INTERVIEW: Ari Lennox Talks New Album ‘Vacancy’, Leaving Dreamville Records, Upcoming Tour, Dating + More

Summary

The Breakfast Club: INTERVIEW – Ari Lennox Talks New Album ‘Vacancy’, Leaving Dreamville Records, Upcoming Tour, Dating + More

Date: March 6, 2026
Guests: Ari Lennox
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee, Lauren Laros

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EPISODE OVERVIEW

Ari Lennox joins The Breakfast Club to discuss her highly anticipated album ‘Vacancy’, her departure from Dreamville Records, and her evolving journey as an artist and woman. The conversation dives into Ari’s personal growth, sobriety, lessons from past relationships, music industry realities, and her candid perspective on self-love, social media, and creative autonomy.

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MAIN THEMES & PURPOSE

• Exploring the emotional and creative roots of 'Vacancy'
• Navigating love, dating, and self-awareness as a public figure
• Insights into her exit from Dreamville Records and maintaining creative control
• Reflections on therapy, healing, and setting new boundaries
• Candid thoughts on social media, public criticism, and artist vulnerability
• Announcing and prepping for her headline tour
• Growth as a soulful artist carving out her own path

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KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. The Meaning Behind ‘Vacancy’

[03:38 – 04:53]

• Ari explains ‘Vacancy’ is a metaphor for a void in her life—romantic, platonic, or even professional.

  "The album encompasses a void that needs to be filled... it's just a metaphor for whatever that means to you." – Ari Lennox [03:50]

• Repeats the theme of emptiness and opportunity, intertwined with her repetitive dating life.

2. Dating & Loneliness

[04:54 – 05:21]

• Ari shares she's been single, embracing being alone rather than settling for toxicity:

  "It is 34 years of, like, romantic loneliness. But I’d rather be by myself than in anything toxic or unhealthy." [05:00]

• Discusses past club appearances and changes in her lifestyle for vocal health and the upcoming tour.

3. Sobriety, Therapy, and Personal Boundaries

[06:04 – 11:06]

• Committed to sobriety for her well-being and vocal health.
• Talks candidly about ending habits (like hookah) due to a relationship, only to discover betrayal:

  "He was trifling. He had a secret girlfriend... I guess I was the secret." [06:12]

• Therapy is a crucial aspect of her self-love journey; she shares exercises she practices (mirror work), her avoidance of certain healing activities, and the importance of self-trust.

4. Attachment, Infatuation, and Intimacy

[07:27 – 09:57]

• Reflects on confusing infatuation with love, learning to recognize healthy energies, and therapy helping her understand attachment styles.

  "I think in order to love someone, you have to accept them for all that they are... we did not accept each other for our truest selves." [07:42]

• Open about her tendency to “romanticize and exaggerate things,” acknowledging she’s still learning balance in relationships.

5. Industry Realities and Leaving Dreamville

[14:14 – 15:41, 26:21 – 38:43]

• The creative process behind ‘Vacancy’ took three years; she’s grateful for both Dreamville and Interscope’s support and creative autonomy:

  "That’s the beauty about Dreamville. They've always created that atmosphere of just, like, follow your heart, do what you want to do." [15:12]

• Details reasons for leaving Dreamville, including feeling misunderstood regarding marketing and communication breakdowns, and takes accountability for airing grievances publicly.

  "I regret it. Honestly, I feel like I should have never taken it to the Internet." [28:24] "I do want to apologize to J. Cole." [28:52]

• Heartfelt stories about J. Cole’s support (surprising her at her London show, giving financial guidance) and expressing regret over not communicating more directly.

  "Cole was never the issue. I think it just was literally like a marketing thing." [29:04]

6. Artist Growth & Self-Validation

[14:57 – 15:03, 54:23 – 54:53]

• ‘Vacancy’ marks a new chapter – more confident, intentional, and honest:

  "I think Vacancy, I'm just literally unapologetic. Like, this is who I am... Let me remind people, like, I'm not playing. I'm a soulful artist. I'm an R&B artist." [54:23]

7. Navigating Social Media & Public Perception

[46:59 – 50:05]

• Admits negative online feedback after speaking out about the show "Martin" took her to a “dark space,” despite public perception.

  "It was a heavy time for me because I felt like I isolated myself from every black person in the world." [46:23]

• Setting new boundaries: avoids responding online, focusing on positive promotion and intentionality.

  "I just want to really be intentional when I'm on the Internet about being sexy and also, like, just promoting my album." [47:52]

• Balancing vulnerability and the demands of maintaining visibility as an artist.

8. Sex, Celibacy & Self-Expression

[41:54 – 43:44]

• Details her celibacy journey, breaking it after nearly three years (“I just needed a nice restart”).
• Open conversation about self-pleasure, levels of celibacy, resetting the clock, and honesty about sexual needs.

9. Touring and Label Strategy

[57:40 – 58:51]

• Prepping for her headline ‘Vacancy’ tour.
• Learns valuable industry lessons from opening for Rod Wave:

  "I needed the money… I just didn’t know I would be shaking like a stripper every night in fear. But it builds integrity… Now I know stay away from rappers, like opening up for them and in general dating them. Like, just don't do it." [57:58]

• Desires to carve a unique path, collaborate where it makes sense, and keep focus on her artistic identity.

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NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• On self-worth post-breakup:

  “I know my worth. And when it's time to go, I'm definitely, you know, I block and I, you know, delete that thread and cut people off… I mean, yeah, I'm doing all right.” – Ari Lennox [13:50]

• On accountability:

  “Just wishing things didn’t end the way that they did. I know I didn’t help... I have to be accountable, so I think that’s the hardest part.” – Ari Lennox [38:04]

• On creative freedom:

  “They’ve always created that atmosphere of just, like, follow your heart, do what you want to do... So it was—it’s always been beautiful.” – Ari Lennox (on Dreamville) [15:12]

• On therapy and self-reflection:

  “I have to look at myself in the mirror... and that’s like, so hard. Like, I'm speaking to myself and I… who am I? It's been helpful, but definitely an exercise I avoid.” [10:09]

• On learning from the industry:

  “Stop going into business situations and expecting acquaintances to be my friend and family… it was just a beautiful lesson to learn.” [58:20]

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IMPORTANT SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS

• 03:38 – Discussing the concept and meaning behind ‘Vacancy’
• 05:00 – Ari’s perspective on loneliness and dating
• 08:27 – Therapy, attachment styles, and relationship patterns
• 14:21 – Creative evolution from album to album
• 15:12 – On Dreamville’s support and leaving the label
• 28:52 – Ari’s apology to J. Cole, reflecting on public outspokenness
• 38:43 – Navigating vulnerability in the industry and support structures
• 41:54 – Celibacy journey, breaking the streak, redefining her needs
• 47:52 – New boundaries with social media and public image
• 54:23 – Which "Ari" feels most honest—current era
• 57:40 – Lessons from touring with Rod Wave

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TONE & LANGUAGE

Ari’s language is candid, warm, playful, and introspective. The hosts encourage honesty while maintaining their trademark humor and directness, leading to vulnerable, sometimes self-deprecating, but always affirming moments.

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FINAL REMARKS

This episode is a layered portrait of Ari Lennox at a moment of deep personal and professional growth. She’s unfiltered about mistakes, healing, sexuality, creative ambition, and her hopes for authentic love. Listeners new and old will find plenty of reasons to respect her artistry and resilience—and may pick up a few self-love tips along the way.

Transcript

[Host 1]

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[Ari Lennox]

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[DJ Envy]

Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne, the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Lauren Laros is here as well. And we got a special guest in the building.

[DJ Envy]

Yes, indeed.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Ladies and gentlemen, Ari Lennox.

[DJ Envy]

Welcome back, Ari.

[Charlamagne tha God]

How you feeling? Good, Feeling good.

