Ari Lennox facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ari Lennox
Lennox in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Courtney Shanade Salter
Born	(1991-03-26) March 26, 1991 (age 34) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Genres	R&B soul neo soul
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	2011–present
Labels	Dreamville (former) Interscope

Ari Lennox, whose real name is Courtney Shanade Salter, is a talented American singer and songwriter. She was born on March 26, 1991, in Washington, D.C.. In 2015, she joined Dreamville Records, a music label started by the famous rapper J. Cole. She was the first female artist to sign with them.

People really started noticing her after she released her EP (which is like a mini-album) called Pho in 2016. Her first full album, Shea Butter Baby, came out in 2019. It was very popular and received great reviews.

Ari Lennox also sang on Dreamville's group albums, Revenge of the Dreamers II (2015) and Revenge of the Dreamers III (2019). The 2019 album was a huge hit, reaching number one on the Billboard charts. It was even nominated for a Grammy Award! In 2021, her song "Pressure" became her first song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her second album, Age/Sex/Location, was released in 2022.

Early Life and Inspiration

Growing Up in Washington, D.C.

Courtney Salter was born on March 26, 1991. Her parents are Gloria and Shane Salter. She grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. She went to Wilson High School and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. These schools helped her develop her artistic talents.

How She Chose Her Stage Name

Ari Lennox chose her stage name from a character. The character is Mary Lennox from the 1993 movie The Secret Garden. This movie was based on a popular book.

Ari Lennox's Music Journey

Starting Her Career (2011–2017)

Ari Lennox began sharing her music online in 2009. She released her first mixtape, Five Finger Discount, in 2013. She also released her first EP, Ariography, that same year. In 2014, she put out a single called "Bound" on her own.

In 2015, her music caught the attention of the Dreamville Records team. J. Cole wanted her to help with songs for Rihanna. She officially signed with Dreamville in December 2015. She also appeared on their group album Revenge of the Dreamers II. She sang on the song "Backseat" with Cozz.

On October 21, 2016, she released her first EP with Dreamville, called Pho. Ari Lennox also sang on J. Cole's song "Change". She even opened for him on his 4 Your Eyez Only Tour in 2017.

The Shea Butter Baby Album (2018–2020)

In 2018, Ari Lennox sang on two songs with other artists from her label. These songs were "Nothing but the Best" with EarthGang and "Icarus" with Bas. On July 16, 2018, she released "Whipped Cream." This was the first song from her first album, Shea Butter Baby. The music video for "Whipped Cream" came out on September 5.

She released more singles in November 2018, including "40 Shades of Choke" and "Grampa." She also released "No One" and "Pedigree." She then sang with J. Cole on the song "Shea Butter Baby" for the Creed II movie soundtrack. This song was released as a single for her album on February 26, 2019. The music video for "Shea Butter Baby" was very popular, getting over 3 million views in its first week.

In December 2018, she supported 6LACK on his "From East Atlanta With Love Tour." On March 27, 2019, Ari Lennox announced her own tour. It started on May 12 and ended on June 14 in her hometown. Her first studio album, Shea Butter Baby, was released on May 7, 2019. She also joined Lizzo on the Cuz I Love You Too Tour from July to October 2019. In 2020, she released several singles like "Bussit" and "Chocolate Pomegranate." She also worked with artists like Kiana Ledé and Skip Marley.

Age/Sex/Location and Away Message (2021–Present)

On September 10, 2021, Ari Lennox released the song "Pressure." This song was produced by Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. "Pressure" became her first solo song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became her first song to reach number one on the radio.

On March 31, 2022, she appeared on the Dreamville album D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape. She sang on the songs "Coming Down" and "Blackberry Sap." On August 12, Ari Lennox released her second single, "Hoodie." She also announced the name and release date for her second studio album, Age/Sex/Location. On August 31, she surprised fans by releasing an EP called Away Message. This EP included the song "Queen Space" featuring Summer Walker.

On April 24, 2025, Ari Lennox officially left Dreamville Records. She is still an artist with Interscope Records.

Ari Lennox's Unique Artistry

Ari Lennox describes her singing voice as "vulnerable but soulful." She also says it is "imperfect but pretty." Many people have compared her voice to the famous singer Erykah Badu.

She explains that she wants to be brave with her music. She wants to talk about things that women are sometimes told not to. She believes people want to hear honest and direct songs. Ari Lennox has said that she is inspired by R&B singers from the 1990s and 2000s. Some of these artists include Mariah Carey, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Mya, Whitney Houston, Aaliyah, Lauryn Hill, and Mary J Blige. She also admires soul singer Minnie Riperton.

She also mentioned that she found many artists through Kanye West. Her music style mixes classic Motown sounds with modern R&B and new-age soul. This creates a smooth and unique sound.

Ari Lennox's Music Albums

• Shea Butter Baby (2019)
• Age/Sex/Location (2022)

Film and TV Appearances

Concert Tours

Headlining Tours

• Shea Butter Baby Tour (2019)
• Age/Sex/Location Tour (2023)

Supporting Tours

• 4 Your Eyez Only Tour (J. Cole) (2017)
• From East Atlanta With Love Tour (6LACK) (2018)
• Cuz I Love You Too Tour (Lizzo) (2019)
• Nostalgia Tour (Rod Wave) (2023)

Awards and Nominations