Lizzo isn’t a new name. The Detroit native has been grafting for years, leading groups including the Chalice prior to the release of her debut solo album, 2013’s ‘Lizzobangers’. And this slow burn has allowed her to own centre stage as a powerhouse vocalist on ‘Cuz I Love You’, where she proves that she’s the star she always claimed she was.
The road to album three has taken in a couple of important detours. Following the release of 2015’s ‘Big GRRRL Small World’, Lizzo put out the ‘Coconut Oil’ EP and the effervescent single Good As Hell, a life-affirming dose of positivity, while in 2017 she dropped Truth Hurts, which makes the cut on the deluxe edition of ‘Cuz I Love You’. “Yeah I got boy problems that’s the human in me, bling bling then I solve ‘em that’s the goddess in me,” she declares. And later: “You supposed to hold me down, but you holding me back.”
Boys, another standalone single included as a bonus track here, then reassured us Lizzo's don’t-give-a-fuck attitude was firmly intact while also allowing her to experiment with the flexibility of her voice.
Its dynamic verses teased her outstanding range while retaining a playful nature: “I like a big beard, I like a clean face, I don't discriminate, come and get a taste.”
Even though ‘Big GRRRL Small World’ provided a solid glimpse at her capabilities with tracks like En Love, it was clear there was still so much potential to be explored. It’s something she’s remedied on ‘Cuz I Love You’, which finds her more self-assured than ever. So, what’s the difference between Lizzo and other cocky artists? She’s got the pipes to match her chat.
The title track is a ballad that could stand up against greats new and old—Whitney Houston, Adele, you get it. But that’s just one side of this multifaceted woman. Jerome and Crybaby find her indulging her soul influences, while standout single Juice channels ‘80s funk. Tempo takes on collaborator Missy Elliott’s icy-yet-exuberant latter-day production style, and Exactly How I Feel drops Gucci Mane into the mix as we head back to her hip hop roots. Lizzo also delivers a killer flute solo on Heaven Help Me. Yes, a flute solo.
As the title suggests, a large portion of the lyrical matter of ‘Cuz I Love You’ revolves around love, relationships, sex and everything those subjects entail. On Like A Girl, however, the focus is female empowerment, which if you look beyond the face value of her words, is really something that runs throughout all of Lizzo’s work. She is the living embodiment of self confidence and being comfortable in your own skin. ‘Cuz I Love You’ shows that Lizzo has more chops than a butcher’s window and that her swagger doesn’t mask a lack of substance.
Lizzo Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sun May 26 2019 - MANCHESTER O2 Ritz
Mon May 27 2019 - LONDON O2 Forum Kentish Town
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