[DJ Envy]

How's your energy this morning? You Good?

[Ari Lennox]

Amazing. Yeah, I love it. How are you?

[DJ Envy]

Blessed, black and highly favored.

[Ari Lennox]

Yes, yes, me too.

[DJ Envy]

Vacancy is out right now.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

That's right.

[Ari Lennox]

Yes. Yes.

[DJ Envy]

Vacancy can mean a lot of things, Right.

[Ari Lennox]

Okay.

[DJ Envy]

It can mean emptiness.

[Ari Lennox]

Yep.

[DJ Envy]

It can mean opportunity. What exactly became vacant in your life that allowed this version of Ari Lennox to exist to create this project?

[Ari Lennox]

I think it's just the repetitiveness of my dating life. Yeah. The album encompasses a void that needs to be filled. And that can be romantic. It can be platonic. It can mean, you know, in a business way. It's just a metaphor for whatever that means to you, you know?

[DJ Envy]

Is it platonic? We gotta. Let's figure this out for once.

[Host 1]

You can be platonic.

[DJ Envy]

That's why I thought it was platonic my whole life.

[Ari Lennox]

Biopic.

[Host 1]

Biopic. I think those are words that. It's like, depending on how you.

[Chelsea Handler]

Tomato.

[Host 1]

Tomato.

[Ari Lennox]

You can't.

[DJ Envy]

Can be having us out here saying the wrong word.

[Ari Lennox]

Wait, but how is it supposed to be platonic?

[Angela Yee]

Platonic.

[DJ Envy]

Platonic, yes.

[Angela Yee]

Oh, and you're the second person that we heard.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Wait a minute.

[Ari Lennox]

Well, I. All right, thanks. All right. Playing camera a lot. I like that. That's lovely.

[Host 1]

So on this project, you go in and out of your space, whether it's your heart, your physical space, your mind, your energy. Being vacant, then being occupied, then. Yeah, it's all over the place. But it's a good journey.

[Ari Lennox]

Thank you. Yes. So.

[DJ Envy]

But.

[Host 1]

So where are you in real life after this album? In the dating world? Like what? Like.

[Ari Lennox]

I mean, I'm just alone, but. No, it is. It is 34 years of, like, romantic loneliness. But it's cool. No, it's all right. I'm doing great. I'd rather be by myself than in anything toxic or unhealthy. So it is what it is, you know, I'm okay.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I've seen you in the club turning up, though.

[Ari Lennox]

I do turn up sometimes. Oh, my teeth.

[Host 1]

You told on houseguests. You said you'd be. You'd be wanting your chamomile in the club.

[Ari Lennox]

And right here I have this hot water.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I don't know if you had no damn tea in the club that night, but he be turning up.

[Ari Lennox]

When? Oh, when you saw me. Years ago.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, years ago. No, that was like, what, two years ago last year.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Last year.

[Charlamagne tha God]

It was recent.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Aren't you.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, yeah. I had my hookah. Yeah, I stopped. I had to stop, though. Yeah. I made a pack. We took a picture. It's okay. I mean, last year I wasn't singing, but this year I am. So we got a tour coming up, you know, the vacancy tour starts April 12th, so. Yeah, I want to be vocally prepared for it. So no more hookah for me.

[Host 1]

But you're still on your sobriety journey, right?

[Ari Lennox]

Absolutely.

[Host 1]

Drinking wise. But you said you made a pact with a man. That's what made you stop the hookah.

[Ari Lennox]

Yes.

[Host 1]

What happened to that man? You said he was horrible.

[Ari Lennox]

He was trifling. He had a secret girlfriend. Or he had a girlfriend. I guess I was the secret. And I had no idea. And I haven't spoke to him since. Once he told me, so.

[DJ Envy]

So you don't like. You never liked the Escape song? You're my little secret. You couldn't be a secret.

[Ari Lennox]

I do love that song. I love Xscape. So, yeah, I could not be a secret. No. But I do love that song they was singing.

[DJ Envy]

Why would somebody want to keep you a secret?

[Host 1]

I need to know who the main.

[DJ Envy]

I need to know who the main girl is.

[Ari Lennox]

I think it just speaks to the state of dating out here. It's just incredibly depressing, I feel like for everybody, you know? So it is what it is.

[Host 1]

Are there songs on this project about him? I know that you've been working on this for some time.

[Ari Lennox]

From. From him? Hell no.

[Host 1]

Okay. Cuz under the Moon talks about somebody that's a bit. Could be a big toxic.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, that was someone else. Oh, that was one of my exes. And I don't even know if he counts as an ex. It was like a month long relationship though. It counts really well. Well, it depends.

[Angela Yee]

All right, now.

[DJ Envy]

Do you feel.

[Angela Yee]

Do you feel that you had a connection? Ashanti.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, my God. Jesus. Like Ari. Thank you, Fresh face. Thank you beautiful. And your hair.

[Angela Yee]

Thank you. Don't look confused.

[DJ Envy]

Don't do that.

[Ari Lennox]

Why are you hating on her? I didn't say anything.

[Angela Yee]

No, he was just looking at me

[Ari Lennox]

like he was kind of confused.

[Angela Yee]

But thank you so much. No, that depends, right? Did you have a strong connection with him? Do you feel like you loved him? Cause a month can. You know, a month can be short to some people, but that could mean a long time. It's not about the time. It's about how you connected with him, how he made you feel.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, no, I don't feel like I loved him. I don't think it was. Because I think in order to love someone, you have to accept them for all that they are. And I feel like we did not accept each other for our truest selves. And for that reason, I do believe it was love at all. Probably just infatuation, which I said. It's just that repetitive theme. I think there were a lot of secure energies that entered my life that I wasn't ready for. And now they're getting married. All these secure people that I like. I didn't under. I didn't recognize that safety, like, in them then, I think, because there's so much chaos inside of me. But I'm working through it. I have my therapist, and I'm a lot more aware of it now, those red flags and things of that nature.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Do you love fast?

[Charlamagne tha God]

I'm sorry, I was gonna say, do you love fast? Do you, like, trust fast?

[Ari Lennox]

When it comes to dating, I do. I do. But I don't think it's love. I think it's like trauma or something, I think. Or a kink. Some type of, like, love kink. I think I have that because I'll be quick to be like, oh, yeah, I love you, but it's like, we're fucking. So it's like. Like, of course I do right now. It's nice. The sex is really nice. And sometimes that can be just a little misleading, a little confusing. The emotions are high. And I think, just in general, my emotions run extremely high, so I tend to romanticize and exaggerate things.

[DJ Envy]

Why can't you just love sector? Like, if somebody flips you and folds you and puts you in a pressure child.

[Host 1]

That song is a song.

[DJ Envy]

I love it.

[Ari Lennox]

Thank you.

[DJ Envy]

Why can't you just love the physical act? Like, why does it have to be anything else?

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, you're right. I. I can love it, but I think a part of sex for me is a very passionate thing, and it's just Ironic because a lot of the times it isn't or it hasn't been in my past. Very passionate and like. Yeah, Yeah, I think. Yeah. All my relationships were kind of just surfaced. For real? Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Do you want to be in love? Clearly, right?

[Ari Lennox]

I do. I.

[DJ Envy]

Do you think you've ever been?

[Ari Lennox]

No. No. I thought so, but no, I don't think I have now that I know what it means to be. Because it's a choice every day. I don't think I ever made that choice every day in those relationships.

[DJ Envy]

You're in therapy, right? And I go to therapy a lot as well. And your therapist will often tell you that your first, last, and best love is self love.

[Ari Lennox]

Right.

[DJ Envy]

Like you can't love anybody else.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Until you truly love yourself. Do you think that has been part of the reason?

