In a world filled with Instagram models and Kylie Jenner wanna-be influencers, a unique sound and an out-of-the-box look is undoubtedly something that will make an artist stand out. One stand out artist that has been making waves in the music industry this year is the singer and rapper Lizzo, most notably famous for her song “Truth Hurts.”
Born under the name Melissa Vivianne Jefferson, the artist got her stage-name “Lizzo” as a variant of the nickname “Lissa” from her friends in her hometown of Houston, Texas, and has stuck with it since. With roots in gospel, as well as having studied classical music at the University of Houston – focusing on the flute, Lizzo created a unique sound for herself that has not yet been seen in the music industry. Lizzo grapples with topics such as race, gender, sexuality, and body image in many of her songs, which is one of the reasons she has gained such rapid fame in the mainstream media. In 2019, Lizzo released her third studio album, Cuz I Love You, which reached a height of #4 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart. Though it was not her debut album, Cuz I Love You earned the rapper and singer widespread fame throughout the world and has placed her name among the top musical artists of the year. Perhaps her most famous song, Truth Hurts, was released on the deluxe edition of Lizzo’s third studio album. As ABCnews reports, “Truth Hurts” has officially tied the record for the most weeks at number one on the Billboard 100 for a rap song by a female artist. The song has been sitting atop the chart for a record seven weeks, which was initially set back in 2014 by Iggy Azalea with her hit song “Fancy.”
As a plus-size woman of color, Lizzo is genuinely taking the world by storm. Not only does she advocate for body positivity, but she is also an advocate for gender, sexual, and racial equality. In a world where celebrities scrutinized for any small thing they do, Lizzo takes advantage of being under such a scrutinous lense and makes her voice heard, both in her life and in her music. It is common to see celebrities, especially rappers or singers, who do not take advantage of the platform they are given to speak up about certain injustices. This could never be the case for Lizzo. Being quiet is not in her nature, and this artist is all for women speaking up and making their voices heard in a society that always tries to shut them down. Not only is Lizzo a fantastic artist and performer, but she is also a role model for all girls who may have ever felt like they did not fit into society’s conventional standards of beauty.
