Fabolous Song "Into You" Switch: The Backstory Behind the Tamia Replacement That Still Gave Ashanti a Win

In the early 2000s, Ashanti was a dominating force on the R&B and Hip-Hop charts. Her sultry vocals and chart-topping collaborations made her one of the most sought-after artists in the industry. One such opportunity was the hit single "Into You" by Fabolous — but the story behind its release features a twist that few fans saw coming.

Originally, Ashanti was set to be the featured vocalist on the official single version of "Into You." However, due to label politics and strategic branding decisions, she was replaced by singer Tamia. According to industry insiders, including Fabolous himself, Irv Gotti — head of Murder Inc. and Ashanti’s label executive at the time — refused to let her film the music video. His reasoning? He believed Ashanti was becoming oversaturated in the market and wanted to preserve her mystique and exclusivity.

Tamia, who had originally recorded the hook for “So Into You” (the song Fabolous sampled), was brought in as her replacement for the video version of the track. Her soulful delivery gave the track a polished finish, and the switch added an interesting dynamic to the song’s legacy.

Despite being sidelined visually, Ashanti still won in the end. Both her version (featured on Fabolous’s album Street Dreams) and the single version with Tamia received significant radio play. This dual success led to all three artists — Fabolous, Ashanti, and Tamia — being officially credited when the song peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

While fans continue to debate which version reigns supreme, one thing is clear: Ashanti’s absence from the video didn’t diminish her shine. Instead, it further cemented her dominance during an era where every hook she touched turned to gold.