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."
Mumbles
Ari Lennox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You dare me dare me
To love you but it's kind of looking scary, scary
It's been four years my heart is kind of weary, weary
I want you but the army of safety's calling, calling
Tell me what i'm going to do my body's stalling, stalling
One kiss on the cheek is sure to get me crawling, crawling
My knees are weak it feels as though I'm falling, falling
In a pit of red i swear it's so appalling, appalling
Who would've ever thought?
You say I
I will be your friend
Till the very end
If you let me in oh
If you keep me in oh
Clever, clever
It's cold outside but you're perfect for all weather
Whether the times may change i'm still gona keep you closer
Closer i get to you like voodoo i'm in love love
I swear like a drug i'm hooked baby whenever ever
You need me baby i will be your lover, lover
I listen to you baby i will cater, cater
Tell your catastrophes to see you later, later, later
Later alligator
You say I
I will be your friend
Till the very end
If you let me in oh
You say I
I will be your friend
Till the very end
If you keep me in oh
If you keep me in oh
Wait
Wait
Wait
Oh why
Wait my heart was lost
But you came and installed it
Jobless but you employed it
Empty sorrows turned my soul so hard
My heart grew vacant
And i was impatient
But here you are
But here you are
Here you are
In Ari Lennox's song "Mumbles," the lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and hesitation towards romantic love. Lennox seems to have been in a long-standing relationship with this person for four years now, but her heart has grown weary, and she is torn between her desire to love them and the safety of keeping her heart guarded. She expresses her anxiety by saying, "You dare me dare me, To love you but it's kind of looking scary, scary" and "It feels as though I'm falling, falling, in a pit of red, I swear it's so appalling, appalling." Lennox acknowledges that despite her doubts, the person has been there for her as a friend, and she is open to exploring the possibility of a deeper connection. However, she also urges the person to share their problems with her so that they can work through their issues together.
The second and third verses show Ari's lover as a comforting presence in her life. She describes them as clever, perfect for all weather, and someone who has brought her "lost" heart back to life. By saying "I listen to you baby I will cater, cater," she promises to be there for them and support them through their struggles. The line "wait my heart was lost, But you came and installed it" underlines the idea that the person has made her feel complete again, and she is grateful for their presence in her life.
Line by Line Meaning
One Two Three
Counting up, suggesting a beginning
You dare me dare me
Direct challenge to take an important step
To love you but it's kind of looking scary, scary
Intense fear about an emotional connection with the person speaking to
It's been four years my heart is kind of weary, weary
Exhausted emotions regarding the person speaking about loving the other person
I want you but the army of safety's calling, calling
A strong desire accompanied by a sense of general unease and fearful apprehension
Tell me what i'm going to do my body's stalling, stalling
Asking for assistance in making the choice to love the other person with fear and doubt
One kiss on the cheek is sure to get me crawling, crawling
Physical affection from the other person has immense emotional impact
My knees are weak it feels as though I'm falling, falling
The emotional and physical effects of infatuation and love.
In a pit of red i swear it's so appalling, appalling
Engulfed by intense emotions and uncertainty of the next step, which is frightening.
Who would've ever thought?
Expressing their surprise regarding the whole situation of expressing and admitting feelings to the other person.
You say I
The other person
I will be your friend
The person offering to be a supportive influence for the other person
Till the very end
Promising to always be there
If you let me in oh
Expressing the desire to be given a chance to build a relationship
If you keep me in oh
Expressing the urgency of maintaining a connection with the other person, otherwise leaving the person alone and lonely.
Clever, clever
Strategic thinking and expressing admiration in romantic, platonic sense
It's cold outside but you're perfect for all weather
The other person is a dependable emotional support in any situation
Whether the times may change i'm still gona keep you closer
Amid changes in life events or circumstances, still desiring to maintain the existing emotional connection
Closer i get to you like voodoo i'm in love love
The other person is irresistible, almost magical in the way they pull the person confessing towards them.
I swear like a drug i'm hooked baby whenever ever
The other person is like an addiction that they can't shake off.
You need me baby i will be your lover, lover
Another promise of support, this time with a romantic undertone
I listen to you baby i will cater, cater
Willingness to listen, attend to the other person's needs and communication.
Tell your catastrophes to see you later, later, later
Urging the other person to leave the dark and negative emotions behind, and move towards having a steady, dependable connection.
Wait
Request for the other person to wait a moment
Wait
Asking to not take action yet, wait for something.
Wait
A plea to the other person to wait for the person speaking.
Oh why
Expressing confusion on a particular situation or event.
Wait my heart was lost
Explaining the emotional turmoil they were going through
But you came and installed it
Acknowledging the other person came around to install their emotional well-being
Jobless but you employed it
Expressing a sense of gratitude for the other person
Empty sorrows turned my soul so hard
Suggesting previous negative feelings turned them pessimistic
My heart grew vacant
A description of deep emotional pain
And i was impatient
Feeling frustrated and short-tempered due to emotional pain
But here you are
Grateful for the presence of the other person
But here you are
Reinforcing the other person's emotional importance
Contributed by Jacob M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Myia Tucker
This has been underrated for ever😌✨
ntande kazi
One Two Three
You dare me dare me
To love you but it's kind of looking scary, scary
It's been four years my heart is kind of weary, weary
I want you but the army of safety's calling, calling
Tell me what i'm going to do my body's stalling, stalling
One kiss on the cheek is sure to get me crawling, crawling
My knees are weak it feels as though I'm falling, falling
In a pit of red i swear it's so appalling, appalling
Who would've ever thought?
You say I
I will be your friend
Till the very end
If you let me in oh
If you keep me in oh
Clever, clever
It's cold outside but you're perfect for all weather
Whether the times may change i'm still gona keep you closer
Closer i get to you like voodoo i'm in love love
I swear like a drug i'm hooked baby whenever ever
You need me baby i will be your lover, lover
I listen to you baby i will cater, cater
Tell your catastrophes to see you later, later, later
Later alligator
You say I
I will be your friend
Till the very end
If you let me in oh
You say I
I will be your friend
Till the very end
If you keep me in oh
If you keep me in oh
Wait
Wait
Wait
Oh why
Wait my heart was lost
But you came and installed it
Jobless but you employed it
Empty sorrows turned my soul so hard
My heart grew vacant
And i was impatient
But here you are
But here you are
Here you are
Jo
So relatable. Keep it up please!
obs._lai
Love her wake up guys
FeminineMogul #9
CAN SOMEBODY MAKE LYRICS
FeminineMogul #9
Can someone do lyrics
FeminineMogul #9
Can someone make and instrumental beat.
Dae' Baker
Okay Um gurl betta git it
FeminineMogul #9
Lyrics
Russell January
Top 10 Ari