ASHANTI & IRV SPLIT WAYS

Irv Gotti revealed today that he's releasing Ashanti from her contract.



"The relationship has run its course," Gotti explained earlier this week while visiting the MTV offices. "The chemistry of what's needed — we're in two totally different places. You're talking to somebody that took her and shaped and molded her and put her out there for the world, and it blew up. We [hold the record] for the [fastest] selling debut by a female R&B artist — 503 [thousand]. We did it! My views and philosophies and her views and philosophies are not meeting up."

Ashanti's last LP, The Declaration — her first in four years — came out in June of last year on the Inc. and was created with virtually no input from Gotti. The album was her first in-studio project not to go platinum. Gotti says it's because the singer deviated from their winning formula and tag-team effort.

"I personally believe for her to be successful, it took the energy ... when you seen her, it was 30 n---as around her, and she's the princess so nice and pretty walking through," he said. "The music was great, but it was the energy that was created. It wasn't just her standing there and singing a song.

"We don't really speak or talk or anything like that," he continued. "It's sad in a way. But in another, it's like it's all good."

Well, maybe not that good. Gotti said it is best for them to part ways.

"I don't think she can win. She needs some guidance with that," Gotti added. "But she's not thinking like that. Really, I couldn't tell you what she's thinking. So that relationship has run its course and honestly, I'm gonna just drop her."

GV Says: I like Ashanti and I think this a good thing. They've obviously had some hard personal times so it's time. Keep your head up girl. You'll be fine.....Plus, I'm positive this is what she wanted anyway.