Ari Lennox
Courtney Shanade Salter (born March 26, 1991), better known by her professi… Read Full Bio ↴Courtney Shanade Salter (born March 26, 1991), better known by her professional name Ari Lennox, is an American singer and songwriter from Washington, D.C. She is the first female artist to be signed to J. Cole's record label, Dreamville Records. She released her first EP on the label on October 21, 2016, titled Pho, where she began gaining recognition. Her debut studio album Shea Butter Baby was released on May 7, 2019.
Ari Lennox began uploading her music on the internet in 2012 as she released her debut mixtape, Five Finger Discount, and debut EP, Ariography, in 2013. In 2014, she continued to release her music on the internet including her independently released single "Bound". On July 21, 2015, she was featured on Omen's album Elephant Eyes on the track "Sweat it Out". Later that year, her music was circulating around the Dreamville team, as J. Cole wanted her to work with him on some references for Rihanna.
On December 8, it was announced that she was signed to Dreamville Records. She made an appearance on the collaborative album Revenge of the Dreamers II, on the track "Backseat" with Cozz. On October 21, 2016, she released her debut EP titled Pho. Ari Lennox later appeared on J. Cole's song "Change", and performed as an opening act on the 4 Your Eyez Only Tour in 2017.
In 2018, she went on to guest feature on two songs with her label-mates: EarthGang on "Nothing but the Best", and Bas on "Icarus". On July 16, 2018, Ari Lennox released the first single, "Whipped Cream", from her debut album, Shea Butter Baby with an accompanied music video on September 5. On November 9, she released two more singles called "40 Shades of Choke" and "Grampa". On November 13, she then released two more singles called "No One" and "Pedigree". She then appeared on the Creed II soundtrack with Cole on a track entitled "Shea Butter Baby" on November 16, and released as a single on February 26, 2019, for her debut album of the same name. The track was accompanied by a music video on February 20, 2019, and surpassed 3 million views via YouTube within the first week. In December 2018, she was a supporting act on the From East Atlanta With Love Tour with 6LACK.
On March 27, 2019, she announced her first headlining tour, with the first leg beginning on May 12 and ending on June 14 in her hometown Washington, D.C. Her debut album, Shea Butter Baby was released on May 7, 2019. Several times on this tour she was opened by Baby Rose and Mikhala Jené. She also went on the road with Lizzo on the Cuz I Love You Too Tour from July to October. The second leg of her headlining tour was in Europe, in December 2019. In February 2020, Ari Lennox was placed on BET's "Future 40" list, which is a list of "40 of the most inspiring and innovative vanguards who are redefining what it means to be unapologetically young, gifted & black". She released multiple singles in 2020 including "Bussit", "Chocolate Pomegranate", and a cover of "If You Want Me to Stay", as well as guest appearances and collaborations with Kiana Ledé, Skip Marley, 6LACK, and Spillage Village, among others.
charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, her first Radio No. 1 single, and reached number 3 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. On March 31, 2022, she appeared on the Dreamville compilation D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape, on the songs "Coming Down" and "Blackberry Sap". On August 12, Ari Lennox released her second single, "Hoodie", and announced the title and release date for her second studio album, Age/Sex/Location. On August 31, she released the surprise EP Away Message, including the single "Queen Space" featuring Summer Walker.
Ari Lennox describes her own voice as "vulnerable but soulful; imperfect but pretty". Her voice has been compared to Erykah Badu. Referencing her artistry, she explains: "Sometimes women are put in this box where we're only supposed to talk about certain things, I want to be braver and riskier. I think people want to hear that kind of honesty and frankness." Ari Lennox said in multiple interviews that she is inspired by 90s and 2000s R&B singers such as Mariah Carey, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Bilal, Whitney Houston, Aaliyah, Lauryn Hill, Amerie, Ciara, SWV, Mary J Blige, among many others, and soul singer Minnie Riperton. In an interview with The Fader, she also mentioned her admiration of Kanye West and how she found multiple other artists through him. The Gateway described Ari Lennox's sound as "successfully blends individual slices of classic Motown, modern R&B, and new-age soul into one seamless product."
