Ari Lennox – Shea Butter Baby

Review

Ari Lennox’s “Shea Butter Baby” glows with the warmth of late-night confession and morning-after clarity. From the sultry swagger of “Chicago Boy” to the luminous honesty of “New Apartment,” this debut feels both tender and fearless. Lennox’s voice slides between silk and smoke, layered atop grooves that pulse with quiet confidence. Her duet with J. Cole on the title track is pure chemistry—equal parts sensual tension and emotional gravity.

There’s a fragile beauty in the way “BMO” toys with desire before giving way to the heartbreak of “I Been” and introspection in “Static.” “Speak to Me” aches with yearning, while “Facetime” brings love into the fluorescent glow of the digital age. Every song feels lived-in, like she’s letting us rummage through her private universe of love, loss, and rediscovery. “Shea Butter Baby” hums with spirit and soul, a velvety testament to Ari Lennox’s power to turn vulnerability into something lush and unforgettable. - Karina