Ari Lennox Biography

Ari Lennox is an American singer-songwriter born Courtney Shanade Salter in 1991. She was born in Northern Virginia and was raised in the DMV area. Her former stage name was Mary Lennox, in reference to the film The Secret Garden. She started releasing music in 2012 and dropped her debut mixtape and EP both in 2013, respectively entitled Five Finger Discount and Ariography. 2014 she released a successful single “Bound” and was featured the next year on rapper Omen’s album Elephant Eyes where she caught the attention of J. Cole.

Late in 2015, she was signed to Cole’s Dreamville label. She appeared on the label’s second compilation tape Revenge of the Dreamers II and released her first major-label EP Pho in 2016. She ended the year appearing on Cole’s album with the song “Change” and opened for him on his 4 Your Eyes Only Tour the following year. Her single “Whipped Cream” kicked off the process for her debut album Shea Butter Baby in September of 2018. She released a slew of singles and was also featured on the Creed II soundtrack with J. Cole on the song “Shea Butter Baby” before ending the year touring with 6lack on his From East Atlanta With Love Tour.

Her EP Pho charted as high as #20 on the US R&B charts. Her debut album Shea Butter Baby charted as high as #7 on the US R&B charts and #67 on the Billboard 200. Her label’s compilation tapes charted #29 and #1 on the Billboard 200, respectively. Her most successful single has been “Shea Butter Baby” and it has been certified Gold by the RIAA. She has also charted on the US R&B charts with “Got Me” and “BMO”, at #11 and #17 respectively.

In the spring of 2019, she embarked on her first healing tour that ended in the summer. She endures great success from her debut album still and recently went on the road with Lizzo for her Cuz I Love You Too Tour. She is ending the year with her new headlining tour in Europe and has been featured on a numerous tracks, including her label’s latest compilation album Revenge of the Dreamers III.