I WANT THAT JOB: MURDER INC R&B SINGER/SONGWRITER

new york---if you were watching b.e.t yesterday then chances are you have fallen in love with ashley joi, the beautiful, buxom detroit native who sang background on ja rule's latest single: body. the young beauty is - according to me and everyone who can see - the new princess of murder inc (clearly, ashanti is no more after the mess gotti has been saying about her. but i digress. this is a fashion, not an entertainment blog.) she is also an incredibly gifted songwriter with a serious music and fashion background. check out this exclusive interview i copped with her. (don't you love my reporting skills!!)

...and trust me, she's just as beautiful in person!

Your Name

ASHLEY JOI

Your Age

22

Your Occupation

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Where Are You From?

MOTOWN BABY!!! DETROIT :)

How did you get into the Music Industry?

I MOVED TO NEW YORK TO PURSUE A CAREER AS A SONGWRITER AND I JUST POUNDED THE PAVEMENT AND NETWORKED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO TRY TO GENERATE SOME TYPE OF BUZZ ... AFTER ABOUT A YEAR, I LINKED UP WITH MEGA PRODUCER 7 AURELIUS AND HE NOT ONLY EMBRACED ME AS A WRITER BUT ALSO SAW THE VISION OF ME ACTUALLY BEING AN ARTIST... HE TOOK A SONG I WROTE TO IRV GOTTI AND IRV LOVED IT AND SIGNED ME SOON AFTER!

What was it like recording the single Body?

BODY WAS FUN!! IT WAS A REAL RELAXED ENVIRONMENT BUT THE STUDIO WAS BRIMMING OVER WITH A VERY EXCITING ENERGY... BODY IS JA RULES FIRST SINGLE IN A COUPLE YEARS SO EVERYONE WAS ANXIOUS FOR THE WORLD TO HEAR IT!!

Tell Us More About Your Debut on BET'S ACCESS GRANTED?

BODY IS MY VERY 1ST VIDEO AS A FEATURED ARTIST AND IT WAS DIRECTED BY THE INCREDIBLE HYPE WILLIAMS! IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR TO WORK WITH ONE OF THE BEST DIRECTORS ON MY FIRST SHOOT... ACCESS GRANTED WAS THERE TO DOCUMENT AND CAPTURE THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE BEHIND THE SCENES AND THEY WILL ACTUALLY PREMIERE THE VIDEO ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2007.

How does it feel to be you right now? Are you Nervous? Excited? Scared?

I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED!! I HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THIS MOMENT FOR A FEW YEARS NOW AND I AM THRILLED THAT MY DREAMS ARE COMING TRUE :)

So what's next after this single? Is there an album coming for you?

WELL I AM 1/3 OF IRV GOTTIS NEW GROUP FROM DETROIT... MY GROUP MEMBERS ARE STEFANEE & LA'JAY AND WE ARE IN THE STUDIO NOW WORKING ON OUR PROJECT WHICH IS SET TO BE RELEASED IN 2008, SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT!!!

Where else can readers learn more about you and hear your music?

CHECK FOR ME AT WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MSASHLEYJOI

And since this is a fashion blog - you have to tell us! - what are your favorite stores and labels?

WELL SINCE THIS IS A FASHION BLOG I MUST ADD THAT I OWN A JEWELRY DESIGN COMPANY!! WWW.DONNAD.COM MY MOTHER IS THE DESIGNER AND HAS BEEN DESIGNING JEWELRY FOR OVER 30 YEARS.... SO I GREW INTO QUITE THE ACCESSORIES FANATIC!

What's a classic Ashley Joi outfit?

HHMMM... MY CLASSIC OUTFIT WOULD BE VERY FITTED D&G JEANS, GUISEPPE SANDALS, A WHITE WIFE BEATER & DONNA D JEWELRY!!!!! MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT WWW.DONNAD.COM