Ari Lennox

Courtney Shanade Salter, better called Ari Lennox, is an American musician and singer born in Washington, D.C., who was the first woman to be signed to J. Cole's Dreamville Records record label. She released her first EP on the label on October 21 2016 titled Pho where she began gaining recognition. Her debut album Shea Butter Baby was released on May 7, 2019. Ari Lennox first released songs online in the year 2012. She released her debut album Ariography and debut mixtape in 2013, five Finger Discount. In 2014, she released additional music on the internet including Bound. On July 21 2015 she appeared on Omen's album Elephant Eyes with the track Sweat It Out. The following year, her music was circulating throughout the Dreamville team, as J. Cole wanted her to work with him on some possible references for Rihanna. Then, in December of 2008 it was revealed that Rihanna was contracted to Dreamville Records. Backseat was a track she performed alongside Cozz on The Revenge of the Dreamers II collaborative album. On the 21st of October in 2016, her EP Pho was released. Ari Lennox was a guest on J. Cole's Change and also performed as part of The 4 Your Eyez Only Tour as the opening act. In 2018, she appeared on two songs alongside her labelmates EarthGang in the video for Nothing but the Best. And Bas in Icarus. On the 16th of July in 2018, Ari Lennox released the first single, Whipped Cream from her debut album Shea Butter Baby with an accompanying music video that was released on the 5th of September. On November 9 she released two additional singles titled 40 Shades of Choke and Grampa. Two additional singles were also released by her on November 13 Pedigree and No One. She appeared with Cole on her Creed II Soundtrack on Shea Butter Baby the 16th of November 16, and then made the track available as a solo single to her debut album. The song, launched with a music video posted on YouTube 20 February 2019 has been viewed over 3 million times within the first seven days. In support of the track, she toured with 6LACK in December of 2018 for their From East Atlanta With Love Tour.