On Tuesday evening (October 29), R&B singer Ari Lennox took to Instagram to claim that her labels, Dreamville and its parent company Interscope Records, have been “dismissive” and “uncommitted” to her career. In the post, she accused the record labels of manipulation.
“Interscope and Dreamville have been playing with me all month,” she wrote. “I’m so tired of people acting like they’re sorry for me, as if I’m just the face of mental health. I’m okay—I’ve never been happier. What I don’t appreciate is being signed, lied to, and manipulated. No one at these labels knows how to market or protect me.”
Lennox expressed deep frustrations over consistent disappointment and neglect, suggesting that her grievances go far beyond recent events. The apparent spark? There was a lack of promotion for her latest single, “Smoke,” released on October 18. Venting further on Instagram Live, Lennox disclosed that the video for “Smoke” was dropped without her consent.
“How can an artist make an impact without any real promotion?” she asked, revealing that she has been covering Google Ads for the track on her own dime. “I just want to be released; it’s as simple as that. I’m done being nice. This was my final straw.”
As Dreamville’s inaugural female artist, Lennox holds a unique place in the label’s roster, which includes acts like JID, Bas, EARTHGANG, Cozz, Omen, and Lute. However, her dissatisfaction raises questions about her future with the label and whether her artistic vision aligns with the industry machine she finds herself up against.
Her latest album, age/sex/location—a 12-track exploration of vulnerability and desire—dropped in 2022 and featured contributions from R&B stalwarts like Summer Walker, Lucky Daye, and Chlöe. The album opened at No. 69 on the Billboard 200, moving 12,000 album-equivalent units in its debut week.
A powerful and candid voice in contemporary R&B, Lennox’s public discontent reflects an all-too-common tension between artists and labels over creative control, marketing support, and personal autonomy. The D.C.-born songstress seems resolute in her stand, signaling a possible shift in her career path and the increasing desire for independence in an industry that often curtails it.
Although Dreamville and Interscope are yet to respond to Lennox’s plea, her enthusiasm suggests she’s ready to chart her own course no matter what.
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