[Ari Lennox]

Absolutely. My therapist is amazing. She has me doing these exercises every morning where I have to look at myself in the mirror. And that's like, so hard. Like, I'm speaking to myself and I like, who am I? And so it's been helpful, but it's definitely been an exercise that I avoid. I think it's just. It's. It's hard, honestly, to face myself, but I'm getting closer and it's amazing how long therapy has happened. She's been telling me that I need to read this book called the Courage to Trust, and I've been avoiding it. And it's just. I know I could be so much farther in my journey. It's funny that I'm just prolonging here healing in that way. But, yeah, one day I'll read it. One day I'll be able to breeze through that mirror exercise. But, yeah, so those are ways that I'm like, practicing self love, slowly facing myself and learning who I am.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Is it the trust issues?

[Ari Lennox]

Huh?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Is it the trust issues? Cause you are a celebrity, you are an artist. So it's understanding why somebody's coming into your space. Right. Is it because they really like me? Is it they love the idea of what's going on around me? Is it because I am a celebrity? Is that a big trust issue when it comes to you?

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

How do you go through that?

[Ari Lennox]

I have every right to have trust issues in that regard. I think men think I'm this Barbie. Like, they see me online sometimes and I look like this or something, and they think that's how I am all the time. When really I have a pickup truck, I got two big dogs. I'm in the middle of nowhere, on the water, in the Woods. It's a little creepy to people, but I love it, you know, And I take my trash to the landfill. All these kind of things that I don't think a man would ever expected me, I have multiple properties and things of that nature. I do not do that. I do have a lawnmower, but no one will teach me how to use it. So there is a. I have a company, finally, that does it for me. Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

Do you feel like you learned. Do you feel like you learned, you learned something new about yourself in every relationship that you were in?

[Ari Lennox]

Yes, yes. My last one definitely taught me to figure out what the hell is going on inside of me. Like, I realized, oh, okay, I. I have an anxious attachment style. And then I realized, oh, I'm also avoidant. Like, this is. This has been this battle that I've been facing. And I think until I heal that more, I don't think I'll be able to dig deeper in a relationship. I think that's always going to be that block. Yeah. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

So that's so interesting because when I listen to your music, I hear a self awareness, right? I do, you know, I mean, at least, at least, at least that you're comfortable with what it is that you're doing, you know what I mean? And who you're doing it with. That's what I get from it.

[Ari Lennox]

Yes. Well, what you mean, like, and so you think that means you're confused about me having trust issues? Are you saying yeah?

[DJ Envy]

Because I feel like you got to trust yourself enough to even be as bold as you are to be able to even move like that.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

Well, the music that you make, it's easy. The music that you make, it resonates with women, like navigating self worth and growth and love. So it is kind of hard to hear you sit here and say the opposite. It's hard for you to find love or something like that, or just everything that you feel like you said is inside of you. I don't feel that in your music.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, wow.

[Angela Yee]

I feel like, oh, you got it all together. This girl is. You make me want to go tell a nigga fuck you.

[Ari Lennox]

You know what I mean?

[Angela Yee]

Because you know your worth, you know

[Ari Lennox]

what you want and you know what

[Angela Yee]

you will stand for and what you want in a relationship.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

That's what I get from your music.

[Ari Lennox]

That's why that's me too. I know my worth. And when it's time to go, I'm definitely, you know, I block and I, you know, delete that thread and cut people off the. But. But, yeah. I mean, yeah, I'm doing all right.

[Host 1]

Yeah. In your press release for Vacancy, one of the lines I wrote down was, ari's new album, vacancy signals a sophisticated new chapter defined by creative autonomy, confidence and growth. And I feel like shea butter, baby, was that I felt like, like all of the projects are that.

[Ari Lennox]

Thank you.

[Host 1]

So. And this process took you three. It was three years before Vacancy.

[Ari Lennox]

Three years. Yeah. And I. I didn't feel like it was done, so I'm sure I stressed out the label, my management, shout out to Jaha and Justin. I know I stressed them out, but I knew the album wasn't done and thank God everyone dragged me for, like, my singles. It kind of encouraged me to let me get back to the studio, make some more soul music, make some more pop leaning music and just. Yeah. And then I knew I was. I felt relief. I knew it was time. Okay, it's done. And I'm really proud. It's a good album.

[DJ Envy]

It's a great album and it does feel like a. It feels like a reset, you know, musically and personally.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

So. So did leaving Dreamville create that freedom or were you already evolving and just needed space to show it?

[Ari Lennox]

Let me see. No, I. I feel like I've. That's the beauty about Dreamville. They've always created that atmosphere of just like, follow your heart, do what you want to do. And. And so it was. It's always been beautiful. Like, I've always had that creative freedom. And then Interscope is really amazing with supporting me in that too. Like, they've never pushed me to do anything that I didn't want to do. Same thing with Dreamville. So it's always been like, beautiful, really healthy.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You know, it seems like you and Jermaine Dupri have a great relationship.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, he's wonderful.

[Charlamagne tha God]

How did you and JD hook up and how did that expand to where it is?

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, between Justin and the labels, they put together a session and we created pressure and we've just been cool ever since. He's lovely. He. He's an amazing marketing giant. You know, he be in the streets shouting everybody out. Everybody he works with. He's just lovely and he's really easy to work with in the studio. He's not pushy or anything like that. He's just incredible. So. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

How did he stretch your artistry?

[Ari Lennox]

Stretch it?

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Yeah.

[Ari Lennox]

How does he stretch it? I mean, it's just. I mean, he just encourages me to talk about all kinds of different things. He's playing all types of different Beats. Let me tell you something. When we get in the studio, if you play me a sexy beat, I'm a fucking. Be freaky as hell on that beat, you know what I'm saying? But if you play me something that makes me want to fight, I'm going to talk some angry shit, you know? So it really does just depend on the vibe, so. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Have you ever got confused and want the ain't fight on or something?

[Ari Lennox]

Whoa. Never. Not yet.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You know, maybe after nothing you say,

[Angela Yee]

maybe fight and after, you know. That's a good compliment.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah. That is nice.

[DJ Envy]

What?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Did you know it was time to. To leave Dreamville? When you say, well, this is.

[DJ Envy]

That is nice.

[Ari Lennox]

It would be really nice. No, because I feel like every time I kind of have arguments with people, it seems like the beginning of the end. And I don't really think I say the worst things. I just think, I don't know, the balloon pops, so it must be some type of surfaced energy. Maybe I'm just not opening up enough to where they really think I'm somebody else. And then they find out, oh, she's a human, or like, you know what I'm saying? And it's just they don't like that human. So I don't know. I would like to get in a relationship where like, okay, not we're yelling and screaming, but. But like, we had a disagreement and that's okay, and now we're kissing and everything's fine.

[Charlamagne tha God]

But do you cross that line? Cause it seems like you said you crossed that line. Do you cross that line where it's like, you know, there's a line in an argument where, you know, you don't need to go. Right. Something that, you know is gonna hurt somebody's feelings. Do you cross that line in that argument?

[Ari Lennox]

No, I don't think all the time. I don't think that happens.

[Angela Yee]

I don't think so.

[Ari Lennox]

Not all the time. I think it's just me needing time to snap out of it or maybe an energy that's a lot more understanding and, like, I don't know, wanting to. You know what helps me, like, when someone's just like, I don't want to fight. And I'll. I'll also, like, express that too. Like, I don't want to fight, and that disarms me a bit. And I feel like that can disarm both people, you know?

[Host 1]

You are Aries, right?

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

Okay, so I see. Yeah, very much.

[DJ Envy]

You only got to say that to people who, you know, like, oh, no. Yes. You only say because, you know, if you know the person well enough, you're like, look, I don't want to fight because you already know what's going to set them up. You only say that to people who, you know, like to fight.

