Ari Lennox's "BMO" (Break Me Off) is a standout track from her 2019 debut album, Shea Butter Baby . It's a playful, funky anthem that highlights Lennox's ability to blend neo-soul sensibilities with infectious hip-hop energy.
Watch Ari Lennox bring the track's infectious energy to life in the official music video: Ari Lennox - BMO (Official Music Video) AriLennoxVEVO YouTube• Aug 6, 2019 Ari Lennox Album Review: Shea Butter Baby Ari Lennox - BMO
The track is built on a heavy, head-nod-inducing bassline sampled from Galt MacDermot’s 1969 instrumental . This same sample was famously used in Busta Rhymes' "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check," but "BMO" repurposes it into a "breezy and carefree" R&B groove. Producers Elite, Omen, and Ron Gilmore keep the arrangement minimal, allowing Lennox’s "lounge-like" voice to take center stage. Lyrical Themes and Vocals Ari Lennox's "BMO" (Break Me Off) is a
The chorus is a catchy interpolation of "Gichie Gichie ya ya," famously associated with "Lady Marmalade". This same sample was famously used in Busta Rhymes' "Woo Hah
The music video, directed by , is a colorful homage to 90s R&B icons Missy Elliott and Total .
The track became a fan favorite on social media and even received a remix featuring Doja Cat in 2020. Critics at Mini Music Critic noted that "BMO" kicks the album into a "realm of catchiness" that is unmatched by its peers.
"BMO" finds Ari Lennox at her most "snappy and playful". The lyrics tell the story of a newly formed relationship, comparing the excitement of romance to the joy of simple pleasures.