TikTok Star Denies "Stealing" Ashanti's "Foolish" Classic After Fans Call Her Out

BY Erika Marie 5.6K Views
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Ashanti, Danielle Cohn, Foolish, TikTok
Danielle Cohn did a cover of the 2002 track, but Ashanti fans accused the teen of trying to pass it off as her own song.

Her catalog is filled with classics that fans have been enjoying for decades, but an Ashanti favorite is at the center of a TikTok controversy. Social media stars often gain notoriety for taking chart-topping artists' songs and covering them, but typically, artists are openly credited. However, teen TikTok star Danielle Cohn reportedly attempted to pass off Ashanti's "Foolish" as her own according to the R&B singer's fans.

TikTok is a platform where teens have become superstars, and Danielle Cohn is one in a long list of the social media app's money-making content creators. Recently, she posted a video to her page of her and her boyfriend as she sings a revised version of Ashanti's 2002 hit. "Make a TikTok to my new song," she wrote as the caption as her version of the track played in the background.

People immediately took to Cohn's comments to point out that this wasn't a new track at all, and things took a turn when it was revealed that the song was available on streaming services. Cohn was also selling "Foolish" merchandise including jumpsuits, and soon the teenager was accused of profiting off of music that she didn't create. 

Danielle Cohn addressed the accusations of stealing Ashanti's song by tweeting, "Do people not understand what a cover is." Then, on her Instagram Story, she reportedly added, "Hey, guys, so I just wanna clear this up. So I did not steal Ashanti's song or take it from her." Cohn claimed that she credited Ashanti, but that wasn't clear from in her initial TikTok post. Still, Ashanti fans have pointed out that on Spotify and other streaming services, Cohn has not credited Ashanti at all. However, she later shared in an Instagram post that her track was "inspired by Ashanti." Check out a few posts about the single below.

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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