Ari Lennox Says "Shea Butter Baby" Is A Celebration Of Black Women

BY Erika Marie 3.2K Views
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Ari Lennox
The singer talked about the inspiration behind the project with Elliot Wilson.

Fans are still reeling from the Dreamville takeover after the label dropped their exceptional compilation Revenge of The Dreamers III, last week. Of course, not every artist on the album was signed to Dreamville, but the project did give the label a chance to allow their artists to shine. One member of the Dreamville crew who has been creating buzz lately is soul singer Ari Lennox who recently released her debut studio album, Shea Butter Baby.

As the reigning First Lady of Dreamville, the Washington, D.C. native has been taking to stages across the country, belting out her Shea Butter Baby singles to sold-out audiences. In a recent sit-down with Elliot Wilson, Lennox admitted that she still finds it unbelievable that people love and support her music. “I think people are excited that I’m talking about things other than just sex, love, or money," she said. "I got a song called Broke on the record!”

Listeners will find that Shea Butter Baby is a personal and vulnerable record that covers topics that people from all backgrounds can identify with. However, the singer shared that she crafted the project with a spirit of celebrating black women. “I just feel black women, we get slept on a lot and people don’t recognize our greatness in our curls, in chocolate skin," Lennox said. "Every shade of chocolate is so important and so rich and glorious, and people be sleeping on us.”

Check out Ari Lennox's full interview below and make sure to listen to her album Shea Butter Baby here.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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