ARI LENNOX- age/sex/location
by JENNIFER JONES
Ari Lennox is when you partner a sativa strain with a bubble bath; the perfect mix of stimulation and relaxation. The Washington D.C. native’s latest album, Age/Sex/Location is a reflection of her smooth and hearty vocal style as well as her tremendous growth as an artist. Marking her 2nd studio album released with J.Cole’s Dreamville, it is the perfect sequel to Shea Butter Baby.
The 12-track album flows seamlessly with no skips and boasts features from Lucky Daye, Chloe and Summer Walker. It is sexy without being trashy, and mature without feeling passe’. This is the album you can play for every occasion, and does not disappoint when it comes to quotables. The album’s hit single, “Pressure,” produced by R&B legends Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, samples Shirley Brown’s Blessed Is The Woman, and marks Lennox’s highest charting single to date, reaching 66 on Billboard’s hot 100. Ari Lennox proves yet again that R&B is not dead and the people still value authentic singers.
In my opinion, this is Ari’s best work to date and she has carved a place in this industry as a voice to be recognized. I first became acquainted with Ari Lennox’s talent in 2016 when she performed in Boston. She was opening up for a more popular artist, but proved as soon as she hit the stage that she was ready to be a headliner. She performed her new single “Backseat,” and immediately held the crowd’s attention and gaze. Ari Lennox could sing in real life and the crowd, sprinkled with Berklee students and musicians showed her respect. She commanded a presence that foreshadowed her future successes, and I am not surprised at all by her trajectory.
Through this album, Ari Lennox has managed to maintain her signature sound, while elevating production and experimenting more with her range. The confidence in her delivery and the ease at which she floats on each track tells the story of her evolution. This is the work of a woman who has done some self-discovery, and has been rewarded with refinery. Her vocals embrace hints of Erykah Badu mixed with the legendary divas of Motown. Ari has emerged as an artist carrying the torch for the fusion of neo-soul and R&B, and I am here for it.
TOP PICKS:
(Notable Tracks For Every Occasion)
“POF”: When you need to be reminded that you don’t have to settle.
“Stop By”: When you are getting ready for your D-appointment.
“Outside”: When you need a little confidence boost and a reset.
“Queen Space”: When you need to remember who you are.
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