Ari Lennox, age/sex/location | Album Review 💿

R&B singer Ari Lennox brings the heat to her fine sophomore album, age/sex/location.  It impresses well beyond the hit single, “Pressure.”  

Iabsolutely love it when an underrated, far under-appreciated musician gets their moment. For the beautiful and talented 🎙 Ari Lennox, her moment was undoubtedly her 2021 single, 🎵 “Pressure”.  Not only was it a lift for R&B, but it was also a superbly written, performed, and produced song that rightfully impacted the pop charts.  That greatness definitely gave Lennox momentum heading into her sophomore album, 💿 age/sex/location. Age/sex/location is consistent from start to finish. It is one of 2022’s great R&B albums as well as one of the best albums of the year regardless of genre. 

“POF” 

“When you come around, you’re pressin’ me / Like Ginuwine, so anxiously.” Oh, snap! 🤩 🎵 “POF” serves as a jazzy, soulful opener on age/sex/location.  Ari Lennox sings incredibly refined, showing off her incredibly expressive voice.  At the same time, “POF” is the prime example of a modern R&B record, with its fair share of profane lyrics (“The audacity to lecture me about your Christianity / Then turn around and try to fuck on me”) to complement colorful, well-rounded production work. All said and done, Ari speaks about these lame “Fish that be swimmin’” to her.  She truly believes, “It’s plenty of fish in the sea.”

Following a strong start with “POF,” age/sex/location continues on the up-and-up courtesy of 🤩 🎵 “Hoodie.” Here, a robust-voiced Lennox wants a guy that can hold her down, NOT mess around on her,  or play with her emotions.  In the first verse, she’s unhappy with him, asserting “Constantly wastin’ my time / Tell me boy, why?” In the second verse, she questions if he can be ‘that guy’ that she needs.  Of course, she also titillates in the process, namely in the chorus but also in the third verse (“Pop this thing on that hoodie / Twerk this thing on that hoodie”).  “Hoodie” seems to be a call to action for him to get his stuff together as well as if he does, he’ll reap the benefits, sexually.

While “Hoodie” showed an eager Ari Lennox, she takes it to another level on 🎵 “Waste My Time.” “No dick makin’ me stupid / No funny Valentine-lovin’ from Cupid” is a prime example of a woman expressing her longing, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Such lines show how far the expression of women’s sexual desires and needs has come, even if there is still much work to do. Essentially, on this record, Ari wants a man to “waste her time” aka make it do what it do aka put it down aka S-E-X.  So far, on age/sex/location, she’s three for three.

“Pressure”

Make it four for four on age/sex/location, as 🤩 🎵 “Pressure” arrives in all its glory – among the best songs released in 2021. “Now I’m on top and now I’m ridin’ sky-high / Don’t need nobody, but I’ll take you down tonight.” Woo! Lennox is on fire 🔥!  Her vocals are sassy and sexy – potent to the n^th degree. The big draw is the personality she unleashes, in all its unrepentant sexiness. “So fine and spicy, baby, jump up on this (pressure) / I guess that’s why you like it baby, come and get this pressure,” she sings in the infectious chorus.  Besides the chorus, Lennox ‘does the damn thing’ in the verse, proving she’s a surefire, bad chick.  “Too fuckin’ hot for all these clothes anyways,” she confidently asserts, continuing, “My body drippin’, boy, but you gon’ have to wait / But when you get it, lick it like a candy cane.” The sex is through the roof, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! This utterly sublime, steamy, gold-certified single was produced by 🎛 Jermaine Dupri, 🎛 Bryan-Michael Cox, and 🎛 Elite. Not only is Ari Lennox is fierce AF on “Pressure,” but so is the backing instrumental, which has a dash of old-school.

“Pressure” appears in 🔻:

• 15 Steamy Songs Best Listened to After Dark
• Best Songs of 2021: Top 20
• P Songs: No Rhyme or Reason, Vol. 2

The 🎵 “A/S/L (Interlude)” prefaces 🤩 🎵 “Mean Mug,” another lushly produced record filled with refinement.  The old-school, neo-soul vibes perfectly suit Ari Lennox, who is an artist who hasn’t abandoned the roots and sanctity of R&B/soul.  Once more, she sings incredibly, delivering a quality track that allows the listener to bask in the soulful aesthetic. A classy, jazzy trumpet solo? Yes, please! At the same time, she continues to keep it 100: “That mean mug you do / When I forward your calls / I don’t play that shit / I’d rather not be involved.” Woo! Here, she wants him to herself and if that’s not possible, well, she’s going to block him.

