Latest news with #SheaButterBaby
Black America Web
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Ari Lennox Serves Head-Turning Style In ‘Rolling Stone Africa'—And We're Obsessed
Source: Arnold Jerocki / Getty Ari Lennox is giving everything that needs to be given in her latest editorial for Rolling Stone Africa . The DMV songstress has always slayed us with her soulful vibes and lewks. Now she's bringing global queen energy to the pages of an iconic international mag, reminding us yet again why she's that girl. Coming right after Ciara made history as the first African-American woman on their cover, Rolling Stone Africa continues to amplify the multidimensional magic of Black women. Ari's editorial is right on time—it's a love letter to Black sisterhood and style across oceans. Ari dropped lewk after lewk for her international spread. Styled by Anita Hosanna, each look is uniquely Ari, and somehow better than the next. She wears designers like Di Petsa, Mark Jacobs, Tia Adeola, and Romzy Studio. In the first look, Ari is floating on cloud nine in a dreamy, powder-blue halter gown sprinkled with delicate sparkles. Her hair cascades in soft, luscious curls, and silver accessories add just the right amount of shine. The shots in this fit ooze 'soft girl era' vibes. 'Softness is really just being more open to help,' Ari told Rolling Stone Africa . The 'Shea Butter Baby' singer explained that instead of navigating life solo or leaning entirely on others, she's embracing 'the beauty of collaboration and people.' Next, Ari cranked up the drama, rocking a teal textured halter dress with striking gold details. She styled her hair in flawless, bouncy curls, and she chose chunky gold cuffs for accessories. Another look we love was definitely for the city girls. Ari effortlessly switched gears, serving street-style perfection in a vibrant denim mini-set. Talk about style versatility! Her set's colorful swirl details gave a playful yet sexy, casual slay. The R&B songstress paired the look with chic white heels and big-boss energy. This fit was definitely a mood and forever fly. As Rolling Stone Africa said on Instagram about the singer, 'Ari Lennox isn't asking for permission, she's taking her place, unapologetically. From stages across the United States and Europe, to the soul of South Africa, Ari is building her R&B kingdom on her own terms: bold and brilliantly free.' Read Ari Lennox's feature article with the international publication here. SEE ALSO Ari Lennox Serves Head-Turning Style In 'Rolling Stone Africa'—And We're Obsessed was originally published on
Boston Globe
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Illuminus's ‘On the Rox' sessions build toward October festival
Advertisement Illuminus chose artists — dancers, poets, rappers, and more — who would work with community members at monthly public sessions through the spring and summer to conceive and create an exhibition organic to the community. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Grantz said Illuminus selected artists who could create a world and who would develop something 'multimodal and experiential and invite people into that world.' To that end, the artists gathered one night this spring at Roxbury's Black Market Nubian to experiment with form and feeling. They invited members of the public to join them. It was the first of the monthly sessions, dubbed 'On the Rox.' The next is scheduled at Black Market Nubian July 19. The public is encouraged to attend. Each session has a theme. The theme of the event earlier this spring, for example, was color. One of the artists, music producer and songwriter Melissa Sanon, Advertisement LandMine performs a dance embodying the colors green and purple. ILLUMINUS asked people to listen to music and tell her what colors it conjured. One attendee chose 'Shea Butter Baby' by Ari Lennox and said they associated it with an 'orange vibe,' Sanon said, due to the song's sensual tone. Sanon recorded people's responses as she played the songs they chose and projected the lyrics onto the walls. In another workshop, a dancer, visual artist, and community organizer who goes by LandMine asked visitors to embody colors through poses and dance moves. Then he performed his own interpretation of how purple and green might move. Rapper and singer Najee Jany led a workshop in which visitors tasted snacks, interpreted what they had tasted as colors, then expressed them in freestyle rap. Najee performed a song adapted from a poem he wrote that, he said, moved from black to blue to yellow. Spoken word and visual artist Phree offered a flow-painting workshop and performed a spoken-word piece about feeling red and wanting to grow into green. The ideas that come out of such sessions will help form the content of the exhibition in October. By handing artistic control to local artists and community members, Grantz said Illuminus is trying to create shows that form 'more connected