"Rain on Me" is a single released by R&B singer Ashanti in 2003 from her second album Chapter II. The single reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and the top 20 in the United Kingdom. In the video Ashanti plays a superstar abused by a jealous boyfriend, played by actor Larenz Tate. The video was released on August 28, 2003. The video was shot in Barcelona, Spain, and directed by Hype Williams. It contains a sample of "The Look Of Love" by Isaac Hayes. The rap remix found on her "Collectibles" album interpolates "Can I Live?" by rapper Jay-Z, which also samples the same Hayes song. The remix also features Hussein Fatal and fellow The Inc. Records labelmates Charli "Chuck" Baltimore and Ja Rule. There are 2 videos for the song. Ashanti does not lip-sync in the first video but she does in the second.

In 2004, the song earned Ashanti a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Lyrics and music video [link]

Ashanti's lyrics for "Rain on Me" address the pains and challenges of facing, and eventually overcoming, an abusive relationship. Wanting to bring her lyrics to life in a cinematically ambitious, narrative driven way, the singer/songwriter worked with LidRock & director Hype Williams to produce the mini-movie version of the song.

"We wanted to make a short movie that was 'real' — that showed that no matter if you're rich or poor, black or white, famous or not, domestic violence can touch your life" explained Ashanti.^[1]

The abusive boyfriend was played by actor, Larenz Tate.

Funds [link]

LidRock and the Family Violence Prevention Fund [link]

Ashanti partnered LidRock and the San Francisco-based Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) to raise awareness of the issue of domestic violence during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to distribute the mini-movie using LidRock’s unique platform. This promotion, in conjunction with heavy rotation on MTV, BET, and other music video programs, has brought this film and her cause to the attention of millions of fans. It has also helped to raise money for the cause with proceeds from the $5 mini-disc going toward helping to stop domestic violence.^[2]

"Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives", stated Esta Soler, founder and president of the Family Violence Prevention Fund. "When we heard 'Rain on Me' and saw the Ashanti LidRock mini movie, we knew the powerful messages about violence that they artfully convey would speak to a lot of people. Ashanti wrote an amazing song that, by itself, has incredible power and emotional resonance. The LidRock minimovie just enhances the song’s power, as it realistically portrays the complexity of domestic violence and the characters’inspiring strength in addressing the situation", continued Soler. "The Family Violence Prevention Fund is extremely proud to be partnering with Ashanti and LidRock on a project that has such potential to raise awareness about domestic violence and to save lives."^[1]

Additionally, a public service announcement about domestic violence featuring Ashanti was aired nationwide on October 17, 2003 on more than 4,000 film screens at Regal Cinemas, United Artists Theatres, Edwards Theatres, and Hoyts Cinemas, and is expected to reach millions of people.

The Family Violence Prevention Fund [link]

For more than two decades, the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) has worked to end violence against women and children around the world, because everyone has the right to live free of violence. Instrumental in developing the landmark Violence Against Women Act passed by Congress in 1994, the FVPF has continued to break new ground by reaching new audiences including men and youth, promoting leadership within communities to ensure that violence prevention efforts become self-sustaining, and transforming the way health care providers, police, judges, employers, and others respond to violence.^[1]

Chart performance [link]

References [link]