Ari Lennox Sheds Light On Her Sobriety Journey And The Positive Effects On Her Life: 'Having Help Is Ok'
Ari Lennox is courageously sharing her sobriety journey, shedding light on its benefits and why she deliberately abstained from consuming alcohol.
The singer shot to fame in 2015 after becoming the first female artist to sign with J. Cole's Dreamville record label. The following year, Lennox made her mark by collaborating on various projects and releasing her debut EP Pho. Lennox's success only grew from there.
In 2019, Lennox's career soared to new heights after the release of her debut album Shea Butter Baby, featuring the hit songs “Whipped Cream,” “BMO,” “New Apartment,” and many others. To date, Shea Butter Baby has been certified gold after selling 500,000 records worldwide. Since then, the 32-year-old has released an album and an EP, respectively, titled Age/Sex/Location and Away Message.
In addition to her professional achievements, Lennox has provided insight into her personal life and the steps she took to become the best version of herself, from attending therapy and exercising regularly.
Most recently, the "Pressure" vocalist took to Instagram to discuss why she became sober and how her journey has been these past seven months.
Ari Lennox On Being Sober
In the July post, which included numerous photos of the star posing in front of what appears to be her home, Lennox revealed that becoming sober has been a life-altering experience and that she can't "imagine" returning to her old habits.
"7 months sober. That's a lot of sober flights. A lot of sober conversations. A lot of facing things raw and head-on. Honestly, I don't know what will happen when I reach a year sober." she wrote while mentioning if she plans to extend her sobriety timeline. "Don't know if sobriety is forever or not but I can't imagine going back to how things were. "
Further into the caption, Lennox disclosed the events that motivated her to start her sobriety journey, including heightened emotions and passing out in public places.
"Passing out in the airport or having my emotions more heightened than needed smh s—t was bad," she said, sharing some of the benefits she encountered from no longer drinking alcohol.
"I feel more in control of my emotions. More stable. More happy. More alert. More safe. More accepting of things I can't control and more responsible with things I can. I have less anxiety socially, and when I'm ready to go, I go. I recognize my threshold with things and implement boundaries. I don't find interest in partying anymore, maybe I'm changing, and that's deeper than alcohol."
Ari Lennox On What Sobriety Has Taught Her
Toward the end of the post, the "Waste My Time" singer explained that since becoming sober, she has been able to identify her weaknesses and ask for help.
"Accepting help and realizing I'm not the best traveler on my own has been a game changer. So now I have help and that helps. Having help is ok," she stated. "I like waking up with no hangover or embarrassment. I like waking up with no night terrors and panic attacks from liquor. I'm so raw feeling everything in this world and my coping mechanisms are only healthier now. It's nice to remember events as they are happening."
Lennox added another advantage she experienced was enjoying the present, not choosing alcohol to escape any problems that may arise, and finding more productive solutions.
"It's nice to be present. Sobriety is a very present experience...But yea sure there's the fantasy of wanting to escape all the intense stress of the world with alcohol cause boy does it work temporarily. But there's the moment the liquor stops numbing and you're chasing that feeling to no avail and you wake to see the problems of life still there," she said.
The star's recent testimony can inspire others to seek ways to take care of their health by eliminating harmful habits and taking back control of their lives.
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Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
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Roscoe Dash joined xoMan host Kiara Walker to share the journey of his personal and spiritual evolution—from the party anthems that made him famous to a deeper life rooted in faith, family, and purpose. This episode offers an honest look at how the artist has grown beyond early fame, addressing fatherhood, masculinity, creativity, and healing.
Dash opened up about the internal transformation that has guided him away from chasing the spotlight and toward seeking peace. “Faith and fear can’t occupy the same space,” he said, underscoring his shift toward a more spiritually grounded life. Throughout the interview, he emphasized the importance of self-reflection:
“The most important conversations to me, honestly, outside of the ones you have with God, is the ones you have with yourself in the mirror.”
Dash is focused on the man he’s become. “I’m not the accolades I’ve achieved—I’m the person who achieved them,” he added, pointing to a broader understanding of identity and worth. A large part of that growth has come through fatherhood, especially raising daughters, which he said has deepened his understanding of love. “Love is unconditional and love loves to love no matter what,” he shared.
He also spoke candidly about the pressures of fame and its impact on creativity. “Chasing fame can kill your creativity as a musician,” he warns. Instead, his advice to other artists is simple but clear: “Keep your focus on your art form, whatever that may be, and stay passionate.”
The conversation also touches on gender dynamics and emotional safety in relationships. “Safe men make soft women. If she feels safe, she’ll melt like butter,” he said, challenging traditional notions of masculinity. Roscoe also offers wisdom on discernment and spiritual testing: “Sometimes the devil will give you what looks better than your blessing.”
Ultimately, Dash has learned to embrace peace over chaos. “All I can do is control what I can control. And that's how I respond to things and what I'm giving out,” he said. It’s a thoughtful, soulful side of Roscoe Dash that many may not expect—but one that leaves a lasting impression.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
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