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."
Up Late
Ari Lennox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Mmh)
(Hey, yeah)
On all night
Quarter five
I be insane if I let you hit
I need you
For my regretful morning
Up late, again
Head on my chest, hand on my ass
Up late, again
Back it up on you, breathing fast
Oh, up late again, yeah
Tell me how is it when I back it up there
It up there (mmh)
Make your way to North Hollywood
Target lingerie
Kissing your lips dipped in
Backwood tips
I been crushing on you
We can fake watch the news
If you like it
Up late, again
Head on my chest, hand on my ass
Up late, again
Back it up on you, breathing fast
Up late, again
Tell me how is it when I back it up there
It up there
How you gone act?
Ooh you fucking snack
Fifth floor give your ass a duplicate fob, yeah
Fifth floor devour that body like corn on a cob, yeah
Fifth floor neighbors must be questioning my job, yeah
I see that you torn, I see you adorn me
You know what I want
I see that your torn
I see you adorn me
I see you adorn (I see)
Oh adorn
Up late again
Head on my chest, hand on my ass
Up late again
(Back) back it up on you, breathing fast
Oh, up late
How is it when I back it, back it there?
Fifth floor give your ass a duplicate fob, yeah
Fifth floor devour that body like corn on a cob, yeah
Fifth floor neighbors must be questioning my job, yeah
Five am could you stay a little longer?
The song Up Late by Ari Lennox is an R&B soulful ballad about a woman who is looking for someone to share her nights with. The first verse expresses her desire to be with a person who can ease her regrets from the night before. She hints at the idea of intimacy but refrains from indulging in it, stating that she would be insane to do so. The repetitive chorus emphasizes Lennox's longing for raw physical connection, with her partner's hand on her chest and head on her ass. She's in control of the situation, backing up into her lover and breathing fast, but there's always an element of vulnerability in the way she begs for attention.
In the second verse, Lennox offers herself to her lover, suggesting they escape to North Hollywood for a rendezvous. She mentions Target lingerie and Backwood tips, emphasizing her playful and carefree attitude towards sex. The fifth floor is the recurring motif in this song, symbolizing a secret hideaway where Lennox and her lover can indulge in the pleasures of each other's company. The line "Fifth floor, neighbors must be questioning my job, yeah" is a nod towards the secrecy of their rendezvous and highlights the excitement of forbidden love.
The bridge of the song gives a glimpse into the singer's vulnerability as she pleads with her lover to stay a little longer. She knows it's not practical, but she still asks for it, signifying her emotional connection with the person she longs for. Lennox has a way of blending seduction with emotion, making "Up Late" a heartfelt and intimate track that will resonate with anyone who is looking for love.
Line by Line Meaning
On all night
I've been up all night
Quarter five
It's almost 4:15 am
I be insane if I let you hit
I'd be crazy to have sex with you
I need you
I want to be with you
Should be here
You should come over
For my regretful morning
So I don't feel bad after
Up late, again
I'm up late once more
Head on my chest, hand on my ass
You're holding me close
Back it up on you, breathing fast
I'm moving my body on yours and breathing heavy
Oh, up late again, yeah
I'm up late yet again
Tell me how is it when I back it up there
How does it feel when I move on you like that?
Make your way to North Hollywood
Come over to my place
Target lingerie
Let's go shopping for lingerie
Kissing your lips dipped in
I love kissing you
Backwood tips
We can smoke weed
I been crushing on you
I've had feelings for you for a while
We can fake watch the news
We can put on the news and not pay attention to it
If you like it
If you're into it
How you gone act?
What are you going to do?
Ooh you fucking snack
You look so good
Fifth floor give your ass a duplicate fob, yeah
I'll make a copy of my key for you
Fifth floor devour that body like corn on a cob, yeah
We'll have sex like it's the last meal on earth
Fifth floor neighbors must be questioning my job, yeah
My neighbors must think I'm a sex worker
I see that you torn, I see you adorn me
I see that you're conflicted, but you still love me
You know what I want
You know what I desire
I see that your torn
I can tell you're conflicted
I see you adorn me
I can tell you still have feelings for me
I see you adorn (I see)
I can tell you desire me
Oh adorn
Oh, love me
(Back) back it up on you, breathing fast
I'm moving quickly on top of you
Oh, up late
I'm up late again
How is it when I back it, back it there?
How does it feel when I move like that?
Five am could you stay a little longer?
Can you stay a little longer until the morning?
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Courtney Shanade Salter, Justin Bryant, Kojo Asamoah, Micah Davis, Nicholas Quinn Venezia, Oliver Jonas Bergqvist
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MzKegz
So proud to be a black girl! Thank you Ari ❤️❤️❤️
@nightgoggles9931
I hate to tell you, but you're a black woman after watching this one!
@89babay
She make me feel good to be a black man...for a fact!
@chantalsongbird3007
I said the same thing sis! This is proper representation.
@jashanestone
Lol @Brandon Curtis
Nah.. I'm good..
Just a man that's intouch with his passion for soulful Mother Earthly Tones..🎼 Musically and tangibly..🎼💓 Facts
@robynjoy910
Hell yea. I feel like we’re the shit.
@gilfordmccormack8140
Ari makes grown folk music for the millennials.
@jazmencarter
Elevated
@petertarentaal983
Actually 70's circle pit conversion aesthetically
@TiffanyRoss-bz7kl
Yassss THIS!!!!