Ari Lennox Shares A New EP ‘Away Message’ Ahead Of Album Release

Author Autumn Hawkins

September 1st, 2022 5:20 PM

Ari Lennox surprised fans with a new EP ahead of her forthcoming album Age/Sex/Location.

The Washington D.C. native dropped the 5-song EP Away Message, which is led by “Queen Space” featuring Summer Walker. Lennox was previously featured on Walker’s “Unloyal” from her album Still Not Over It. That album dropped in November of last year. Other Away Message song titles include “Tatted,” “Gummy,” “No Settling,” and “Bitter.”

J.Cole, Lennox’s label mate and co-founder of Dreamville, shared a heartfelt text message exchange between the two in which she explained what Age/Sex/Location means to her.

“I asked Ari what this new album means to her,” Cole captioned a screenshot of the text message conversation. “I needed to know cuz I f— with it so heavy. What I hear is the highs, lows, joys, and pains of dating life in 2022. But her answer made it even deeper for me. Appreciate you @arilennox Looking forward to the rest of the world hearing it.”

“Transitional space. Very vulnerable codependent and validation seeking part of my life,” she wrote. “I remember the countless times I was kicked out of dating apps because they didn’t think I was really myself, it reminded me of those age/sex/location days where I actually wasn’t being myself in those chat rooms. I spent so much time seeing the god and good in some abusive people. Neglecting my needs and self-worth. Romanticizing terrible people. Ignoring red flags. Ignoring my own opinions and those knots in my stomach when interacting with people I’m dating.”

She continued: “No more tip-toeing. No more docile. Providing grace and compassion to myself. Blocking those that no longer serve me or just literally not responding. Blocking the resistance to heal. Allowing accountability and maturing. Allowing growth to happen. Allowing self-worth and self-love and inner work to happen. Allowing therapy. Allowing dating me to happen. Doing things I like to do whenever I want.”

Age/Sex/Location follows Ari’s debut studio album Shea Butter Baby which was released in 2019. This LP will arrive next Friday (Sept. 9).

Listen to “Queen Space” below:

25 Of The Best Hip-Hop Songs Of 2022 (So Far)

• 1. "Do We Have A Problem?" Nicki Minaj ft. Lil Baby

  “Do We Have A Problem?” was released on February 24 and features Nicki Minaj and Lil Baby. The song debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The track is accompanied by a nine-minute-long music video based on the 2010 film Salt.Watch the music video below:

• 2. "Bussin" Nicki Minaj ft. Lil Baby

  A week after Nicki Minaj and Lil Baby dropped “Do We Have A Problem?” they released “Bussin.” A preview of “Bussin” was featured in “Do We Have A Problem?,” and fans were hyped to have another hit by Nicki on the way. The song debuted and peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Listen to the track below:

• 3. "London" Bia ft. J. Cole

  “London” features rappers Bia and J.Cole and was released on April 8, 2022. The accompanying music video features Bia and Cole shopping for designer items in London and living their best life on a yacht. Watch the music video below:

• 4. "Blick Blick" Coi Leray ft. Nicki Minaj

  After it looked as if Nicki would not be on Coi’s newest track, the two dropped their first collab together “Blick Blick.” The music video features the two rappers in a maze-like room with plastic guns. The song dropped March 18, 2022. Watch the music video below:

• 5. "Sunshine" Latto ft. Lil Wayne and Childish Gambino

  Latto’s sophomore album 777 dropped on March 25, 2022 and featured previously released singles “Big Energy” and “Wheelie” but a standout track was easily “Sunshine.” Latto taps in Lil Wayne and Childish Gambino for “Sunshine.” Listen to the track below:

• 6. "P Power" Gunna ft. Drake

  After Drake’s feature on Gunna’s DS4Ever was greatly missed by fans, “P Power” dropped a week after. Gunna’s DS4Ever debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums.

  Listen to “P Power” below:

• 7. "City of Gods" Fivio Foreign ft. Kanye West and Alicia Keys

  “City of Gods” features Fivio Foreign, Kanye West, and Alicia Keys. The song is the lead single on Fivi's debut album B.I.B.L.E which Ye executive produced and is featured on Donda 2. The music video features all three artists in a black-and-white aesthetic. Watch the music video to the track below:

• 8. "Diet Coke" Pusha T

  “Diet Coke” by Pusha T dropped Feb. 8 and was co-produced by Kanye West and 88-Keys. The song prominently features a Fat Joe sample as the rapper yells “yesterday’s price is not today’s price.” “Diet Coke” is featured on Pusha’s album It’s Almost Dry released on April 22, 2022. Watch the music video below:

• 9. "We Go Up" Nicki Minaj ft. Fivio Foreign

  “We Go Up” features Nicki Minaj and Fivio Foreign which dropped on March 25, 2022. They later dropped the music video to the song on April 19, 2022. The visual was filmed in New York where both of the rappers are from. Watch the music video below:

• 10. "First Class" Jack Harlow

  “First Class” is the second single off of Jack Harlow’s upcoming album Come Home The Kids Miss You. In “First Class,” Harlow raps about inviting a woman who’s caught his interest in potentially joining the “mile high club.” The song samples Fergie’s 2006 hit “Glamorous.” The song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Watch the music video below:

