Ari Lennox’s third studio album, “Vacancy,” featured creative lyricism and showcased her talented vocal range, but fell short in entertainment and replay value.
Lennox’s “Vacancy” was released Jan. 23 with this being her newest release since the 2022 sophomore studio album release of “age/sex/location.”
I had high hopes for this album; however, I felt underwhelmed with the end result.
Lennox’s 2019 debut studio album, “Shea Butter Baby,” demonstrated her promise as a new name in the modern R&B scene. The album was amplified by featured artists such as J. Cole and J.I.D, bringing attention from established fan bases.
Lennox joined the music industry under J. Coles record label, Dreamville Records, in 2015, but parted ways with the label following Lennox expressing disapproval with Dreamville’s marketing on an Instagram story, according to an April 26, 2025 article from The Root.
Lennox has since joined Interscope Records, with “Vacancy” as her debut album under the label, according to Genius.
“Vacancy” noticeably contained fewer features than Lennox’s previous albums, with only Reggae artist Buju Banton featured on one out of 15 total songs.
The lack of featured artists set the stage for Lennox to explore her individuality sonically and lyrically. I noticed that without the presence of Dreamville Records, there was a lack of hip-hop influence and a focus on slow jazz.
The theme of “Vacancy” is Lennox’s attempt to fill a space in her heart and the dissatisfaction in her dating life.
Lyrics like, “You better wake up, wake up / Who’s that girl on your phone? Yeah,” from “Wake Up” were relatable to me because I’ve found technology can cause ulterior motives to suffice in relationships.
While this theme is common, it’s relatable for listeners who can resonate to the feeling of loneliness, a desire for love and the disappointment that comes with the search for a partnership.
I can relate to the feeling of loneliness as I recently moved to San Josė in Jan. 2025 and experienced an adjustment period that comes with leaving your hometown.
The premiere single track, “Mobbin in DC,” is about a lover who is different and shows care unlike the previous, with lyrics stating “You’re talking so nice to me / came and empathized with me.”
The song ends with disappointment when it is portrayed that this lover’s efforts are inadequate, “Tired of you sayin’ that you’re missing me / You know my location.”
While Lennox’s word usage is creative, it can fall short, such as the chorus of the first song, “Mobbin in DC” with lyrics stating, “You know where I stay / You know where I be / This ain’t calculus / no ChatGPT.”
References to technology in music are relatable; however, I found this one to lack depth.
Given the calm instrumental backgrounds Lennox uses for the majority of the album, her lyrics are brought to the forefront of this project.
Unlike “Mobbin in DC,” Lennox’s writing excels on the 11th track, “Horoscope.”
On “Horoscope,” Lennox lists her qualms with each of the 12 zodiac signs of Western astrology, with lyrics stating, “I had a Taurus ghost me / for 5 days I couldn’t sleep/ took his EBT for groceries.”
I found the artistry of Lennox’s lyrics on “Horoscope” to be witty, as I enjoyed listening to her portrayal of each sign.
Another characteristic of the album is long outros that fade out with some outros often lasting over a minute, as heard on the tracks “Pretzel,” “Vacancy” and “Dreaming.”
I found the endings to delay the flow between each song, which made smooth transitions into the next song rare.
Rather than leaving a lasting impression or ending on a satisfying note, I found myself wanting to skip to the next song.
Some tracks on this album were rich and stood strong as individuals, such as the upbeat catchiness of “Twin Flame” or the fluid synths of “Cool Down.”
By far my favorite track was “Company” featuring Buju Banton, with the track being significantly more upbeat than the majority of Lennox’s tracks, with Banton’s instrumental energy boosting my thoughts of the album.
The R&B and reggae fusion was a perfect element to this album, as both artists are strong in each genre.
This is the only song from the album I would return to since it’s similar to the uptempo R&B I enjoy.
Lennox’s vocals are solid; however, the slow background music that makes up the majority of her tracks felt underwhelming to me.
While I’m sure “Vacancy” will not be the last we hear from Lennox, I leave this album with one favorite track and the rest not interesting enough to return to. However, I still remain hopeful for Lennox.