Ari Lennox began uploading her music on the internet in 2012 as she released her debut mixtape, Five Finger Discount, and debut EP, Ariography, in 2013. In 2014, she continued to release her music on the internet including her independently released single "Bound". On July 21, 2015, she was featured on Omen's album Elephant Eyes on the track "Sweat it Out". Later that year, her music was circulating around the Dreamville team, as J. Cole wanted her to work with him on some references for Rihanna.
On December 8, it was announced that she was signed to Dreamville Records. She made an appearance on the collaborative album Revenge of the Dreamers II, on the track "Backseat" with Cozz. On October 21, 2016, she released her debut EP titled Pho. Ari Lennox later appeared on J. Cole's song "Change", and performed as an opening act on the 4 Your Eyez Only Tour in 2017.
In 2018, she went on to guest feature on two songs with her label-mates: EarthGang on "Nothing but the Best", and Bas on "Icarus". On July 16, 2018, Ari Lennox released the first single, "Whipped Cream", from her debut album, Shea Butter Baby with an accompanied music video on September 5. On November 9, she released two more singles called "40 Shades of Choke" and "Grampa". On November 13, she then released two more singles called "No One" and "Pedigree". She then appeared on the Creed II soundtrack with Cole on a track entitled "Shea Butter Baby" on November 16, and released as a single on February 26, 2019, for her debut album of the same name. The track was accompanied by a music video on February 20, 2019, and surpassed 3 million views via YouTube within the first week. In December 2018, she was a supporting act on the From East Atlanta With Love Tour with 6LACK.
On March 27, 2019, she announced her first headlining tour, with the first leg beginning on May 12 and ending on June 14 in her hometown Washington, D.C. Her debut album, Shea Butter Baby was released on May 7, 2019. Several times on this tour she was opened by Baby Rose and Mikhala Jené. She also went on the road with Lizzo on the Cuz I Love You Too Tour from July to October. The second leg of her headlining tour was in Europe, in December 2019. In February 2020, Ari Lennox was placed on BET's "Future 40" list, which is a list of "40 of the most inspiring and innovative vanguards who are redefining what it means to be unapologetically young, gifted & black". She released multiple singles in 2020 including "Bussit", "Chocolate Pomegranate", and a cover of "If You Want Me to Stay", as well as guest appearances and collaborations with Kiana Ledé, Skip Marley, 6LACK, and Spillage Village, among others.
charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, her first Radio No. 1 single, and reached number 3 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. On March 31, 2022, she appeared on the Dreamville compilation D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape, on the songs "Coming Down" and "Blackberry Sap". On August 12, Ari Lennox released her second single, "Hoodie", and announced the title and release date for her second studio album, Age/Sex/Location. On August 31, she released the surprise EP Away Message, including the single "Queen Space" featuring Summer Walker.
Ari Lennox describes her own voice as "vulnerable but soulful; imperfect but pretty". Her voice has been compared to Erykah Badu. Referencing her artistry, she explains: "Sometimes women are put in this box where we're only supposed to talk about certain things, I want to be braver and riskier. I think people want to hear that kind of honesty and frankness." Ari Lennox said in multiple interviews that she is inspired by 90s and 2000s R&B singers such as Mariah Carey, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Bilal, Whitney Houston, Aaliyah, Lauryn Hill, Amerie, Ciara, SWV, Mary J Blige, among many others, and soul singer Minnie Riperton. In an interview with The Fader, she also mentioned her admiration of Kanye West and how she found multiple other artists through him. The Gateway described Ari Lennox's sound as "successfully blends individual slices of classic Motown, modern R&B, and new-age soul into one seamless product."
