Ari Lennox

Courtney Shanade Salter, better known by her stage name of Ari Lennox, is an American music producer and vocalist from Washington, D.C., who was the first female to join J. Cole's Dreamville Records record label. On October 21, 2016 Pho was released by her the debut EP on the label Dreamville Records. This was when she gained her first recognition. The album that she released as her debut studio album Shea Butter Baby was released on May 7 2019. Ari Lennox released her debut music on the internet in 2012. Her first album was Five Finger Discount in 2013 and Ariography EP in 2013. She continued to upload her music via the web including her self launched single Bound. She appeared in Omen's Elephant Eyes which was released from Sweat It Out, in July 21st, 2015. J. Cole, who was a part of the Dreamville crew at that time, wanted to have her perform on Rihanna in reference to Rihanna. The news was released on December 8, that she had made an agreement with Dreamville Records. The record Revenge of the Dreamers II which she was featured on, she sang the track Backseat with Cozz. Then, in October 2016 she dropped her debut EP Pho. Ari Lennox then appeared as the opening act to J. Cole on his song Change in 2017. She also did a performance on 4 Your Eyez Only Tour. She was also featured on the tracks Nothing but the Best by EarthGang as well as Icarus with Bas, her labelmates. The debut album of Ari Lennox Shea Butter Baby was released on 16 July 2018. The first single, called Whipped Cream From the album hit stores on in September 5th, 2018, accompanied by a the music video. In November, she dropped two additional singles called 40 Shades of Choke and Grampa. On November 13 two new singles called No One and pedigree. Shea Butter Baby was released as her first single on February 26, 2019 for the album Creed II. Shea Butter Baby performed together with Cole on Creed II's sound track. Creed II sound track on November 16. The track was accompanied by the music video which debuted on February 20, 2019, which it surpassed 3 million views on YouTube within just a week. In December 2018 she was a supporting act on her From East Atlanta With Love Tour in conjunction with 6LACK.