• 11. "What Happened To Virgil" Lil Durk ft. Gunna

  “What Happened To Virgil” is featured on Lil Durk’s 7220 which features DS4Ever rapper Gunna. The track pays homage to the late designer, Virgil Abloh. Abloh died on November 28, 2021 at 41 after a two-year battle with cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. The music video starts off with a quote from Abloh and features Drake’s private plane which Abloh designed. Check out the music video below:

• 12. "Right On" Lil Baby

  After Lil Baby was featured on two of Nicki Minaj’s songs this year (“Do We Have A Problem?” and “Bussin”) he dropped his first solo song “Right On” on April 8, 2022. He simultaneously dropped “In A Minute.” The song debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. (with “In A Minute” following behind at No. 14) and No. 5 (with “In A Minute” following behind at No. 6) on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart. Lil Baby just became the 12th artist to earn 100 Billboard Hot 100 entries with “Right On” and “In A Minute.” Watch the music video below:

• 13. "In A Minute" Lil Baby

  Lil Baby was featured in two Nicki Minaj songs (“Do We Have A Problem? and “Bussin”) earlier this year and later dropped “In A Minute” on April 8, 2022, as one of his first solo songs of 2022. He simultaneously dropped “Right On” as well. The song debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart No. 6 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart. Lil Baby just became the 12th artist to earn 100 Billboard Hot 100 entries with “Right On” and “In A Minute.”

  Watch the music video below:

• 14. "Banking On Me" Gunna

  Released on Valentine’s Day, “Banking On Me” finds Gunna not wanting to get tired of the woman in his life. The song was originally included on the deluxe version of his No.1 album DS4Ever but was taken off and released as a standalone single. Listen to the track below:

• 15. "Freaky Deaky" Tyga ft. Doja Cat

  Tyga and Doja Cat which was released on Feb. 25. The two previously collabed on Doja’s “Juicy” which was dropped back in 2019. “Freaky Deaky” is the first single from Tyga’s upcoming album set to arrive this summer.
  Watch the music video below:

• 16. "Neck & Wrist" Pusha T ft. Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams

  Pusha T taps in Jay-Z and Pharrell for his song “Neck & Wrist” which appears on Pusha’s album It’s Almost Dry. Pharrell lends both his production skills and voice on the chorus and post-chorus before Jay’s verse. This is the first collaboration between Jay-Z and Pusha since 2016’s “Drug Dealers Anonymous.” Listen to the track below:

• 17. "pushin P" Gunna ft. Young Thug

  Gunna has the whole world screaming “pushin P” and it’s because of his hit with Young Thug that appears on his DS4ever album. The track debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Watch the music video below:

• 18. "Stick" Dreamville, JID, J.Cole, Kenny Mason, Sheck Wes

  Off of Dreamville’s D’Day A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape starts off the 15-track project with “Stick” and easily became a fan favorite. The song features J. Cole, JID, Kenny Mason and Sheck Wes, who are all signed to Cole’s Dreamville record label. The project dropped April 1, 2022.

  Listen to the track below:

• 19. "Worst Day" Future

  Future dropped his anti-Valentine track “Worst Day” on Valentine’s Day. In the track he explains how Valentine’s Day is the worst day because he has “too many women to please” and how his addiction has cost him 2-3 million in gifts for various women.

  Take a look at the music video below:

• 20. "What's My Name" Fivio Foreign ft. Queen Naija and Coi Leray

  Fivio Foreign taps in and Queen Naija and Coi Leray for “What’s My Name.” The track is featured on Fivio’s debut album B.I.B.L.E. The song samples Destiny’s Child’s 1999 hit “Say My Name.”

  Listen to the track below:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSULK89Eofo

• 21. "Plan B" Megan Thee Stallion

  The Coachella favorite “Plan B” dropped on April 22, 2022, by Megan Thee Stallion. The Houston native previewed the song during her debut appearance at the Indio, Calif. festival. During her performance she said that the track was “very motherf—— personal,” and dedicated it “to whom it may the f— concern.” Listen to the track below:

• 22. "Shake It" Kay Flock ft. Cardi B and Bory300

  Cardi B joins fellow Bronx rappers Kay Flock and Dougie B for the new song “Shake It.” The track also features Bory300 and is produced by Elias Beats. It samples Akon’s “Bananza (Belly Dancer).” “Shake It” is Kay Flock’s first new single since releasing his debut project, The D.O.A. Tape, in November.

  Watch the music video below:

• 23. "Nail Tech" Jack Harlow

  “Nail Tech” is Jack Harlow’s lead single from his upcoming album Come Home The Kids Miss You. The music video features a cameo from City Girls’ Yung Miami. The track dropped on Feb. 18 and debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

  Watch the music video below:

• 24. "Aye Yai Yai" Coi Leray ft. Yung Bleu

  Coi Leray taps in Yung Bleu for “Aye Yai Yai.” The track is featured on Coi’s debut album Trendsetter which dropped on April 8, 2022.

  Listen to the track below:

• 25. "Top Notch" City Girls ft. Fivio Foreign

  The City Girls recruited Brooklyn drill rapper Fivio Foreign for their first release of the year “Top Notch.” The duo takes over Fivi’s home state of New York in the accompanying music video. Watch the music video below:

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Author Autumn Hawkins

Category:

• 105.1 The Bounce
• Music

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Ari Lennox