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Ari Lennox Lyrics
40 Shades of Choke Oo oooo Oooo Hey, its nice to be in love What is that So…
A/S/L When you were back in the day That's how you would…
Ari's Tale I was damn near willing to just let him talk…
Backseat Won't you hit it how I like Would you hit it…
Backwood Said papa gon' roll one for me He gon' get me…
Bitter Bittersweet Bitter, is my dreams To the sound of your peace …
black and white Let me in your temple (ooh) Show me what you into…
Blocking You Mm Mm Yeah Feeling too accessible Exhaustin' the only peace…
BMO Ay Huh ay Ay Sleepin', all day Chiefin', roll it Video game…
Boy Bye It's sweet like mangoes Sweet like mango, huh? Yeah You so f…
Broke Ay, ay, ay, woo Uh, ooh Keep thing, cheap thing, cheap thin…
Chicago Boy Woah, woah, woah woah Needed some Ricolas Stepped in CVS Sa…
chocolate pomegranate Jay hanging off your brown lips Lean over, excel to my…
cold outside Brown skin honey, said won't you creep into my bedroom? You…
Facetime Yeah Mmh Ooh ooh (Shea butter baby do it good) ooh (Shea bu…
Get Close New York pizza, my Coke Zero Gamble my heart, Rob Dinero I…
GOAT Said baby you're the greatest Of all time the greatest So wo…
Grampa I, ooh (Use your body, use your body Ay, baby, use…
Grounded Hey, yeah You'll grow Once you are grounded You'll grow (oo…
Gummy Ha Hee-hee-hey Hey, ah Come on, yeah Ari, Elite, Deputy, Jai…
Hoodie Saw what you did last night Just called to say it…
I Been I've been smokin' Purple Haze Ooh, to forget about you I've …
Inhale Me Charcoal coats, apple red rose Warm ya where it rains and…
Intro Boy, boy, uh And I hate that I like you Screw your…
La La La La Supposed to be sleep, but over my covers I peak Won't…
Leak It Ooh (ooh) Yeah Ooh (ooh) Ooh (yeah, mm) I'll leak it 'Cause…
Magic It's a kind of magic It's a kind of magic A kind…
Mean Mug Yeah Mm (yeah) Ooh (oh) Ooh (oh) (Ooh) Ooh (ooh) Please los…
Mumbles One Two Three You dare me dare me To love you but…
New Apartment I just got a new apartment I'm gon' leave the floor…
Night Drive Purple in the sky Cruising Highway 85 Thought I saw a shooti…
No Settling Hey, hey, hey Ohh Yeah, yeah I'm not the one to play Yeah, …
Outro Why do you hurry love? While trying trying to pursue your…
Outside I'm Ooh-ooh (Ooh ooh ooh) Bad bitch, lace front past my kne…
Pedigree Yeah, yeah I said, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, aah Baby, aah, baby, ha-h…
POF Destined for greatness is always what my mama said Young bla…
Pop Mmm Smoking on this 'Dro You don't care You don't judge me, …
Pressure Ahh (pressure) Mmh (pressure) Ooh-ooh, ohh (pressure) Yeah, …
Queen Space Ooh Ayy Ayy, ayy There's one thing we should speak on This …
Set Him Up Ooh Ohh-oh, ooh, whoa-oh Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-whoa Girl, I fee…
Shea Butter Baby Ooh Hold it, need it, need it, yeah Shea butter baby, fuckin…
Speak To Me (Ohh ooh) You recording me Ron? (Hold up, hold up) (Hey)…
Static Oh yeah, yeah, yeah Hey, hey You're in control love Don't l…
Static feat. Joey Lopez Nate Jones Ron Gilmore Jr. Theo Crocker Oh yeah, yeah, yeah Hey, hey You're in control love Don…
Stop By Hey boy Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Can you make that beat…
Tatted Yeah, yeah, yeah Baby You do it so deep Pain is love to…
Up Late (Ooh oh) (Mmh) (Hey, yeah) On all night Quarter five I be i…
Waste My Time Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh No dick makin' me stupid No fun…
Whipped Cream I've been eatin' whipped cream, havin' vivid dreams Of your …
Whipped Cream || HIPHOPDE.COM I've been eatin' whipped cream, havin' vivid dreams Of your…
yuengling Hey, hey Mmmm Hey yeah Mmmm Ay, huh? Body little trippy Fee…