[Ari Lennox]

No, that was the first time me and this person had an argument. And I wonder if I said it or he said it first. I don't know. But, I mean, we never had an argument until that moment, and we just literally got along. But I guess we were just mincing our words so much, and maybe that's why it blew up the way that it did.

[DJ Envy]

But you're. You're a communicator. You write songs, so you actually communicate for a living. So I'm sure you can communicate in the conversation.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, I do. I do. When things get really spicy, like, if we're yelling, I know it's time. It's time for it to be over. I think yelling is, like, toxic.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What's the biggest thing that you guys would argue over?

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, this was just what happened. He didn't like it when I would say no. He was okay. I had been working out.

[DJ Envy]

All that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Sound crazy, right?

[Ari Lennox]

Okay, I know. Let me explain.

[DJ Envy]

That one needed to go to me.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That was the key for.

[DJ Envy]

But go ahead, go ahead. I ain't playing.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, I'm sorry. Let me continue. So I was in the gym all day, and I was tired. And then I asked him, I said, hey, can you, like, stretch with me? Like, let's stretch or whatever? And he was like, sure. And then he started doing all of these, like, things.

[DJ Envy]

What?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Dance.

[Ari Lennox]

A dance stretching routine that. I was tired, so I kind of just stopped and sat down, and he was pissed. And so then we went to Chipotle, and we were eating, and he just was giving me the silent treatment, and he was holding his chips so tight. Oh, damn. And I was, yeah, I want to share the chips.

[Host 1]

Did he get guac or no?

[Ari Lennox]

No, I don't remember. But he was holding his chips so tight, and he usually shares his chips, so I'm just like, who are you dating?

[DJ Envy]

Ahrii.

[Angela Yee]

Like, this is crazy.

[Ari Lennox]

I really feel like we weren't aligned, and that's all. Like, I think everyone's different. Then he put his hands out to put pray, and I just was like, I. I. You know, what if I don't want to pray?

[DJ Envy]

Oh, y got to leave you now. You the problem ar. No, no, Ari, stop. You the problem. Ask you to pray.

[Ari Lennox]

No, it was awkward.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

He.

[Ari Lennox]

Okay, this was a buildup for me because he never Asked me if I was comfortable. And I know this may sound bad, but praying in public with the hands. At Chipotle, we prayed at the radio.

[DJ Envy]

The first time you came to breakfast, cuz we got in a circle and prayed.

[Ari Lennox]

Right? I don't mind that. It's just it at Chipotle in North Hollywood, after you.

[Angela Yee]

All the shared chips. I think it was his daughter. He did press this vibe that he was giving you.

[Ari Lennox]

Thank you.

[Angela Yee]

Before, you know what I'm saying? Because I think if y' all was good and he ain't do all that ballet shit, he didn't want to do all that. And y' all had a great stretch.

[Ari Lennox]

She asked me to go eat.

[DJ Envy]

You didn't ask me how we should stretch. We should stretch.

[Charlamagne tha God]

She didn't want to ballet, though.

[Ari Lennox]

She didn't want to.

[DJ Envy]

Violet, you asked me to scratch. I came to help you.

[Ari Lennox]

She wanted a praise dance, but if she was having sex, it felt like a praise dance.

[DJ Envy]

What do you have about.

[Ari Lennox]

I don't even. No, no, I love God. I love God.

[Angela Yee]

I just think if he was giving off a better vibe, and she probably didn't feel comfortable, like, you want to pray, but your little vibe a little off. So I'm going to pray to myself. I don't want to pray with you right now.

[Ari Lennox]

What bothered you more?

[Charlamagne tha God]

That could have been the chips or was it the praying that bothered you the most?

[Ari Lennox]

No, it was just all of it combined. And then as we were walking. No, I'm not a atheist. Y' all like, I like God, but yeah. So I'm. I think after that, we're walking home, and I'm like, you know what? You don't like being told no. And that was the beginning of the end. I think we both blacked out a bit.

[DJ Envy]

Do you remember the conversation? Because I needed. Cause I know.

[Ari Lennox]

That's all I remember. I just know we were just going back and forth, and I eventually said, this is not going to work. Which is a terrible thing, like, to say in a relationship, I think I don't. It's something I heard my dad saying all the time growing up, and I really feel like I've adopted that. So, like, when things are, like, really rough, this is not gonna work, or, like, just kind of fall back a bit. So I think those things can be hurtful to a partner. Absolutely.

[Host 1]

When your dad was saying it, was it just about things in life in general? Was it relationship with your mom or your. Or like, what was your dad saying

[Ari Lennox]

in reference to Just everything, any type of argument he would have with anyone, any type of conflict, or he was pissed at his kids for doing this or that it was. This isn't gonna work. And I just feel like I definitely do that, like, you know, as a response, as a defense mechanism, I think, because, yeah, things aren't. Things don't have to be that extreme, you know, every time. But I'm sure that was really hurtful

[DJ Envy]

to him, you know, and words have power. If you keep saying something not going to work.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Eventually.

[Ari Lennox]

That's true.

[Angela Yee]

And you are an Aries.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

Right now. Very spicy, like you said, my baby father Aries.

[Charlamagne tha God]

My first one.

[Host 1]

Very smart.

[Angela Yee]

He's spicy as hell, too.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh. So what's your sign?

[Angela Yee]

I'm an Aquarius.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, wonderful.

[Angela Yee]

Yes.

[Ari Lennox]

Cole's an Aquarius. Who? Cole J. Cole.

[Angela Yee]

Oh, I know. That's right. That's what's up.

[DJ Envy]

I know Cole don't lie as much as.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, my God,

[Angela Yee]

I don't be lying like that, girl. I lie to keep things on an even keel.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

You know what I mean?

[Angela Yee]

I got that from the Departed. That was from a movie.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, I love that movie. With Leonardo.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah, Leonardo.

[Ari Lennox]

I love movies like that. Yeah. Now, I was going to ask.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Dude, what is going on?

[Angela Yee]

I was going to ask, do you think somebody's zodiac sign plays a part in whether or not you'll date them?

[Ari Lennox]

No, I will stay. I will still date anybody. And it doesn't have anything to do with their sign. But I have noticed patterns with certain signs.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah.

[Ari Lennox]

Like Pisces. I feel like Pisces men, at least when it comes to me. I don't believe we are very compatible. I think they are literally this. A slippery fish that you can never catch. Very aloof energy.

[Host 1]

Bottom of the sea at the bottom of the.

[Ari Lennox]

Damn.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Was that the guy shared the chips, was eating that?

[Ari Lennox]

No, he was. Well, I ain't gonna tell you who he was. I ain't gonna put two and two together. But he wasn't a Pisces.

[Host 1]

It wasn't the hookah.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, he was. He was a Pisces. Yes. Secret family. I feel like there are secrets. There are a lot of secrets that Pisces men have. And I. I think they're very. At least with me and in my experience, surface energies. So there's something in me. I think they think I'm something else. And when they realize, oh, there's something deeper here, I'm out, you know?

[Host 1]

Are these men like, celebrities or they're like. Like, what are they like?

[Ari Lennox]

No. No one really knows them. No.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

Do you purposely date, like, out of the industry?

[Ari Lennox]

Honestly, I would. Oh, well, I would love to date someone that's well known, but I would like to date someone that's not in the industry. Like a scientist or historian, I think could be really nice because I like history, I like science and things of that nature. So I want somebody that I can completely just kind of silence my music world. I don't want to talk about music all day unless it's old school stuff. Like, that's fun, you know, but like studio stuff and like songs and like, I couldn't date a songwriter. I think I would get really exhausted. I have gotten exhausted from getting one.

[DJ Envy]

He always wanted you to hear lyrics or something.

[Ari Lennox]

Yes. Or. Exactly. Or songs. And I just.

[Angela Yee]

Writing stuff for you. Want you to sing it.

