Ari Lennox Shares The Unconventional Singing Advice Erykah Badu Gave Her

BY Erika Marie 10.2K Views
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Ari Lennox, Erykah Badu
It sounds like something Erykah would say.

One of the most eccentric, yet lovable, figures in the music industry is Erykah Badu. Her music is often classified as neo-soul, but if we're honest, she supplies a category all her own. Many singers call Ms. Badu one of their favorite artists and applaud her for always remaining true to herself and going against the grain. Dreamville's Ari Lennox is one of those fans who has admired Erykah's career, and recently the Shea Butter Baby singer sat down with Bossip to share the handy advice the Baduzim artist gave her.

"I was leaving the dressing room and she was just right there," Ari said. "I think she was there for me. I don't know. Maybe it just happened to be that way. She was just right there, I said [hi]...I couldn't hear anything!" Ari added that she was shocked to see Erykah face-to-face. "She was like, 'Are you nervous?' I was like, 'Yeah.' And she was like, 'Just sing from you p*ssy.'"

"I was like, 'Oh my God, I will.' I know, this makes so much sense. When you wanna hit that note you gotta dig deep down in there. You gotta squeeze sometimes to hit that got-damn f*cking high note. So she knew. I knew what she was saying." After the show, Ari admitted that she was too nervous to ask Erykah for a photo. However, Ari's sister had no shame and was able to capture an unforgettable meeting.

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.