Ari sat down with Billboard to speak about her love for her hometown D.C., signing to Dreamville, new music and much more.

This has all been part of the D.C. songstress’ ongoing back-and-forth development with mental health and figuring out how to stay afloat as a budding artist — something she says she maintains through a mix of therapy, puppies and J. Cole’s wisdom. We spoke to the wildly talented soul star ahead of her EP and album — both due out “before winter” — about why Los Angeles is inferior to D.C., how she maintains happiness, and what it’s like having J. Cole as a mentor.

Stream Whipped Cream Now

Close