[Ari Lennox]

Right. Exactly. You know, I just. I just want something completely opposite.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Gotcha.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I was gonna ask before, you know, when did you know it was time to leave Dreamville? We've heard you complain for years and how you wanted to be independent and what you wanted to do on yourself. When did you know it was the right time?

[Ari Lennox]

I think, you know, it's just a feeling. I think after when my song Smoke dropped, it just felt like we weren't aligned. And it's not their fault. I don't know what happened. I think perhaps they didn't know, like, the date of it or something. And I think as it dropped, it was just. I could feel like there was no marketing behind it. And I. And I mean, that wasn't a feeling.

[DJ Envy]

You were right. I vocally said that. I never felt like they supported you.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, I do feel like they supported me overall. Like, I don't believe that I would have gotten this far without them. J. Cole was the greatest cosign I could have ever had as a neo soul artist. People sleep on our genre so incredibly. So he changed my life and introduced me to people that probably might not have received me the same if they heard me outside of his camp. So the marketing overall is incredible. But honestly, I think they were in the middle of a deal separating Dreamville from Interscope. And I think that's what I was feeling at the time. And that's why they were unable to really hone in on what's going on. And I think over the years also, I have to take accountability with a lot of just my little things on the Internet with just speaking up about different things. I think probably created some tension for sure.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, like when you speak out about the label?

[Ari Lennox]

No, not even the label. Just like Just little things like.

[DJ Envy]

Well, somebody over there's a Martin fan and they didn't like your opinion.

[Ari Lennox]

No, not. Not even Martin.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

I don't.

[Ari Lennox]

I don't even think so.

[Host 1]

Around the time that smoke dropped, posted online that you were exhausted by Dreamville, that you were tired of people treating you like you were the face of mental health. You're okay. You're happy, but they're not. They're not marketing you well. They're not protecting you. You wish labels knew how to do that.

[Ari Lennox]

I felt that way about Interscope, too. It wasn't just all Dreamville. And Interscope has really. They've really shown me a lot of love and support and things of that nature. And I think it just was a really emotional time for me. And I. I think I was a. I regret it. Honestly. I feel like I should have never taken it to the Internet. Internet. But, like, you know, I'm. I do want to apologize to J. Cole.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

I've.

[Ari Lennox]

I've been. I sent him a message on Instagram. I sent him a voice note. I'm a little afraid to give him a call, but I do apologize. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Wow.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

I love that J. Cole got something that none of those exes got.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, you know. Well, they don't deserve apologies. But it was never Cole. Cole was never the issue. I think it just was literally like a marketing thing in it. But it is what it is.

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[DJ Envy]

See for me. And I'm sure you know, so you're right. So I guess just on the outside looking in, you're like, well, damn, Cole, why don't you stand next to. Next to somebody like that more often?

[Ari Lennox]

Well, regarding you as an artist, because

[DJ Envy]

that can help with marketing a lot.

[Ari Lennox]

He. This man flew all the way to London for me. I was performing. I mean, it was beautiful. Time sold out two nights. I forgot the venue, but it was beautiful and it was massive. This man surprised me as I'm performing Shea Butter Baby. And I cried like a baby. I sounded like a walrus. I could not get the words out because I was so shocked. Like, that's how loving and selfless he is. So Cole himself, like, I will always care and respect him because London across the pond for little old me is like, what?

[DJ Envy]

You know, like he just liked to ride bikes and stuff.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Well, he didn't ride his bike that

[Angela Yee]

far, but did he fly Spirit? You know, he hungry.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, my God.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I don't think Spirit goes there.

[DJ Envy]

Just.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I was gonna say, what was the call? Like, how did you call him and tell him you wanted to be released? Do you remember that call? Did you speak to him directly?

[Ari Lennox]

I. Sadly, with my avoidant nature, I. I sent him a voice note about it and it's sad. I should have called him.

[DJ Envy]

You should have called.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, for sure, actually.

[DJ Envy]

Probably should have had a face to face.

[Ari Lennox]

We should have.

[DJ Envy]

Scared.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Did he respond?

[Ari Lennox]

I was. I wasn't ready to face, like, my own. My own ways. I wasn't ready to be accountable for myself. And then I don't believe I was just scared about, like, there's a lot of things that I wish I just talked to him about before taking it to the Internet. So I. I really feel like those things created that tension.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Did he respond?

[DJ Envy]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Did he respond to the woman?

[Ari Lennox]

He did respond. He did respond.

[Charlamagne tha God]

And you still didn't call?

[DJ Envy]

Come on.

[Ari Lennox]

But that's why. That's why I apologize.

[Host 1]

If you want to share. What did. When he responded, what did he say? Because he's normally very, like, warm and comforting when he talk about you.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, he said he wished I called him, so. Oh, yeah.

[DJ Envy]

So when you look back now, was it frustration about marketing, creative control, or just feeling misunderstood as an artist?

[Ari Lennox]

There was things I didn't understand about, like how you're supposed to move in a. In a label. I didn't know. Yeah. What's the question again? Sorry, I got my adhd.

[DJ Envy]

I don't forgot to.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

No, you Asked

[Host 1]

marketing. You asked her, was it marketing being misunderstood?

[DJ Envy]

Creative control.

[Ari Lennox]

Yes. Was it creative control or being misunderstand? Oh, I just. No, I. I feel like they understood me. I think they understood me. Well, I. I think, like I said, I think there was a lot of things going on at that time where they couldn't focus on the artist at that specific time, but they did all them other years before. But at that specific time, I think they were parting ways with Interscope. So, like, I got lost in, like, that, and I didn't know that until after, and then it was just like, damn. I. I wouldn't have said anything.

[Host 1]

Like, I probably wouldn't take that to y', all, though.

[Ari Lennox]

Like. Yeah, but it's also not my business. Like, they are a business, and I should have known that and respected that, you know, as an artist. Like, this is a business, and I'm learning that.

[DJ Envy]

And I don't think Cole ever stood.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I don't think Cole ever stood next to any of his artists. He always played the background when he came out on his label.

[Ari Lennox]

No, he stood next to us with our features and on stage and putting us on. We opened up for him. All them collaborations we've done together, Boss has done together. Oh, yeah, them Dreamville albums. Yeah, he stood next to us. He didn't have to.

[Host 1]

What's one thing that. Because I think when people talk about you, Dreamville, J. Cole, it's always this stuff. What's one thing that you wish people would talk more about when they talk about you? Dreamville and J. Cole.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, wow. I don't know. Just. Just how sweet he is, how selfless he is. I. I remember before, for your eyes only dropped. He was driving around, he was like, let's listen to my album, y'. All. And, like, we got in the car.

[Host 1]

Jake, he been driving around, listening to his album.

[Ari Lennox]

I was gonna say what kind of car.

[Host 1]

They was making fun of him.

[Ari Lennox]

I don't know if I should. I should tell you, his car, he

[Angela Yee]

just broke down in the Honda Civic.

[Ari Lennox]

What kind of car was it? It wasn't a Honda Civic.

[DJ Envy]

Okay.

[Ari Lennox]

Not that there's anything wrong, but it was a big old truck.

[Host 1]

Y' all ride around listening to the music.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, yeah. Listening to his music. And I. That was a very special thing to do. Like, I. For me to be able to get the first listen in the car with him and Elite. And I believe someone else was there. Sorry to that person. I don't remember. But it was beautiful. It was beautiful. It's just things like that. And Then beautiful conversations he would have with me about, like, just me feeling down or financial intelligence he really instilled in me and wanted to prepare me for. And thank God he did. I made certain decisions, like with investing in properties and. Because I'll spend some money. Like, I'll spend some money so that help. Those homes that I invested in are kind of like a savings account for me. I feel like he put me on a certain things. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

So what's been the hardest part of closing that chapter?

