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."
Pedigree
Ari Lennox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, aah
Baby, aah, baby, ha-ha
In this hotel room, I′m all alone (I'm all alone)
′Proaching 12:30, 'bout to go out ('bout to go out)
And when you see a nigga please act like you know, ooh
Won′t sit around here stressin′ oh, no, ooh
Hey, baby I know this can't be love
Sweet thing let me pretend when we touch
Oh, baby won′t you kiss me there?
Make me forget how you don't care
See a nigga please act like you know, ooh
Won′t sit around here stressin' oh, no, ooh
Promise when you kiss me there you′re meaning what you're sayin', baby
When you staring deep into me promise you ain′t playin′, baby
Baby, I'm too cool ain′t got time for sleeping in 'cause
Baby, as for you hangin′ at mattress discounters
Hotel room, I'm all alone (all alone)
′Proaching 12:30, 'bout to go out ('bout to go out)
And when you see a nigga please act like you know, ooh
Won′t sit around here stressin′ oh, no, ooh
Why must you stray me?
Shoulda known from your pedigree (pedigree)
Red Hot Chili Peppers while we fall asleep
I put that "By The Way" on repeat, 'eat
Ayy, where′s my friend now?
The lyrics of Ari Lennox's song "Pedigree" depict a moment of solitude and reflection in a hotel room. The singer finds herself alone, approaching the night as she prepares to go out. She yearns for a connection that may not be based on genuine love but rather a temporary escape. The lyrics imply a desire for physical affection, a kiss that can make her forget about the lack of emotional care from her partner. She asks him to act like he knows what she wants, as she refuses to dwell on the stress of his indifference.
The song explores themes of longing, temporary companionship, and the ability to find solace in moments of passion despite the lack of genuine emotional connection. It reflects the complexities of modern relationships, where physical intimacy may serve as a distraction from emotional dissatisfaction. The singer seeks validation and escape through physical affection, even if it may only be a temporary fix.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah
Expressing agreement or enthusiasm
I said, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, aah
Indicating a vocalization or sound of pleasure
Baby, aah, baby, ha-ha
Endearingly addressing someone with laughter
In this hotel room, I′m all alone (I'm all alone)
Being alone in a hotel room
′Proaching 12:30, 'bout to go out ('bout to go out)
Getting ready to go out around 12:30
And when you see a nigga please act like you know, ooh
Requesting others to acknowledge and recognize their presence
Won′t sit around here stressin′ oh, no, ooh
Refusing to feel distressed or worried
Hey, baby I know this can't be love
Acknowledging that their relationship lacks real love
Sweet thing let me pretend when we touch
Desiring to pretend that their physical intimacy is more meaningful
Oh, baby won′t you kiss me there?
Asking for a specific affectionate act
Make me forget how you don't care
Wanting the affection to distract from the lack of care
See a nigga please act like you know, ooh
Requesting others to acknowledge and recognize their presence again
Promise when you kiss me there you′re meaning what you're sayin', baby
Expecting sincerity and honesty when receiving affection
When you staring deep into me promise you ain′t playin′, baby
Expecting genuine and serious intentions when looking into their eyes
Baby, I'm too cool ain′t got time for sleeping in 'cause
Considering oneself too cool to waste time on sleeping in
Baby, as for you hangin′ at mattress discounters
Referring to someone as being associated with low-quality or cheap circumstances
Why must you stray me?
Questioning why someone is being unfaithful or disloyal
Shoulda known from your pedigree (pedigree)
Regretting not recognizing the true nature or background of someone
Red Hot Chili Peppers while we fall asleep
Listening to the band Red Hot Chili Peppers while falling asleep together
I put that "By The Way" on repeat, 'eat
Repeatedly playing the song "By The Way" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Ayy, where′s my friend now?
Asking about the location or presence of a friend
Writer(s): Courtney Shanade Salter, Colin Calabrese, Black Ice
Contributed by Charlie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Seun Olanrewaju
[Intro]
Yeah, yeah
I said, oh oh oh oh oooh
Baby, baby
[Chorus]
In this hotel room, I'm all alone
‘proaching 12:30, 'bout to go out
And when you see a nigga please act like you know-ow
Won't sit around here stressin' on no old-oh
[Verse 1]
Hey baby I know this can't be love
Sweet thing let me pretend when we touch
Oh baby won't you kiss me there
Make me forget how you don't care
[Bridge]
See a nigga please act like you know-ow
Won't sit around here stressin' on no old-oh
[Verse 2]
Promise when you kiss there you're meaning what you're sayin' baby
When you staring deep into me promise you ain't playin' baby
Baby I'm too cool ain't got time for sittin' here 'cause
Baby as for you hangin' at mattress discounters
[Chorus]
Hotel room, I'm all alone
Proaching 12:30, 'bout to go out
And when you see a nigga please act like you know-ow
Won't sit around here stressin' on no old-oh
[Outro]
Why must you stray me?
Shoulda known from your pedigree
Red Hot Chili Peppers while we fall asleep
I put that "By the Way", on repeat-eat
Ay, where's my friend now?
Love Truth
[Intro]
Yeah, yeah
I said, oh oh oh oh oooh
Baby, baby
[Chorus]
In this hotel room, I'm all alone
‘proaching 12:30, 'bout to go out
And when you see a nigga please act like you know-ow
Won't sit around here stressin' on no old-oh
[Verse 1]
Hey baby I know this can't be love
Sweet thing let me pretend when we touch
Oh baby won't you kiss me there
Make me forget how you don't care
Bridge]
See a nigga please act like you know-ow
Won't sit around here stressin' on no old-oh
[Verse 2]
Promise when you kiss there you're meaning what you're sayin' baby
When you staring deep into me promise you ain't playin' baby
Baby I'm too cool ain't got time for sittin' here 'cause
Baby as for you hangin' at mattress discounters
[Chorus]
Hotel room, I'm all alone
Proaching 12:30, 'bout to go out
And when you see a nigga please act like you know-ow
Won't sit around here stressin' on no old-oh
[Outro]
Why must you stray me?
Shoulda known from your pedigree
Red Hot Chili Peppers while we fall asleep
I put that "By the Way", on repeat-eat
Ay, where's my friend now?
Fabio Aug.
I love this generation of black female singers: Sza, Ravyn Lenae, Lizzo and now Ari, who I discovered days ago. A breath of fresh air in today's music.
Sanjay Haughton
Now your speaking my language
MarquesTheProducer
and people say R&B is dead 🤦🏽♂️
Tom Buchanan
They should be on the mainstream instead of cardi b
stay WOKE
🔥💙
stay WOKE
Coco jones and moxie Knox and BREE RUNWAY
Madz Cole
I love how different her voice is from all the other artists
Bro. Jav X.
Erykah Badu.
RED
Same
Thaddeus Rattley
@mkri96 Badu is one of my all time favorites but she can't touch Ari from a vocal standpoint. Not even close.