circles and local activations' within Boston's neighborhoods, and create 'ways to authentically celebrate those artists and communities.' Under that philosophy, Illuminus is aiding artists in a different neighborhood each year. They partner with individual artists, nonprofits, and art organizations in the community, said Diane Dwyer, experience director at Illuminus. Last year, they focused on Dorchester, where artists including Advertisement Curators, including Just Book-ish co-owner and poet Porsha Olayiwola, Malik Williams of Reel Sync Music, MetaMovements' Anara Frank, and spoken word artist Amanda Shea, were enlisted to help choose artists. They submitted names for Illuminus to consider. The chosen artists receive a $10,000 stipend and attend weekly meetings to conceptualize work for the monthly sessions. When Sanon was first approached about taking part in Illuminus Roxbury, she said she didn't think she was the right fit. As a producer and beatmaker, she wasn't sure how it would work. But, after conversations with Grantz and Dwyer, Sanon — a member of the Grammy Award's Recording Academy Class of 2024 — decided to give it a go. And she's glad she did. It's too early to know what this year's group will develop for the exhibition in October. But Grantz talked of a piece by Vietnamese-American artist Sam Lê Shave last year. Eventgoers embroidered on large silk panels that became part of the installations. Illuminus wants to support local artists, especially since many creatives make less than a living wage, as noted in a recent Access to resources can help artists advance their careers, and Grantz is aware of art funding disparities. He said sometimes even a small amount of financial support and exposure can help get an artist off the ground. 'We've got some legends in the making,' Grantz said. For more information about Illuminus's upcoming 'On the Rox' sessions, visit
Black America Web
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Ari Lennox Officially Parts Ways With Dreamville Records
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Source: Prince Williams / Getty Ari Lennox has officially left J. Cole's Dreamville Records. Sources confirmed that the soulful songstress known for her authentic artistry and velvety voice has parted ways after years of label struggles. Read more inside. TMZ confirmed on April 23, 2025 that the D.C.-bred singer is no longer signed to the label that helped launch her career, marking the end of an era for one of Dreamville's standout stars. In a statement shared with TMZ, a rep said the split was mutual, describing it as 'amicable' and with 'deep respect on both sides.' The departure, while seemingly smooth on the surface, follows years of tension and public expressions of dissatisfaction from Lennox regarding her label situation. As early as 2022, the 'Shea Butter Baby' artist voiced frustrations over the way her career was being managed. In 2022, Bossip reported that Lennox opened up about feeling creatively stifled and unsupported. 'I want to be dropped from the labels. I'm done and tired,' she tweeted during a moment of visible frustration. The article noted her grievances stemmed from lack of control over her artistry and an unclear rollout strategy for her sophomore album. Though Dreamville gave Ari Lennox her first major platform and helped her find a devoted fan base with hits like 'Pressure' and 'BMO,' the artist's relationship with the label had become strained. Her critically acclaimed debut album Shea Butter Baby (2019) introduced her as one of R&B's most promising voices, but fans have long speculated that label politics may have slowed her momentum. TMZ reports that despite the split, Ari is planning to release new music independently and remains focused on her artistic journey. 'She's excited to explore new opportunities and have more creative freedom,' the rep added. Lennox's exit raises questions about Dreamville's future roster and the larger conversation about artist-label relationships in the music industry. J. Cole, who co-founded Dreamville under Interscope Records, has yet to publicly comment on her departure. Still, Ari's fans have expressed support for her reclaiming her career on her own terms. As the industry continues to evolve, Ari Lennox's departure from Dreamville reflects a broader trend of artists seeking autonomy and ownership. For Lennox, this new chapter may finally offer the artistic freedom she's been yearning for since she first spoke out about her struggles. We have a theory that with Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings signing a new distribution partnership with Scooter Braun's HYBE America, Ari could find herself a new home with one of R&B's notable producers. Check out his post below: Comment your thoughts on Ari Lennox's newfound freedom. Where will the songstress go next? SEE ALSO Ari Lennox Officially Parts Ways With Dreamville Records was originally published on