[Ari Lennox]

Hardest part is just. Just wishing things didn't end the way that they did. I know I didn't help, but it was funny because it was all kind of ending anyway. I just wish I knew that. But, you know, I have to be accountable, so I think that's the hardest part.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah.

[Ari Lennox]

Just knowing that I, you know, I was unprofessional and really emotional. Love you.

[Angela Yee]

Accountability. I love it.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Dope.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

How did that experience change the way you view the music industry?

[Ari Lennox]

Well, honestly, my experience has been relatively good. I'm really lucky. There's a lot of labels that would have dropped me. There's a lot of labels that could have assaulted me. All kinds of things. Dreamville was really a protective energy. They. I remember there was one time I got drunk as hell in Australia and I was dancing and I was making out with this guy. It was terrible on the dance floor. And I went home, I went to the hotel, and this man was. I guess he was tagging along or he was trying to get. My friend said he was just like, trying to get into my room and said was like, absolutely not like all. And I was so drunk, it could have been bad. And yeah, there were times where, you know, outside of Dreamville where, like, things happen where I wasn't very coherent because of liquor. And so, yeah, in that moment, it's just like, I really appreciate having my brothers there to stop this man from who knows what, you know?

[Host 1]

So you have been so blessed when it comes to that. I heard another story you told about when you were in the airport.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

And you.

[Host 1]

It kind of the same thing. Like, anybody could have did anything. You're blacked out from drinking.

[Ari Lennox]

Anybody.

[DJ Envy]

You were drunk in the airport.

[Ari Lennox]

I was drunk. I was always drunk in the airport.

[Host 1]

Especially when I'm afraid. She's afraid of the party.

[Ari Lennox]

Not before the flight.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Okay.

[Ari Lennox]

Before the flight. To get through the flight. I've just always been terrified of flying. And it's. That's the amazing aspect of sobriety, is that I can actually heal and, like, face These issues because I'm not prolonging it or, you know, with numbing myself. So that's been great. Like, now flying is a lot easier.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Well, good.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

What do you think you were trying to run from? Like, what do you think? Why were you drinking so much?

[Ari Lennox]

What was it? Oh, everything, really. It was the flying that really spearheaded, like, everything. It was just the fear of dying a horrific death from the sky.

[DJ Envy]

That's how anxiety works, though.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

I don't want to call it irrational fears. Whatever fear you have is multiplied times 100.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, exactly. And so, yeah, I. I just wanted to numb that. I didn't want to be screaming on the plane and embarrassing myself. But now, like, I know what the plane sounds like when I'm taking off. I know I'm starting to like how it feels. It's still. I feel like a rocket going into space. But, you know, it's. It's gotten easier. Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

Do you feel like an artist's personality is just as important as their talent?

[Ari Lennox]

I do. And I feel like it can be damaging if you're too honest, too open, too opinionated. Yeah. There are things I wish I never opened up about online, but, you know, you get one life, and I hate to regret anything at 80. Like, I should have said this, should have did this, should have fucked this person, should have.

[DJ Envy]

Why did you always come back to death?

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

I don't know.

[Ari Lennox]

Because Vacancy, my album, is sexy as hell.

[Host 1]

It is figuring it out.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

And good sex, bad sex is all

[Angela Yee]

a part of that.

[Host 1]

We ain't mad at you.

[Ari Lennox]

We're manifesting. We love. Cuz I ain't having sex. It's been three years.

[Angela Yee]

Oh, so you're celebrating.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[Host 1]

So you're on a sobriety journey. Celebrate as well.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

It's good.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah. Well, actually, I did have a. Ah. I shouldn't have said. I didn't want to lie. Well, it was almost three years. Okay. Well, no, it was three years. It was. It could have been longer, but yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Oh, you're a liar.

[Ari Lennox]

No, I'm not a liar. That's why I had to clean that up. But you had. I don't want my mom to know.

[Host 1]

Oh, shoot.

[Ari Lennox]

Damn. Yeah, it was just a little moment.

[Host 1]

So I won't ask you no more questions about it.

[Ari Lennox]

Actually, it was all right. Huh?

[Angela Yee]

She said she won't ask you no more questions, but I said it's too late. I'm already hearing.

[Host 1]

Okay, great. So what, like. Because when people say that they've been celibate for, like, three years, five years, I'm like, how do you not run into, like, instances of just, like, the feeling of like, wanting to masturbate at all?

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, no, I do that every night.

[Angela Yee]

But she's talking about pedal training.

[Ari Lennox]

But.

[Host 1]

Because there are certain levels of celibacy. Like, I know people are celibate to the point where they're not even trying to do.

[Ari Lennox]

No, I could never go that long without doing that. And I feel like my whole down there would completely change. Like, it would completely collapse if I didn't make sure she was good.

[Host 1]

So what was the running you had that almost, like, messed it all up or kind of set you back? You said it was.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, I don't think it set me back. I feel like I needed to get that energy off me. I feel like I was really becoming decrepit a bit. And like. And just. I just was too. I just felt in my energy. My energy was exuding prudeness. And honestly, there's nothing wrong with that. And I feel like celibacy is a beautiful thing. But me personally, I just needed a nice restart. And so, yeah, now we back. So, yeah.

[DJ Envy]

So where's the clock at now?

[Ari Lennox]

What do you mean in general?

[DJ Envy]

Once you reset?

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, mama's watching.

[DJ Envy]

Your mama's watching.

[Ari Lennox]

Why do you want to know?

[Host 1]

I don't know.

[DJ Envy]

You don't have to answer that. Now, listen, you're us. What would you call yourself? R B soul.

[Ari Lennox]

R B soul? Neo soul. I like to play with alternative sounds under the moon. This record I have, I'm howling, like, yodeling. I. I love it. I love things like that. So I like to get in the pop space one day, but I want it to feel authentic. I love all kinds of music. I love Zed, I love Red Hot Chili Peppers, System of A Down.

[Host 1]

You got Bougie Bantan on here.

[Ari Lennox]

You got Bougie Bantan on the project, on the album. Yeah. Company is. Is everything. And he's my one and only feature.

[DJ Envy]

So I. I wonder, when it comes to these labels, right, for somebody like you who's a soulful R B artist, you don't necessarily fit to pop our hip hop marketing machine. So I wonder, does anybody know what to do with an Ari?

[Ari Lennox]

I think they're doing the best that, like, they can. And I think they're. They're doing pretty well. I think I just gotta do this. I gotta be in the streets, I gotta talk to people. I gotta sang my ass off and, like, make people understand, like, you know, I'm. I'm good at this. And come see My tour, you know, come to my tour. Come. Come listen to the album. I think there's a lot of work I have to do.

[DJ Envy]

I. I do. I. I agree with you. Because every time that we've had conversations, you know, on this air, I'm like, yo, she's such a nice person. Like, she got such a dope personality, right? But if you just see what you do online, you think all she does is complain. Like, we can't even watch Martin without her complaining.

[Ari Lennox]

Please watch Martin.

[Angela Yee]

You can watch Martin.

[Ari Lennox]

She's gotta be in the K. No,

[Charlamagne tha God]

I can't break down the Martin thing. Cause people were upset about it.

[DJ Envy]

I know Martin responded to that.

[Ari Lennox]

I. I know. And it. It meant the world to me because he was so gentle in his response and. Oh, I. I didn't expect that. I actually cried when I. Huh?

[Host 1]

Tichina Arnold responded too.

[Ari Lennox]

She did. She did respond.

[Angela Yee]

Oh, you cried when Martin responded?

[Ari Lennox]

I did cry, yeah. Cause, you know, he didn't have to respond so beautifully the way that he did. And I. I didn't feel it was invalidating, you know what I'm saying? But he was also true to himself, and I respect that completely. As a big fan of him. It meant the world to me because he's a legendary comedian. He could have dragged me to hell

[Angela Yee]

along with the world from down the street.

