Ari Lennox

Courtney Shanade Salter, born March 26, 1991, often referred to professionally as Ari Lennox, hails from Washington, D.C. and is the debut female to be signed by J. Cole's Dreamville Records label. On October 21, 2016 she debuted Pho the debut EP on the Dreamville Records label. That was the day she was first recognized. Shea Butter Baby, her debut studio album was released 7 May 2019. Ari Lennox started uploading her music onto the internet in 2012 as she launched her debut mixtape called Five Finger Discount and debut EP Ariography In 2013. Ari Lennox continued to upload her tracks online through 2014, including her self-released single Bound. Her music was also featured on Omen's Elephant Eyes and in Sweat It Out on 21 July 2015. In the following year, her songs were circulating among the Dreamville team, as J. Cole wanted her to join him in creating some possible references for Rihanna. On December 8 it was announced that she was officially signed by Dreamville Records. She appeared on the joint album Revenge of the Dreamers II in the track Backseat featuring Cozz. She released Pho, her debut EP on October 21 on the 21st of October in 2016. Ari Lennox then appeared as the opening artist on behalf of J. Cole on his track Change in 2017, and appeared on the 4 Your Eyez Only Tour. In 2018, she appeared as a guest artist on two songs, with the EarthGang's Nothing but the Best song as well as Bas' Icarus. On July 16 2018 Ari Lennox released the first single, Whipped Cream on her first album Shea Butter Baby with an accompanying music video that was released on the 5th of September. Her second single, Grampa on November 9. The 13th of November, she dropped two singles titled The No One as well as Pedigree. The singer appeared alongside Cole in The Creed II Soundtrack on Shea Butter Baby in November 16and later dropped the song in a solo version for Her debut album. The 20th of February, 2019 the music video was released to accompany the track. It has already received nearly three million hits on YouTube during its initial week. She was the support act for 6LACK on their From East Atlanta With Love Tour in December 2018.