Ari Lennox began uploading her music on the internet in 2012 as she released her debut mixtape, Five Finger Discount, and debut EP, Ariography, in 2013. In 2014, she continued to release her music on the internet including her independently released single "Bound". On July 21, 2015, she was featured on Omen's album Elephant Eyes on the track "Sweat it Out". Later that year, her music was circulating around the Dreamville team, as J. Cole wanted her to work with him on some references for Rihanna.
On December 8, it was announced that she was signed to Dreamville Records. She made an appearance on the collaborative album Revenge of the Dreamers II, on the track "Backseat" with Cozz. On October 21, 2016, she released her debut EP titled Pho. Ari Lennox later appeared on J. Cole's song "Change", and performed as an opening act on the 4 Your Eyez Only Tour in 2017.
In 2018, she went on to guest feature on two songs with her label-mates: EarthGang on "Nothing but the Best", and Bas on "Icarus". On July 16, 2018, Ari Lennox released the first single, "Whipped Cream", from her debut album, Shea Butter Baby with an accompanied music video on September 5. On November 9, she released two more singles called "40 Shades of Choke" and "Grampa". On November 13, she then released two more singles called "No One" and "Pedigree". She then appeared on the Creed II soundtrack with Cole on a track entitled "Shea Butter Baby" on November 16, and released as a single on February 26, 2019, for her debut album of the same name. The track was accompanied by a music video on February 20, 2019, and surpassed 3 million views via YouTube within the first week. In December 2018, she was a supporting act on the From East Atlanta With Love Tour with 6LACK.
On March 27, 2019, she announced her first headlining tour, with the first leg beginning on May 12 and ending on June 14 in her hometown Washington, D.C. Her debut album, Shea Butter Baby was released on May 7, 2019. Several times on this tour she was opened by Baby Rose and Mikhala Jené. She also went on the road with Lizzo on the Cuz I Love You Too Tour from July to October. The second leg of her headlining tour was in Europe, in December 2019. In February 2020, Ari Lennox was placed on BET's "Future 40" list, which is a list of "40 of the most inspiring and innovative vanguards who are redefining what it means to be unapologetically young, gifted & black". She released multiple singles in 2020 including "Bussit", "Chocolate Pomegranate", and a cover of "If You Want Me to Stay", as well as guest appearances and collaborations with Kiana Ledé, Skip Marley, 6LACK, and Spillage Village, among others.
charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, her first Radio No. 1 single, and reached number 3 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. On March 31, 2022, she appeared on the Dreamville compilation D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape, on the songs "Coming Down" and "Blackberry Sap". On August 12, Ari Lennox released her second single, "Hoodie", and announced the title and release date for her second studio album, Age/Sex/Location. On August 31, she released the surprise EP Away Message, including the single "Queen Space" featuring Summer Walker.
Ari Lennox describes her own voice as "vulnerable but soulful; imperfect but pretty". Her voice has been compared to Erykah Badu. Referencing her artistry, she explains: "Sometimes women are put in this box where we're only supposed to talk about certain things, I want to be braver and riskier. I think people want to hear that kind of honesty and frankness." Ari Lennox said in multiple interviews that she is inspired by 90s and 2000s R&B singers such as Mariah Carey, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Bilal, Whitney Houston, Aaliyah, Lauryn Hill, Amerie, Ciara, SWV, Mary J Blige, among many others, and soul singer Minnie Riperton. In an interview with The Fader, she also mentioned her admiration of Kanye West and how she found multiple other artists through him. The Gateway described Ari Lennox's sound as "successfully blends individual slices of classic Motown, modern R&B, and new-age soul into one seamless product."
Chicago Boy
Ari Lennox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Needed some Ricolas
Stepped in CVS
Saw you in the corner
I was looking a mess
You didn't notice
Jason was instigating
Tired of waiting
(Tired of) tired of waiting
Woo
Said listen, baby
I know that I'm speeding up this vibe
Is you gon' judge me
If I fuck you before I catch this flight?
No freakin' worries
I just want to get you comfortable
I need you now
But I don't want to get your feelings broke
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Why your smile so pearly?
Earrings look like dimes
It's not a deal breaker
You'll be fly in time
Won't you come to my show
After we can leave
Rid all your clothes
Lost in the sheets, ay
Get lost in the sheets
Said listen, baby
I know I'm speeding up this vibes
Is you gon' judge me
If I fuck you before I catch this flight?
No freakin' worries
I just want to get you comfortable
I need you now
Boy I don't want to get your feelings broke
Yeah yeah yeah
Wanna get your feelings broke
No, no (no)
Wanna get your feelings broke
Might
Might bend it over
Love you like Sosa
Rose Royce on my iPhone
Need you a little longer
Ricolas ain't doing enough for me
On this east
Baby where you at now?
