Ari Lennox Details Why She Wants Out Of Her Dreamville/Interscope Contract: “I Tried, I Really Did”

1 month ago 3

The singer said the "Smoke" release/rollout was her "final straw."

Ari Lennox is sick and tired of being sick and tired. The singer took to Instagram on Tuesday (Oct. 29) to air out her grievances with her label, Dreamville/Interscope, and asked flat out to be released from her contract.

In the lengthy rant, the Grammy-nominated songbird expressed her countless frustrations when it comes to her label as it relates to her current album rollout and her career overall.

“I don’t know what else to do. I try to do things the right way and no one takes me seriously […] I just want to be released, and it’s just that simple. And I’m tired of being nice, and I was trying to do everything the right way, but now I’m pissed. This was my final straw,” she said, referring to the behind-the-scenes frustrations that stemmed from the release of her newest single, “Smoke.”

She described “Smoke” as her “freedom song,” noting, “I love making music. I loved every moment of making ‘Smoke’ […] and the label neglected me. They left me there by myself […] I refuse to drop an album that nobody’s gonna listen to or my label isn’t gonna promote or market.”

In a since-deleted post from her Instagram Stories (above), Lennox shared a TL;DR version of her aforementioned speech.

“Interscope and Dreamville have been playing with me all month and I’m so exhausted. I’m so tired of people treating me like they’re sorry for me and like I’m the face of mental health. I’m ok and I’ve never been happier,” said the 33-year-old. “What I don’t like is being signed and lied to and manipulated. Not one person at those labels ever knew how to market or protect me. Y’all don’t know the half. Constant let down and neglect. This industry stuff will never be for me.”

Many other artists rallied behind her including Kehlani and T-Pain.

“You’re so special. A lot of us feel you. You’re so so so so special and so necessary & so generationally talented. I love u and i’m here, a lot of us are here! If u go indy just know people WILL show up for u!!!!! people ready to hold u!!!! love u !!!!” Kehlani commented.

The “I’m Sprung” artist responded, “Every. Single. Word. You sound exactly like me in 2018 when I decided to take the leap to independence. Bb…… I need to talk to you. I wanna at least throw out some suggestions from experience on how I navigated from being supported by a label to fully independent.
It’s f**kin tough as s**t but you’re so talented and smart I knew if I just gave you a little perspective from recent experience, I’ll at least spark something that you can take and absolutely kill this s**t on your own and be your own boss. Pls dm me mama.”

Lennox’s sentiments come just weeks after she announced she was leaving social on Dec. 18, which marks her two-year sobriety anniversary.

The Shea Butter Baby singer said she’d be permanently deleting her Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

“To all of my beautiful fans, I’m just not happy nor thriving here […] My happiness is worth more to me, than using these platforms to promote. I truly believe I can get creative with marketing elsewhere. I’m so exhausted with my addiction to the internet and gossip and attention and validation and yearning to be in control and oversharing. I just want to be free and complete,” said Lennox.

After urging fans to subscribe to her mailing list to remain up-to-date on her 2025 album, she added, “I ain’t gone front like this has been cute, it hasn’t. I love yall so much […] I’ll be good and I’m excited for this journey. I’m an extreme person. It will forever be all or nothing with me. – Ari/Courtney.”