"Pressure" is a song by American singer Ari Lennox, released as a single on September 10, 2021, through Dreamville and Interscope Records. It is the lead single from Lennox's second studio album Age/Sex/Location, and samples the bass line from Shirley Brown's 1977 song "Blessed Is the Woman (With a Man Like Mine)". Produced by Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, "Pressure" is Lennox's highest-charting solo single, reaching number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
| "Pressure" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Ari Lennox | ||||
| from the album Age/Sex/Location | ||||
| Released | September 10, 2021 | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length | 3:13 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Ari Lennox singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Pressure" on YouTube | ||||
Critical reception edit
Latesha Harris of NPR described the track as "a half-Motown, half-808s fantasia about being the center of attention during foreplay" and wrote that it "elevates [Lennox's] status as a neo-soul touchstone, referencing the soul divas before her and leading the way for those to come with fearless, intoxicating charm".[1]
Music video edit
The music video was released on September 11, 2021, and written and directed by Chandler Lass. It is partly an homage to singers Diana Ross and Donna Summer.[2]
Charts edit
Weekly charts edit
| Chart (2021–2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[3] | 29 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[4] | 66 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[5] | 20 |
| US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[6] | 2 |
Year-end charts edit
| Chart (2022) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[7] | 44 |
Certifications edit
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[8] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
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‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References edit
- ^ Harris, Latesha (September 14, 2021). "Ari Lennox, 'Pressure' : #NowPlaying". NPR. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ Mowatt, Robyn (10 September 2021). "Ari Lennox Channels Diana Ross & Donna Summer in Sultry 'Pressure' Video". Okayplayer. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. October 18, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ "Ari Lennox Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ "Ari Lennox Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
- ^ "Ari Lennox Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- ^ "American single certifications – Ari Lennox – Pressure". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 17, 2022.