on The Real and KTLA Morning News both on December 3, 2015.
