By MAYA NAKKOUL
Staff Writer
It’s no secret that a radio listener’s morning commute is often filled with repetitive cycles of what’s considered to be trending and popular, so it’s highly likely that you’ve recently heard a Lizzo song or two. After listening to a song of hers, there’s no doubt she’s something special, and the story of her rise to stardom is no less spectacular.
Melissa Viviane Jefferson, known professionally as Lizzo, was born on April 27,1988 in Detroit, Michigan. At 14 years old, she and a few classmates formed a rap group that went by the name “Cornrow Clique.” Originally, she was just supposed to be called Lissa, a nickname based on her first name. However, the song “Izzo” by Jay-Z was popular at the time, inspiring the change, unknowingly coining the title that would be known by millions.
Her first album “Lizzobangers” was released in 2013 when it was moderately well received and later re-released by Virginia Records in 2014. She then released her album, “Big Grrrl Small World” in 2015 followed by “Nu Collection: Hip-Hop (Urban & modern beats)” in 2016, neither of which went too appreciated.
Around this point in time marked what would be a steady and then all too sudden (but well deserved) incline of Lizzo’s popularity. In the later half of 2016, she released a second body of work, an EP entitled “Coconut Oil.”
It should also be noted that it was in this collection of songs that Lizzo reveals that, alongside incredible vocals, she also happens to be classically trained in the flute. She had snuck her playing into many of her songs but it was in the EP’s title track that, for the first time, it was presented front and center with an instrumental opening. The other particularly notable track on the EP was a single entitled “Good as Hell.” This confident, feel-good breakup song resonated with many, giving people something to chin up and smile to.
In 2017, the (soon to be) iconic “Truth Hurts” was released as a single, going somewhat undetected by mainstream media. And in 2018 Lizzo was featured on the Big Freedia album called “3rd Ward Bounce.”
In 2019, Netflix released its film “Someone Great,” a romantic comedy whose soundtrack happened to feature “Truth Hurts.” The clip from the movie containing the song went viral as a wonderful, hilarious moment the world was dying to share. And thus the skyrocketing phenomenon that is Lizzo was truly born. All those years of hard work were finally about to come into fruition. Later that year, the album “Cuz I Love You” was released, re-revealing “Truth Hurts” alongside a plethora of other songs that have since dominated the charts. They each showcased a range of styles and abilities from the light, carefree feelings expressed in “Juice” to the show stopping vocals in “Cuz I Love You.”
Lizzo slid into the first place spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 7, 2019, and remained there for seven consecutive weeks, officially making “Truth Hurts” the longest-running Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 by a solo female rapper.
Lizzo has been vocal in expressing her gratitude towards her fans, and those fan, or Lizzbians as they are fondly referred to, gladly give that love right back. Everything about Lizzo radiates love and positivity. Her song “My Skin” on her newest album talks about becoming, not simply comfortable, but radiant within herself as a woman of color. Being the body-positive, self love advocate she is, Lizzo acknowledges the importance of new age feminism in a world where mainstream media runs rampant with unrealistic generalizations and expectations of women. The perspectives she is able to share given her newfound success on all the platforms now available to her is as refreshing as it is important.
