Shea Butter Baby
Critic Score
Based on 4 reviews
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CRITIC REVIEWS
82
Ari Lennox’s “Shea Butter Baby” is a freak nasty experience for the soul.
80
A powerful journey of self-belief told through a rich, neo-soul lens.
76
Like the image Lennox conjures of shea butter staining a pillowcase, Shea Butter Baby grounds the spiritual sultriness of neo-soul and R&B in irreverent frankness, subverting the idea that the modern self-assured woman must maintain a divine facade.
70
Despite its wrinkles, Shea Butter Baby is a strong start for Lennox. What it lacks in sophistication, it makes up for in heart.
Starting a new project where I review records recommended to me by dudes on Grindr.
Grindr Review #1:
I had heard of Ari Lennox before this recommendation, but didn't know much about her. Turns out she is the first and only female artist signed to J. Cole's Dreamville Records. Unfortunately for Lennox, this means she can barely breath a word without being compared to SZA (the first and only female artist signed to TDE). I'd say the two are in fairly different realms of the contemporary ... read more
Needa hear more Dreamville signees and one of my closest friends loves the titular track off this record, so I decided I'd give it a shot. Filled with soft, sultry RnB beats, Ari Lennox slides onto the scene over the course of her debut record "Shea Butter Baby", what I'd most positively describe as a fantastic display of her vocal talents. Over its twelve tracks, Lennox finds plenty of vocal grooves to ease into, and ease into them she does, sounding sleek and confident from front to ... read more
Ari one talented vocalist, this album really showcases that. None of the songs on this album really stick as bad to me, it’s a really enjoyable listen.
Favourite track: BMO
Album rating (By personal enjoyment✔️, Not by quality❗):
8/10
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A great neo-soul album. Really smooth and beautiful singing from Ari, and the instrumentals add a lot to the atmosphere
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Track ratings (By personal enjoyment✔️, Not by quality❗)
Chicago Boy - 8/10
BMO - 8/10
Broke - 7.5/10❌
Up Late - 7.5/10
Shea Butter Baby - 8.5/10
Speak To Me - 8/10
New Apartment - 8/10
Facetime - 8.5/10
Pop - 7.5/10
I Been - 8.5/10
Whipped Cream - 9/10⭐
Static - 8/10
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Times ... read more
A relatively bland and uninteresting predecessor to her fantastic 2022 release. Ari is still fantastic vocally here, but the production really lacks personality.
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Track List
| 1 | Chicago Boy 4:48 | 88 |
| 2 | BMO 2:26 | 90 |
| 3 | Broke 4:02 feat. JID | 80 |
| 4 | Up Late 4:26 | 80 |
| 5 | Shea Butter Baby 3:31 feat. J. Cole | 85 |
| 6 | Speak To Me 3:44 | 79 |
| 7 | New Apartment 3:56 | 82 |
| 8 | Facetime 2:31 | 84 |
| 9 | Pop 2:18 | 79 |
| 10 | I Been 3:41 | 87 |
| 11 | Whipped Cream 4:48 | 83 |
| 12 | Static 4:11 | 82 |
Total Length: 44 minutes
Year End Lists
| #1 | / | Associated Press |
| #1 | / | Okayplayer |
| #5 | / | Noisey |
| #8 | / | PEOPLE |
| #12 | / | NPR Music |
| #26 | / | Complex |
| #33 | / | Billboard |
| #34 | / | Clash |
| / | MTV News | |
| / | The Atlantic |
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Added on: April 30, 2019