Ari Lennox Talks Honoring Black Women’s Hair Types In Her Debut Album’s Tracklist
Ari Lennox wanted to honor black women’s hair types with her debut studio album, Shea Butter Baby‘s tracklist.
.@AriLennox talked to us about what #SheaButterBaby means to her–from honoring Black hair types with the tracklist to her favorite songs on the album and working with @JColeNC pic.twitter.com/5CCCepaY4J
— MTV NEWS (@MTVNEWS) May 14, 2019
The “Up Late” singer who is known for her signature natural hair and usually make-up free face recently sat down with MTV News and discussed why she chose to make Shea Butter Baby‘s tracklist numbered with black women’s hair types.
https://twitter.com/AriLennox/status/1123080047647166473
“The tracks are numbered because it ties in with the fact that I wanted the world to know to know about the different hair types and I didn’t want people thinking I was talking about bra sizes when I’m shouting my 4a, 4b, 4c women out at these shows,” Lennox said.
“I needed them to know we’re putting on and glorifying our beautiful black curly haired women. I kind of wanted to promote that so more women could be encouraged to go natural.”
During the interview Lennox also discussed fame, working with J. Cole, and her favorite tracks on Shea Butter Baby.
“I think my favorite track on the album would have to be between “Static” and “New Apartment”,” Lennox said.
“‘Static’ is filled with beautiful metaphors and I’m basically glorifying that I will love you. I don’t care about the noise. I don’t care about whoever might judge, or if your issues seems too much, it isn’t too much for me because I love you, and then ‘New Apartment’ is all about the empowerment of having my first apartment.”
On Tuesday (May 14), Lennox dropped the visuals to her sultry single “Up Late.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxcvcD1Bpt3/
She’s also recently kicked off her national tour promoting Shea Butter Baby, which is almost fully sold out. The tour started on Sunday (May 12) in Phoenix. It makes stops in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Atlanta, Detroit, and Toronto. It concludes on June 21 in Charlotte.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwKBdoHBeQy/
Glennisha Morgan is a Detroit-bred multimedia journalist and writer. She writes about intersectionality, hip-hop, pop culture, queer issues, race, feminism, and her truth. Follow her on Twitter.
