Ashanti is set to leave Rap Record label Murder Inc at the end of 2003, this will happen when her three album contract with Irv Gotti's MURDER INC is up. Ashanti will release her upcoming album "Chapter II" on July 1st and will follow that up with a Christmas album due in December. U.S feds have been investigating Gotti's label for sometime and friends of Ashanti say "it was just a matter of time before the label began to crumble". Ashanti is likely to stay in close contact with all of The Inc's associates and will sign a 5 album deal worth $60 Million with Island Records( Home of Mariah Carey ).Murder Inc, who were the most succesful record label of 2001/2002 with Releases from Ja Rule, Ashanti & Charli Baltimore have also lost Ja Rule for a 6 month break from the industry due to and ongoing feud with Southside Queens rapper 50 Cent and Detroit native Eminem.

Ashanti's two albums will be the last two commercial albums that Murder Inc will release before U.S Federal Agents can fully investigate into the dealings of Murder Inc's artists and associate. A Murder Inc Spokesman confirmed that Ashanti will leave in 2004 and said that Irv felt the label was no longer the right place for an artist like Ashanti.
Ashanti's Album- Chapter II will be released on July 1st & her new single "Rock Wit' U (Awww Baby) will be released June 24th."