Six-time Grammy-nominated Ashanti Floyd, known as The Mad Violinist, is one of the top producers, violinists, string arrangers, and performers in the world. He picked up his first violin at the age of three with strong inspiration from his mother. Floyd is now musically accomplished in over 30 instruments. He is highly established in the music industry as a producer and recording artist for over 30 albums, and credited on platinum hits including “The Show Goes On” by Lupe Fiasco, “Right Above It” by Lil Wayne featuring Drake, and many others. One of Ashanti’s most notable mainstream accomplishments is with will.i.am on Nicki Minaj’s album, The Pinkprint, while producing and being featured on the violin; Nicki personally flew him in as one her favorite musicians. Other notables, Fantasia Barrino, Kawan Prather, Kane Beatz, & Malay in which he has all received nominations with.

As an artist, Ashanti has performed live with former mentor B.B. King, which was his first professional gig at age 19. He also toured with Lupe Fiasco on the Generation Lasers tour, Cyhi the Prynce, Yelawolf, and many more. Ashanti has performed on the BET Awards, Ellen Degeneres, MTV Video Music Awards, Monique Show, and BET’s 106 and Park.

The broad range of genres mastered and blended by Ashanti attract a broad audience inspired by Pop, Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, and Alternative Music. Floyd, originally from Tallahassee, Florida, has a top flight musical education. His auditioned performances as a young teen earned him a place in prestigious music camps. At Interlochen, Michigan, he placed into the advanced string quartet and played with both The Turtle Island and Pacifica String Quartets. At Luzerne in New York, he studied and performed with renowned composer and conductor, Michael Kamen. He also became the first American violinist chosen for the Credenza Symphony Orchestra Camp in London, England.

After high school, Ashanti planned to audition on viola for Juilliard School for Performing Arts. He chose to audition and attend Berklee College of Music as a contemporary violinist. While Ashanti received a full scolarship to Berklee, it didn't include living which ended up being too costly. After a year at Berklee, opportunities such as being on BET's 106 & Park, led him to perform with, and gain mentorship from the late B.B. King whom his professional career started with at age 19. Ashanti’s involvement in musical education is continual.

He has taught for the Summer Stars Foundation and was the musical director/instructor of the Britney Spears camp at the age of 19. This led to him becoming a teacher and mentor at the American Idol Kids Camp, 50 Cent’s G-Unity Foundation, and The Jonas Brothers Foundation. In the past, Ashanti has been called upon by the Atlanta Symphony to encourage youth in its outreach programs and to help with new innovative ideas to bridge the arts in the Metro area. Ashanti has also personally given away over 100 violins to deserving youth across the country with his very own “The Floyd Foundation”.