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."
Goat
Ari Lennox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of all time the greatest
So won't you hit my line
You're still on my mind
Said I ain't seen your ass in a couple months
But if you want it baby you can get you some
And all that conflict, we can work out
What you about
Second time around
We can get it started like Black Eyed Peas in town
There's nothing to figure out, yeah
Said baby you're the greatest
Of all time the greatest
So won't you hit my line
You're still on my mind
Said I ain't seen your ass in a couple months
But if you want it baby you can get you some
And all that conflict, we can work out
So gon' head put this good in your mouth
What you about
Don't mean to impose
You sink into my body like we're Jack and Rose
Your friends don't have to know, yeah
Said baby you're the greatest
Of all time the greatest
So won't you hit my line
You're still on my mind
You're the greatest
I said you are
I said you are
I said you are
I said you are
Won't you hit my line
I said you are
I said you are
Hit my line
In Ari Lennox's song GOAT, she sings about a person who she considers to be the "greatest of all time" and invites them to come back into her life. The lyrics suggest that there was a past relationship that ended, but the feelings have not gone away. Ari suggests that they can work out any issues they had and get started again. She compares their relationship to that of Jack and Rose from the movie Titanic, implying that they have a deep connection that others may not understand.
The chorus repeats the line "baby you're the greatest" several times, emphasizing the significance and admiration Ari feels for this person. The use of the acronym GOAT, which stands for "greatest of all time," is a nod to the person's greatness and highlights their importance to her. The song's tone is sultry and suggestive, reflecting Ari's desire to reconnect physically and emotionally with this person.
Line by Line Meaning
Said baby you're the greatest
The singer is expressing her admiration and high regard for the person she is addressing as the best or greatest.
Of all time the greatest
The singer emphasizes that the person she is addressing is the best of all time or in history.
So won't you hit my line
The singer is asking the person she is addressing to contact her, possibly for a romantic or sexual encounter.
You're still on my mind
The artist reveals that the person she is addressing is constantly on her mind, indicating a strong attraction or longing for them.
Said I ain't seen your ass in a couple months
The artist acknowledges that she hasn't seen the person she is addressing in a while, but is now expressing interest in reconnecting.
But if you want it baby you can get you some
The singer is offering the person she is addressing the opportunity to engage in sexual activity with her.
And all that conflict, we can work out
The singer is suggesting that any issues or disagreements that they may have had in the past can be resolved so they can move forward with a relationship.
So gon' head put this good in your mouth
The artist is inviting the person she is addressing to engage in oral sex with her, utilizing crude language to express her desire.
What you about
The artist is asking the person she is addressing if they are interested in pursuing a romantic or sexual relationship with her.
Second time around
The artist is expressing the desire and willingness to reconnect with the person she is addressing, possibly indicating a prior romantic encounter or relationship.
We can get it started like Black Eyed Peas in town
The singer is suggesting that she and the person she is addressing can begin a new, exciting and potentially sexual relationship, similar to how Black Eyed Peas can create energy and excitement with their music in a live performance.
There's nothing to figure out, yeah
The artist believes that everything needed for their relationship or encounter is straightforward and simple, and there is no need to overthink or complicate things.
Don't mean to impose
The singer acknowledges that her advances may appear intrusive or presumptuous and is seeking consent from the person she is addressing.
You sink into my body like we're Jack and Rose
The singer uses a reference to the romantic characters Jack and Rose from the movie Titanic to express how deeply and intimately the person she is addressing affects her.
Your friends don't have to know, yeah
The singer is suggesting that their relationship or encounter does not have to be a public affair, and they can keep it a secret from others.
You're the greatest
The artist reiterates that the person she is addressing is the best or greatest, reinforcing her attraction to them.
I said you are
The artist repeats her previous statement to emphasize her conviction that the person she is addressing is truly exceptional.
Won't you hit my line
The singer repeats her request for the person she is addressing to contact her, indicating a strong desire to communicate and connect further.
I said you are
The singer once again emphasizes her belief that the person she is addressing is the greatest or best, indicating that her attraction has not diminished.
Hit my line
The artist repeats her request for the person she is addressing to contact her, potentially indicating a sense of urgency or longing for them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Colin Calabrese, Courtney Salter, Stephen Gray
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@calvinebun-amu5397
J.Cole found a gem and he cherished her.
@lucaslebon7206
So real
@Altdisneystudio
She been before cole 🙄
@TANKDABOSS
@@Altdisneystudio I didn't know her before cole and I'm pretty sure others feel the same
@futurehofer1564
@@Altdisneystudio there is absolutely nothing wrong with someone recognizing your talent and giving you a bigger platform
@KinkKitten219LLC
And shared her with us🥰😉 cause this young lady is highly slept on and all her shit is fire
@wavybaby4439
Pretty ass black queen ! She literally sounds better live. Her voice is intoxicating and truly unique, stands out amongst all others at this time .
@pbj4732
I saw her at wireless last weekend and was sooo blown away because none of her songs do her voice justice…it’s a lovely surprise!
@KinkKitten219LLC
Amen to that 💩
@KinkKitten219LLC
Amen to that💩