Ari Lennox

Courtney Shanade Salter, born March 26, 1991, is also known as Ari Lennox, hails from Washington, D.C. and was the first female to sign with J. Cole's Dreamville Records label. She dropped her debut EP on the label on October 21st of 2016 with the title Pho. It was then that she gained recognition. Her debut album Shea Butter Baby was released on May 7, 2019. Ari Lennox began uploading her tracks to the internet in 2012 when she launched her mixtape debut Five Finger Discount, and her debut EP Ariography in 2013. In 2014, she debuted new music through the internet including Bound. On July 21 2015 she was featured on Omen's album Elephant Eyes with the track Sweat it Out. J. Cole asked her to join him in collaboration for Rihanna's music references. After that, in the course of the season, the music was circulating all over Dreamville. She officially was signed to Dreamville Records on 8 December. On the release album Revenge of the Dreamers II her appearance was made on the track Backseat alongside Cozz. She released Pho, her debut album on October 21st in 2016. Ari Lennox later appeared on J. Cole's track Change and was an opener on the 4 Your Eyez Only Tour in the year 2017. In 2018, she opted to perform as a guest artist in two songs featuring her labelmates EarthGang in Nothing but the Best and Bas on 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. The 9th of November saw her release two additional singles called 40 Shades of Choke and Grampa. She then released on November 13 two brand new singles, titled The No One and Pedigree. Shea Butter Baby was released in her debut single the 26th of February, 2019, for the album Creed II. Shea Butter Baby appeared with Cole as part of Creed II's sound track. Creed II sound track on the 16th of November. A music video was released on the 20th of February to accompany the track. Within a matter of a week it was watched by more than 3,000,000 people. She was the support act for 6LACK on their From East Atlanta With Love Tour during December 2018.