[Host 1]

From us.

[Ari Lennox]

Exactly. It was heartbreaking. It was a heavy time for me because I felt like I isolated myself from every black person in the world. So, like, I was ruminating heavy. But luckily, the album, like, pulled me out of the dumps and. And therapy and things of that nature. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Did you talk to your therapist about it?

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Is she culturally competent enough to understand Martin?

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, yeah, I'm sure she. She loves it. Yeah. Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

Do you have a black therapist who.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, I'm a black therapist. She's lovely. Beautiful. Beautiful natural hair. She's great. Yeah, yeah, she's wonderful.

[Host 1]

I think what you just said, though, is important for people to hear because so you get online, you say it, people talk about it, discuss it, they make their jokes, they move on. But for you, you said it actually took you to, like, a really dark space.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, yeah.

[Host 1]

Because we think that you. Because afterward you came back on, you readdressed it, you, you know, you stood ten toes down on. This is how I felt. So for me, I thought she said what she said, she moved on. But in real life, it doesn't stick like that with you.

[Ari Lennox]

Right, Right. It doesn't. It. Yeah, yeah. Like. Yeah, Like I said, it Was. It was just really heavy. But, you know, I think it helped. Kind of just accepting that everyone is going to have their own opinions about it, and it's okay that I have mine and. Yeah, absolutely.

[DJ Envy]

What boundaries did you set for yourself this era that the younger Ari Lennox didn't have?

[Ari Lennox]

I think this year, this era, I just don't want to respond anymore. I just want to really be intentional when I'm on the Internet about being sexy and also, like, just promoting my album and just promoting, like, what I stand for in relation to, like, my personal experiences growing up and. And my music.

[DJ Envy]

You know, let's stay there for a while, because social media, like, you've been talking about, has been a. It's been a complicated relationship for you over the years.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Do you feel artists today have to sacrifice peace of mind just to stay visible, just to promote that stuff?

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah, it's all. It's all in the game. Yeah, this is the game. This is what we signed up for. So it is what it is. But we want people to buy our tickets. We want people to buy our album. So it is what it is. And it's just realizing the power that we hold as artists. And, you know, people will. We have to just understand that with everything we say and do. Like, we could spark. We could light a fire if we're not careful. So, yeah, it's a lot of things I've been learning. I'm trying to just, you know, not talk too much because I. I didn't know it would be such a big deal, me saying what I said. I had. I had no idea. But, you know, now I do. You know, I. You know, you would have thought I came out as a MAGA supporter or,

[Angela Yee]

you know, the way they was coming.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah. Yeah, girl. I was just like, damn. I didn't know it would be so intense. But, you know, now I know, and it's just, like. It's just best for me to just

[Charlamagne tha God]

still got to be yourself, though.

[Host 1]

Yeah, of course.

[Ari Lennox]

Of course.

[Host 1]

The conversation you were trying to have is a conversation that can be had. I just don't know if it, like, everybody doesn't agree with it being applied to Martin. Right. But the conversation about, like, dark skin, light skin, it's a conversation we have. And I think that. I hope that you feel on social media, too, that there's a whole movement of black women that we play new apartment every time we move. We Soft girl era. Like, do you feel that too, as well?

[Ari Lennox]

I feel the love and support, and I. I felt supported in that But I think I have this issue where, in general, sometimes it's easier to focus on the negative and, like, how loud it is.

[Host 1]

That's a human thing.

[Ari Lennox]

And just certain things people said, it's just like, damn. Like, well, I know I'm not lame. Like, I just had. I just. I spoke from a space of being a little girl and, like, consuming, you know, the show, the way I consumed it. But there's so many beautiful memories around Martin, you know, watching it with my grandmother. Like, she'd be pissed, honestly, along with everyone else about, like, what I said.

[Host 1]

But that was your experience.

[Ari Lennox]

Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

Like, you know. Yeah, but look, speaking of experiences, how is it performing in South Africa at the jazz festival last year?

[Ari Lennox]

It was amazing. It was great.

[Angela Yee]

The connection with the people.

[Ari Lennox]

It was fantastic. Yeah. I was afraid to go because I.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That's your first time there?

[Ari Lennox]

That was my first time.

[Angela Yee]

And that was a long flight.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

That's why.

[Ari Lennox]

Long flight. Well, that and I was beefing with some people from South Africa on Twitter.

[DJ Envy]

I forgot about that.

[Charlamagne tha God]

They were gonna pull up on you.

[Ari Lennox]

I did. But once I got there, I was

[DJ Envy]

kind of like 50 Cent. A lot of beefs I've been forgetting about. Like, they never got. You even had. Had beef with the whole South Africa.

[Ari Lennox]

I started a lot of. But not intentionally, I swear. But. But, yeah. So damn.

[Angela Yee]

It is the DMV girls. It is us.

[Ari Lennox]

But it's really. We.

[Angela Yee]

Do we.

[DJ Envy]

Not beefing.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

We love.

[Ari Lennox]

We do love. I mean. I mean, well. But I. I really thought it was going to be beef. Came there, everyone was nice. People were beautiful, sweet, jamming. They really had my back.

[Angela Yee]

They love you.

[Ari Lennox]

I love them. So it was a dream. I love South Africa. Africa. I can't wait to go back.

[Angela Yee]

Yes.

[Host 1]

Did you do an interview while you were there?

[Ari Lennox]

No. No interviews. I don't remember, because that was a

[Host 1]

part of you saying, like, you weren't going to do any interviews when you went there. Did I say that at one point? Yeah. You was like, I'm not going back. I'm not doing interviews. I'm not.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

This.

[Ari Lennox]

I would do an interview now. I have no. This is great. Yeah, I. Yeah, I don't think I did an interview, but I would do an interview. I'm not afraid anymore.

[Host 1]

I was trying to be.

[Charlamagne tha God]

It was a joke.

[DJ Envy]

But you know what's interesting? A lot of this was just fueled by alcohol. You could just say you was drunk.

[Ari Lennox]

No, it wasn't, though.

[DJ Envy]

I was a raging alcoholic back then.

[Ari Lennox]

Don't have to own any raging.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

I was.

[Ari Lennox]

I Was chilling in it.

[DJ Envy]

What does it mean to put the hoe in horoscope?

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, it. I mean, God. Huh?

[Host 1]

Own it.

[Ari Lennox]

Go ahead. You know, I, I. It's just like, why did you play with me? Why did you let me down? I thought you were so wonderful and I gave my heart to you and you just obliterated it. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

What was this?

[Ari Lennox]

On all of their signs, there was a Scorpio. The Scorpio wasn't even a relationship. It was just one date. He was just a waste of time. And the Taurus. We talked about the.

[Host 1]

Ah, fuck.

[Ari Lennox]

Nothing. Yeah. Yep.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You broke a window before flattened the time before.

[Ari Lennox]

No, never. Never reached closed. No, no.

[DJ Envy]

You gotta think about it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What did you do?

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, I won't tell you what I did that wasn't towards me. And a family member had a beef a long time, but it wasn't bleach. But it was something I could not say.

[Angela Yee]

Acid.

[Ari Lennox]

You burned it? No no, not acid.

[DJ Envy]

Nothing.

[Ari Lennox]

Nothing. You guys, please.

[DJ Envy]

Hey, I'm gonna tell you something. Never in my life have I wished a woman's exes could sing. I wish them niggas could sing. I wish they could make their own songs. I need to hear the other side. I need to hear the other side. The other side.

[Ari Lennox]

The other. Of them.

[DJ Envy]

Yes. I need to hear if they. I need to hear what they would say about you.

[Ari Lennox]

I probably do too. I probably do too. It would probably help me a lot understand why they were so trifling, you know? Yeah, no, but honestly, it'd be cool to. To get some pointers, like. Okay, fine. Like, maybe I could work on this, you know? But I already know. I already know.

