Lizzo

With charisma and multiple Grammy wins to her name, the singer and rapper Lizzo weaves together influences from Houston's rap scene, gospel-infused soul, and her classical flute training, all while tackling topics such as race, sexuality, and body positivity with equal assurance. The gritty 2013 debut Lizzobangers captured the period she spent immersed in Minneapolis hip-hop and indie circles, where Doomtree's Lazerbeak served as one of the producers, and over subsequent years her approach grew increasingly expansive and tuneful. Building on that foundation, the 2015 self-released Big Grrrl Small World incorporated additional R&B and gospel elements, a direction that carried forward into the audacious 2019 major-label breakthrough Cuz I Love You, a platinum-certified, Grammy-winning set featuring the hit singles "Good as Hell," "Truth Hurts," and "Juice." On the 2022 album Special she reinforced her knack for immediate, uplifting anthems.

Born Melissa Jefferson, Lizzo resided in Detroit until age ten, at which point she and her family relocated to Houston. During her upbringing she absorbed gospel music at home, studied flute under the esteemed instructor Claudia Momen, and performed in her school's marching band. She also started rapping and, at fourteen, formed the group Cornrow Clique alongside friends; around the same period she adopted the moniker Lizzo, blending "Lissa" with a nod to Jay-Z's "Izzo (H.O.V. A.)."

After high school she pursued classical flute performance at the University of Houston, yet the death of her father at twenty-one left her reeling. Seeking a new beginning, she relocated to Minneapolis in 2011 and quickly integrated into the city's vibrant music community. She appeared with ensembles such as the duo Lizzo & the Larva Ink and the all-female rap/R&B trio the Chalice, whose debut album We Are the Chalice surfaced in 2012. In parallel she developed solo material and teamed with Gayngs' Ryan Olson and Doomtree's Lazerbeak for the September 2013 release Lizzobangers. Its raw sound garnered both local and national recognition, prompting tours across the U.S. and U.K. alongside Har Mar Superstar.

The next year Lizzo contributed to Prince's album Plectrumelectrum and guested on tracks by Clean Bandit ("New Eyes"), Bastille ("Torn Apart"), and Sean Anonymous and DJ Name ("Cold Shoulder"). For her sophomore effort she tracked material at Bon Iver's Justin Vernon studio, again enlisting Lazerbeak along with producers Sam Spiegel and Stefon "Bionik" Taylor. The outcome, December 2015's Big Grrrl Small World, drew from both classic and modern hip-hop and R&B; issued on her own BGSW imprint, the warmly received project secured a deal with Atlantic Records and an opening slot on Sleater-Kinney's reunion tour.

Crafting her first major-label album, Lizzo collaborated with producers Christian Rich, Dubbel Dutch, Jesse Shatkin, and Ricky Reed, who prompted greater use of her gospel vocal background. The Coconut Oil EP, spotlighting the singles "Worship" and "Good as Hell," emerged in October 2016 via Reed's Nice Life label. Underscoring the body-positivity and self-love motifs that would define later work, it climbed to number 22 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart. Following a stint hosting MTV's Wonderland, she dropped the 2017 singles "Water Me" and "Truth Hurts." In 2018 she issued "Boys," joined tours with Haim and Florence + the Machine, and modeled the first plus-size garment created for FIT's Future of Fashion runway presentation.

Lizzo resurfaced in April 2019 with her third full-length, Cuz I Love You, featuring production from Reed, X Ambassadors, and Warren "Oak" Felder and further illuminating the breadth of her sound. The single "Juice" reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, while "Tempo," a collaboration with Missy Elliott, peaked at number 21 on the U.S. Digital Song Sales chart. Three months after release, Cuz I Love You attained number four on the Billboard 200. Its momentum boosted earlier recordings: by August 2019 Coconut Oil entered the Billboard 200, "Truth Hurts" ascended to number one on the Billboard Hot 100—tying the record for longest-running chart-topper by a solo female rap artist—and "Good as Hell" climbed to number three on the Hot 100 while entering the U.K. Singles Chart Top Ten. That September brought Cuz I Love You (Deluxe), which added her 2017 and 2018 singles. Beyond music, she appeared in the film Hustlers and voiced a character in the animated feature UglyDolls.

January 2020 saw Cuz I Love You certified platinum in the U.S.; it also achieved platinum status in Brazil, double platinum in Canada, and gold certification in several additional territories including the U.K. A super deluxe edition incorporating "Good as Hell" followed that month. At the 62nd Grammy Awards, Lizzo earned eight nominations—Record and Song of the Year plus Best Pop Solo Performance for "Truth Hurts"; Album of the Year and Best Urban Contemporary Album for Cuz I Love You (Deluxe); Best R&B Performance for "Exactly How I Feel"; Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Jerome"; and Best New Artist—making her the year's most-nominated artist. She claimed the awards for Urban Contemporary, Pop Solo, and Traditional R&B. Additional honors encompassed the Billboard Music Award for Top Song Sales Artist, the Soul Train Music Award for Album/Mixtape of the Year, and a BET Award for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, the first time any performer received nods in both the R&B/Pop and Hip-Hop categories in a single year.

August 2021 brought the collaboration "Rumors" with Cardi B, which topped the Billboard R&B chart and reached number four on the Hot 100. Two further singles, "About Damn Time" and "Grrrls," preceded the fourth album Special, released in July 2022. Working alongside a creative team that included Reed, Blake Slatkin, Benny Blanco, and Max Martin, the project examined love across its many facets. "About Damn Time" received the Record of the Year trophy at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in 2023, while Purple Disco Machine's remix earned Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical.