Latest news with #DreamvilleRecords
IOL News
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Ari Lennox's 'soft girl era' in Clifton, Cape Town ahead of her debut CTIJF performance
Ari Lennox on Clifton fourth beach in Cape Town ahead of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2025. She will be performing on stage tonight. A force of nature in the global scene, US-born R&B singer-songwriter sensation Ari Lennox, will make her highly anticipated debut at the Cape Town International Jazz festival's finale tonight... but not before she had some downtime on Clifton fourth beach earlier this week. In a stunning soft pink bikini, with the classic Clifton beach homes in the background, Lennox posed on the white sands as the crystal blue ocean shimmers closeby as her song Soft Girl Era - released this year - plays. She posted it on her Instagram account yesterday simply with the hashtag #softgirlera with her song playing in the background. The photo comes fresh on the news that Lennox has officially parted ways with Dreamville Records months after blasting the label on social media.
Black America Web
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Ari Lennox Officially Parts Ways With Dreamville Records
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Source: Prince Williams / Getty Ari Lennox has officially left J. Cole's Dreamville Records. Sources confirmed that the soulful songstress known for her authentic artistry and velvety voice has parted ways after years of label struggles. Read more inside. TMZ confirmed on April 23, 2025 that the D.C.-bred singer is no longer signed to the label that helped launch her career, marking the end of an era for one of Dreamville's standout stars. In a statement shared with TMZ, a rep said the split was mutual, describing it as 'amicable' and with 'deep respect on both sides.' The departure, while seemingly smooth on the surface, follows years of tension and public expressions of dissatisfaction from Lennox regarding her label situation. As early as 2022, the 'Shea Butter Baby' artist voiced frustrations over the way her career was being managed. In 2022, Bossip reported that Lennox opened up about feeling creatively stifled and unsupported. 'I want to be dropped from the labels. I'm done and tired,' she tweeted during a moment of visible frustration. The article noted her grievances stemmed from lack of control over her artistry and an unclear rollout strategy for her sophomore album. Though Dreamville gave Ari Lennox her first major platform and helped her find a devoted fan base with hits like 'Pressure' and 'BMO,' the artist's relationship with the label had become strained. Her critically acclaimed debut album Shea Butter Baby (2019) introduced her as one of R&B's most promising voices, but fans have long speculated that label politics may have slowed her momentum. TMZ reports that despite the split, Ari is planning to release new music independently and remains focused on her artistic journey. 'She's excited to explore new opportunities and have more creative freedom,' the rep added. Lennox's exit raises questions about Dreamville's future roster and the larger conversation about artist-label relationships in the music industry. J. Cole, who co-founded Dreamville under Interscope Records, has yet to publicly comment on her departure. Still, Ari's fans have expressed support for her reclaiming her career on her own terms. As the industry continues to evolve, Ari Lennox's departure from Dreamville reflects a broader trend of artists seeking autonomy and ownership. For Lennox, this new chapter may finally offer the artistic freedom she's been yearning for since she first spoke out about her struggles. We have a theory that with Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings signing a new distribution partnership with Scooter Braun's HYBE America, Ari could find herself a new home with one of R&B's notable producers. Check out his post below: Comment your thoughts on Ari Lennox's newfound freedom. Where will the songstress go next? SEE ALSO Ari Lennox Officially Parts Ways With Dreamville Records was originally published on
Axios
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Organizers unveil the future of Raleigh's Dreamville Festival
Raleigh's Dreamville Festival will continue in the city under a new brand, Sascha Stone Guttfreund, a promoter with Dreamville and Live Nation, said in a news conference Thursday with Raleigh officials. Why it matters: The news, which comes two days before the fifth Dreamville is set to begin, is welcome after North Carolina-born rapper J. Cole announced earlier this year that this festival would be the last in its current form. Cole will remain involved, but it's unclear whether he will perform in future festivals. Driving the news: The city has been in talks with Live Nation for months about continuing the festival. The pair signed an agreement Thursday that commits the festival to running in the city for another four years at Dix Park. Raleigh city manager Marchell Adams-David said the agreement does not include a financial subsidy from the city. The big picture: Since it launched in 2018, Dreamville has become one of Raleigh's signature cultural events and a serious driver of the local economy. It brings in tens of thousands of visitors who book hotels, eat at local restaurants and shop local vendors. In 2023, Dreamville visitors spent $122 million in the area, according to a report commissioned by festival organizers. Between the lines: But with J. Cole taking a step back, it has left the future of the festival, especially under the Dreamville name, uncertain. State of play: While no name has yet been picked for the new festival, Adams-David said she expects it to remain similar in content and style. "We're going to continue on the same path that's been successful for us," she said. "Consumers have told us what they like, and we're going to try to provide that to them for the next four years." What they're saying: Ibrahim "Ib" Hamad, president of Dreamville Records and J. Cole's manager, said Dreamville has always wanted to create something special for J. Cole's home state. "North Carolina is Cole's home. This is where he started ... so we always wanted to bring something back to the state," Hamad said. But in Raleigh, he added, it's found a helpful partner that is also strategically located on the East Coast. "The location is great because ... you can drive from Atlanta, you could drive from New York, you could drive from so many places because [North Carolina] is really right there in the middle," he said. "I always felt like there was a void of, you know, a big festival like this" in the state.