[Angela Yee]

I cannot wait to attend this tour. Girl, I'm coming to one of them. Stop.

[Ari Lennox]

Thank you. Appreciate it.

[Angela Yee]

Hear you sing and just see your show. I love you so much.

[Ari Lennox]

I love you too. For sure. Love you too.

[DJ Envy]

This is my last question.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[DJ Envy]

If you had to explain, I guess, your career in like three different chapters, right? You got Dreamville, Ari. I don't know if I would say frustrated, Ari. That can come and go. But now vacancy, Ari.

[Ari Lennox]

A consistent thing, huh? Yep.

[DJ Envy]

But now vacancy, Ari. Right? Which version of yourself feels the most honest?

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, wow. I think vacancy. I'm just literally unapologetic. Like, this is who I am. Also in the same breath. It's just like. Just let me remind people, like, I'm not playing. I'm a soulful artist. I'm an R B artist. I know how to write music. I know how to sing music. I'm good at this. And let's just get back to the music, you know, Like I. And I'll keep it there. I'll try my best to keep it there for the world. For the sake of black culture.

[DJ Envy]

Black culture.

[Host 1]

You be singing, girl.

[DJ Envy]

Though the most interesting thing that we're gonna witness about you is how you get better with time. Absolutely. Like, I can see it. Like your music is gonna get better with time. Plus just you as a person. Like, your levels of I don't give a Are gonna get better as you get older. Like you're gonna be that rich auntie, you know what I mean? Who may decide to get married, may not decide to get married. May get married once or twice, get divorced.

[Ari Lennox]

But you going, oh my God, I

[DJ Envy]

can just see it.

[Charlamagne tha God]

We're gonna get married six times, have 10 kids.

[Ari Lennox]

My freaky husband is gonna have a beautiful freaky wife and we are going to be together forever.

[Charlamagne tha God]

They're gonna be driving pickup trucks.

[Angela Yee]

Are 34.

[Ari Lennox]

What?

[Angela Yee]

The same age?

[Ari Lennox]

A woman her age. I'm 34. Yes. I want cows. I want cows and llamas and camels. I know that. And kangaroos. Really, girl?

[Angela Yee]

Yes. The whole farm life with the. Her husband's Mexican and black at the same time.

[Ari Lennox]

I love Mexican men.

[DJ Envy]

Oh my.

[Angela Yee]

Thank you.

[Host 1]

Right?

[Ari Lennox]

It's like a little.

[Charlamagne tha God]

She has a total. Like, you're tall. He's like six, three.

[Ari Lennox]

That's amazing. Are you being trifling?

[Angela Yee]

He's very much. Both of them very much are being trifling.

[Ari Lennox]

Oh, yes, girl.

[Angela Yee]

I'm so happy about it. So everything you saying that you like you, I resonate with that. Like the farm, the pickup truck, all that. Like my husband came with all that. Like, what's up?

[Ari Lennox]

I know that's right, girls. That is gold. Yeah, that's what I want. Just a nice, peaceful man. Beautiful animals. I would love that.

[DJ Envy]

I can't wait to see 44 year

[Ari Lennox]

old R. Oh, thank you.

[DJ Envy]

Not with a Mexican man, though.

[Ari Lennox]

I want you to have a black man. I would love a Mexican man. Or Mexican and black.

[DJ Envy]

Mexican and black.

[Ari Lennox]

Or black men. I mean. But I'm down for it all. I think Bad Bunny is very handsome. I know he's Puerto Rican. He's Puerto Rican, but, you know. No, not a but. But I love Puerto Ricans as well.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

I just.

[Ari Lennox]

Latino people, like. Very attractive.

[DJ Envy]

So you enjoyed the super bowl is what you're trying to tell me.

[Ari Lennox]

I did enjoy.

[DJ Envy]

Okay. Have you met him?

[Ari Lennox]

Honestly? I didn't watch it. I lied.

[Host 1]

I'm sorry.

[DJ Envy]

It's the DMV they loved a lot. For no reason.

[Ari Lennox]

Exactly. You know, she waiting for this to end. I get it. No, no, I would love this.

[Host 1]

Before you get out, you and I, you're going back. You're going out. Back out on tour.

[Ari Lennox]

We could talk all day. I'm swear. I promise.

[DJ Envy]

She's lying. She wants to get out of here.

[Host 1]

You ain't even sipping none of your hot water the whole time. You brought that for support.

[Ari Lennox]

I did, yeah. I think it was. It's hard for me to do both

[Host 1]

at the same time. I was saying, you're going back out on tour too, right? You just announced the tour. Yes, headlining tour. So way different experience. Cuz that was the thing too, with the whole Rod Wave situation. I'm glad we're going to get to see you in all of your elegance, doing your thing the right way.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah, that's what it makes sense to us.

[Host 1]

I'm so pissed off that tore.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That makes sense to us.

[DJ Envy]

There's no reason for Ari Lennox to be on the Raw Wave.

[Ari Lennox]

I have to be accountable. I did this to myself and I needed the money. I wanted the money and I'm grateful for that money. I just didn't know I would be shaking like a stripper every night in fear. But it was. It builds integrity. And I do believe that made me stronger.

[Charlamagne tha God]

But you'll never do that again.

[Ari Lennox]

And also, I feel like I learned a lot about the industry. These people are not my friends. Stop going into business situations and expecting acquaintances to be my friend and family and treat me the way family and friends treat me. So there. It was just a beautiful lesson to learn. And I really do appreciate Rod Wade for giving me that opportunity. And now I know stay away from rappers, like opening up for them and in general dating them. Like, just don't do it.

[DJ Envy]

I can see. But you could know, you could be on the stage with the right rappers, like, you know, Kendrick work. Like, even you and Cole would work, you know?

[Ari Lennox]

Yes. Yeah. Foggy Raw. J. Cole. Yeah, I love Foggy Raw. He's from the DMVs, from PG's Incredible rapper. We have a beautiful song out called Stay A While. And yeah, I mean, I would still do stuff with rappers if it was a space where. You know what would have helped me and Rod if we had a record together. I think his fans would have been more receptive to me, but since they didn't know me, they were like, who is this old hoe, this old decrepit on stage trying to be happy as hell? We Want to be sad, you making me happy. And so, yeah, that's what happened.

[Host 1]

It's because Broadway was young like his sister.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Can we get a song off the album? What you want to hear off it can see right now.

[Ari Lennox]

What I want to hear.

[Angela Yee]

We play soft girl era this morning.

[Ari Lennox]

Thank you.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah. What you want to hear?

[Angela Yee]

What else you want to hear?

[Ari Lennox]

I'll say cool down. It's like a warm hug. It's not about sex, it's about love. And we're manifesting true love in my life.

[DJ Envy]

I love the record with Buju though. Why is that the only feature?

[Ari Lennox]

Well, he just really came through for me. I did submit the the album to a few different rappers, but they didn't have time.

[DJ Envy]

Wow. Now. Yeah.

[Ari Lennox]

Well, Ari.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Okay, Ari. Well, thank you for joining us.

[Ari Lennox]

I am okay, I promise.

[DJ Envy]

This just.

[Charlamagne tha God]

She got a thing with rappers. Like. No, I'm not going to date rappers. I'm not going to go on tour with them.

[Ari Lennox]

And no, no, no, no, no. It's not them, girl. Not all the time.

[DJ Envy]

It's Ari Lennox.

[Charlamagne tha God]

It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning y'.

[Ari Lennox]

All.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Hold up.

[DJ Envy]

Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club. Y' all finished or y' all done?

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

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[Ari Lennox]

may be into Fendi or Miu Miu,

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[Ari Lennox]

Because we can all find exactly what we want to fit our style.

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[Ari Lennox]

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[Chelsea Handler]

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