Ooh
Ooh
Oooh
Ooh, ooh oh
Alright, all the niggas in here leave, please
On the count of three
Because I need to talk to my bitches
All the niggas in here
Because it's about to get real
I need to know if you guys are really ready to be my friend
Because it gets real, it gets gross, it gets terrifying
Are you ready?
Niggas get the hell out
If you are a part of my job, label, go
Right now
'Cause its about to get disgusting
It's about to get so fucking freaky
Get out
The lyrics of the song "Chicago Boy" by Ari Lennox are about a woman who meets a man in a store in Chicago. The woman is interested in the man but thinks she looks less than her best at that moment. They have been talking for a while, but nothing has happened, and she wants to take their relationship to the next level. She's tired of waiting and wants to get things going before she has to catch a flight. She asks the man if he will judge her if they have sex before she leaves. She wants to make sure he is comfortable but also doesn't want to get his feelings hurt. She feels a connection to him, but she's not sure if he feels the same way.
The second verse finds the woman complimenting the man on his looks and inviting him to her show. She wants to spend more time with him and suggests that they get lost in the sheets. The woman doesn't want to rush things, but she also doesn't want to miss her chance to be with this man. In the end, she is uncertain about the man's intentions and whether he wants the same things she does.
Line by Line Meaning
Needed some Ricolas
I needed cough drops to help with my cold
Stepped in CVS
I went into the CVS store
Saw you in the corner
I noticed you standing in the corner
I was looking a mess
I didn't look my best
You didn't notice
You didn't see me
Jason was instigating
Jason was trying to start something
I wanna bring you closer
I want to get closer to you
Tired of waiting
I'm sick of waiting
Said listen, baby
I know that I'm speeding up this vibe
Is you gon' judge me
If I fuck you before I catch this flight?
No freakin' worries
I just want to get you comfortable
I need you now
But I don't want to get your feelings broke
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
I'm telling you, baby, that I'm moving fast.
Will you judge me if we have sex before I catch my flight?
Don't worry, I just want you to feel comfortable.
I need you now, but I don't want to hurt your feelings.
Why your smile so pearly?
Earrings look like dimes
It's not a deal breaker
You'll be fly in time
Won't you come to my show
After we can leave
Rid all your clothes
Lost in the sheets, ay
Get lost in the sheets
I love your perfect smile and pretty earrings.
Even if you don't look your best, it's not a deal breaker.
Come to my show, then we can leave and have sex.
We can get lost in the sheets together.
Might
Might bend it over
Love you like Sosa
Rose Royce on my iPhone
Need you a little longer
Ricolas ain't doing enough for me
On this east
Baby where you at now?
I might have sex with you and love you like I love Sosa.
I have Rose Royce's music on my iPhone.
I want you to stay with me a little longer.
The cough drops aren't helping me on this trip.
Baby, where are you now?
Alright, all the niggas in here leave, please
On the count of three
Because I need to talk to my bitches
All the niggas in here
Because it's about to get real
I need to know if you guys are really ready to be my friend
Because it gets real, it gets gross, it gets terrifying
Are you ready?
Niggas get the hell out
If you are a part of my job, label, go
Right now
'Cause its about to get disgusting
It's about to get so fucking freaky
Get out
I need all the men to leave, so I can talk to my girlfriends.
It's about to get real and intense, and I need to know if you're ready to be my friend.
It's going to be gross, scary and weird.
Leave now if you're part of my job or label, because things are about to get disgusting and freaky.
Lyrics © Missing Link Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Anthony Parrino, Chico Hamilton, Courtney Salter, Ron Gilmore, Theodore Croker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pamelawalker805
I'm 52 years and my 22 year old niece put me on Ari Lennox, I can't stop listening, she have definitely created a move in life the same way Erykah Badu did when she came on the scene!
@-zimnzen
Yes yes yes
@defreymido8700
No Age for pleasure .
@quintonwashington7046
23 and put my 49 year old mom on. I catch her all the time singing BMO to herself. Your niece is probably as humbled and honored as I am to do such a thing
@Lola_Loren
I'm ashamed to say my 48yr old butt saw her in concert & didn't know who she was, had to ask the youngins during a bathroom break, she opened for Lizzo...instantly became a fan!!!! 💜 her!!!
@TheLindayoungwade
I am 58... Mary j blige, Anita baker, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, floetry... damn I am so proud of those ladies. I feel all of it deep in my soul.
@coronarysteaka1213
Ari Lennox is amazing fresh R&B we've been missing in the scene for long time. Natural hair natural body on Amazing vocals
@loukim4942
Stunna... just found her... 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
@autumnkonczal2589
This is myshit period
@Angie69Po
😊😊😊😊