Washington D.C. native Ari Lennox got her official rite of musical passage after being co-signed last December on J. Cole and Dreamville’s Revenge of the Dreamers II’s collaborative project and now she’s officially embarking on her solo journey as an artist.
Since then, the sharp-witted R&B talent, who cites Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Minnie Riperton and naturally, Whitney Houston as influences, has been working studiously in the studio on her craft to create Pho, her debut project. Much like the Vietnamese dish it shares its name, the EP is a light and subtle appetizing preview of what’s to come as she and her producers DJ Grumble, Felly and Hollywood JB fuse jazz with urban wisdom and sensibilities that will surely attract daydreamers and inspired youth alike to the music.
“Modern, relaxed, turned up soul… It’s just chill with trappy vibes reminiscent of the beautiful music from the ‘70s,” the 25-year-old Lennox says on the project while adding her voice is “vulnerable and soulful; imperfect but pretty.”
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Cozz represents the rap side of the Dreamville camp by appearing on the provocative single, “Backseat,” which was featured on the aforementioned Revenge of the Dreamers II. The song employs the lyrics “Would you hit it in the back seat of my ride?” which could be considered extremely racy (especially for a black female) but Ms. Lennox clarified her stance for creating the type of artistry she put out.
“Sometimes women are put in this box where we’re only supposed to talk about certain things,” she says. “I want to be braver and riskier. I think people want to hear that kind of honesty and frankness.”
And there you have it. Stream Pho up above. As an additional bonus, click here to watch the official “Backseat” video.
