Ari Lennox

Courtney Shanade Salter (born March 26th, 1991) often referred to by her real moniker Ari Lennox is an American musician and singer born in Washington, D.C. She is the first female artist contracted to J. Cole's record label Dreamville Records. Her first single was released for the label on Oct. 21st, 2016, titled Pho. This is when she began gaining recognition. Shea Butter Baby, her first album Shea Butter Baby was released on May 7, 2019. Ari Lennox began uploading her music via the internet in 2012 as she launched her debut mixtape called Five Finger Discount and debut EP Ariography In 2013. In 2014 she continued to release her music on the internet, including her independently issued single Bound. In 2015, she performed in Omen's Elephant Eyes Album with the song Sweat it out on July 21. J. Cole, who was a part of the Dreamville team at the time, wanted to have her work on Rihanna references. She officially was signed to Dreamville Records on 8 December. The singer appeared on the collaborative album Revenge of the Dreamers II which featured the track Backseat alongside Cozz. The 21st of October, 2016, she debuted her first EP titled Pho. Ari Lennox later appeared on J. Cole's hit song Change and was an opening act for the 4 Your Eyez Only Tour in 2017. In 2018, she was able to be a guest on two of her songs along with label-mates EarthGang in Nothing but the Best and Bas on Icarus. Ari Lennox debuted her first single from Shea Butter Baby, Whipped Cream on 16 July 2018. The music video then released in September. In November, she dropped singles 40 Shades of Choke & Grampa. She then released on November 13 two new singles called The No One and Pedigree. Later, she was featured on the Creed II soundtrack with Cole on a track entitled Shea Butter Baby on November 16, and it was released as a single on February 26, 2019, for her debut album the same name. The music video debuted on the 20th of February in conjunction with the song. Within a matter of a week it was viewed more than 3,000,000 times. In December of 2018, she was a supporting act on The From East Atlanta With Love Tour in conjunction with 6LACK.