Ari Lennox is regularly mentioned when conversations about this generation’s best R&B acts are ignited, but fans of the burgeoning diva may be surprised to learn her acclaimed catalog of Gold and Platinum hits did not include any solo Hot 100 entries – until this week.

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While an out-of-the-box success on the critical front, the September 10-released ‘Pressure’ – written and produced by music dream team Bryan-Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri, and Johntá Austin – didn’t pick up notable steam until the end of the year.

Thanks to heightened exposure via performances rendered at the 2021 Soul Train Awards and American Music Awards respectively, the racy cut began to race up R&B digital download and streaming tallies.  The commercial response on those respective platforms led to a #94 premiere on this week’s Hot 100 – marking the first time Lennox has ever seen her name printed on the hitlist by her lonesome.

Look below to see who joins her on this week’s TGJ Chart Check.

Hot 100 This Week

*click to enlarge*

Her third Hot 100 entry to date, ‘Pressure’ follows the success of Ari’s role as assistant on J. Cole‘s 2016 hit ‘Change’ (#21 peak) and Summer Walker‘s 2021 hit, ‘Unloyal’ (#48 peak).

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