Glen Cove's Ashanti, the Princess of R & B, was the big winner at the Billboard Music Awards this week, garnering eight statues, more than any other artist. Billboard magazine named Ashanti the year's top R&B/hip-hop artist, top female R&B/hip-hop artist, new R&B artist of the year, R&B/hip-hop singles artist of the year, top new pop artist, Hot 100 singles artist of the year and top female artist of the year. Her single Foolish (Murder, Inc./Island Def Jam) was named R&B/hip-hop single of the year.

"It's definitely an honor," a smiling Ashanti said after receiving the awards, which are determined by Billboard magazine's chart listings and based on record sales and radio play. "It took me such a long time to get where I am. I'm just really blessed and thankful."

Last May, Ashanti chose her hometown as the setting for the music video for her single Happy. Taped in the downtown as well as in Morgan Park, the video showcased many local friends and admirers.

Ashanti comes from a long line of Glen Covers, and is the granddaughter of the late James Davis, well-known and remembered as a champion of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Recently honored as entertainer of the year at the Lady of Soul Awards, Ashanti is next looking to the American Music Awards, to be announced Jan. 13. She leads those nominations with five.