Ari Lennox

Courtney Shanade Salter, better known by her stage name of Ari Lennox, is an American artist and performer from Washington, D.C., who was the first female to join J. Cole's Dreamville Records record label. The label released her first album titled Pho in the month of October 2016 where she started to get recognition. Shea Butter Baby released her first album of studio work 7 May 2019. Ari Lennox began uploading her music online in the year 2012, when she released her first mixtape Five Finger Discount, and her debut EP Ariography in the year 2013. The year 2014 saw her continue to share her music over the internet including her independently launched single Bound. She was featured in Omen's Elephant Eyes as well as from Sweat It Out, on the 21st of July, 2015. J. Cole, who was part of the Dreamville crew at that time was interested in having her create Rihanna and Rihanna-related songs. The official signing ceremony was held by Dreamville Records on 8 December. On the record Revenge of the Dreamers II, she appeared on the track Backseat alongside Cozz. On the 21st of October in 2016, her Pho EP was released. Ari Lennox then appeared as the opening performance on behalf of J. Cole on his song Change in 2017. She also was a part of the 4 Your Eyez Only Tour. She also appeared in the music videos Nothing but the Best by EarthGang and Icarus with Bas, her labelmates. Ari Lennox dropped her first song Whipped Cream off of Shea Butter Baby on July 16th. A music video followed followed by a video in September. She released her second single called Grampa on the 9th of November. The 13th of November, she dropped two singles titled One and Pedigree. One and Pedigree. She appeared with Cole on her Creed II Soundtrack on Shea Butter Baby, on November 16, and then made the track available in a solo version on her debut album. The track was made available with a video on YouTube February 20, 2019 was watched more than three million times over the first seven days. As a supporting act, she toured in concert with 6LACK in December of 2018 for their From East Atlanta With Love Tour.