“Boy Bye”  

One partnership that always seems to yield greatness is Ari Lennox and 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B artist, 🎙 Lucky Daye (check out 🎵 “Access Denied” if you haven’t). On 🤩 🎵 “Boy Bye,” they make sweet, sweet music.  Unfortunately, it’s not quite paradise in this duet between lovers. Ari doesn’t seem to trust him or his intentions, while Daye tries to convince her he’s totally into her.  What’s neat about this record is the mix of colorful interludes, profanity (it goes with the territory), and elite singing.  The concept is brilliant.  “Oochie-wally, make it gushy with the lights out / I make a promise, keep you bouncing on your feet.” Oh, snap Ari! Following the five-minute “Boy Bye,” 🎵 “Stop By” continues the consistency and musical excellence of age/sex/location.  Once again, there’s a nice blend of old-school (that bass line) and contemporary.  Lennox seeks pleasure, asking him to “Stop by, baby, undress me.” In other words, let’s have sex (“In the sheets, so in awe, got me weak”).

“Bad bitch, lace front past my knee.” Now that’s the way you kick off a sassy joint! 🎵 “Outside” gives age/sex/location a bit more of the modern treatment without sacrificing the soul.  It definitely doesn’t shortchange the attitude – Ari packs a serious punch.  She does so without gospel histrionics or over-singing in the least. One of the winning one-liners from this utterly sublime gem: “Givin’ the girls Diana Ross / Walkin’ around like I’m the boss.” Yes!

“Leak It” 

I love the rich guitar and lush background vocals that commence the slow jam, 🤩 🎵 “Leak It”. A warm, sexy cut, Ari Lennox taps 🎙 Chlöe (Chlöe Bailey) for the assist.  Lennox establishes herself early on, singing the chorus, post-chorus, first verse, and chorus again before Chlöe ever sings a note.  She definitely sets the tone with her willingness to “Leak it / All on your beautiful face.” Chlöe complements Ari in the second verse, adding to the sexiness and transparency: “I’m leakin’, you got me drippin’ / Holy water, that’s what you drinkin’.” Day-um! All told, “Leak It” marks one of the very best moments from age/sex/location.

“Leak It” appears in 🔻:

• Ari Lennox, “Leak It” : After Dark 🕛 🌃 No. 70 (2022)

“Leak It” is a victory lap for Ari Lennox.  That said, there are two more songs before age/sex/location concludes.  🤩 🎵 “Blocking You” feels on brand with the album, as Lennox isn’t accepting any toxicity and BS in her life.  On this marvelous slow jam, she’s “blocking you [him]” and honestly, anybody else who’s messing with her and preventing her shine.  What I love about this cut is the use of modern slang – it’s very much down-to-earth and straightforward (“Haters, family / Neighbors, police / Trollin’ relentlessly / blockin’ you on everything”).

🎵 “Queen Space” yields the final piece of age/sex/location.  Fittingly, it’s another duet, this time with 🎙 Summer Walker.  Like with the earlier Chlöe duet, Ari sets the tone, singing the first verse, pre-chorus, and chorus before Walker enters the mix.  Walker, who is a bit more of a subtle vocalist, is tailormade for this chill, groovy number.  I love her tone in the second verse as well as how she complements Ari.  Furthermore, this track feels like the proper follow-up to “Blocking You” with the emphasis being placed on the privilege of being with and associating with Lennox.

Final Thoughts 💭 

All in all, Ari Lennox delivers greatness on age/sex/location.  Did I expect anything less than great? Honestly, no.  Lennox is a special musician in my eyes.  She’s an artist that I fully trust to preserve the sanctity of R&B as well as expand it.  She doesn’t miss a beat on age/sex/location which is not only one of the best R&B albums of 2022 but also one of the best albums, regardless of genre, of 2022.  Take my word for it, you’ll have age/sex/location on repeat.

🤩 Gems 💎: “POF,” “Hoodie,” “Pressure,” “Mean Mug,” “Boy Bye,” “Leak It” & “Blocking You”

🎙 Ari Lennox • 💿 age/sex/location • 🏷 Dreamville / Interscope • 🗓 9.9.22

[📷: Dreamville / Interscope]