Main content

10 things we鈥檝e learnt about Lizzo

A global chart-topping success, Lizzo captivated audiences across the world in 2019, from the Glastonbury festival to America’s Video and Music Awards. And the American rapper and singer was nominated for eight Grammy Awards – more than any other artist in 2019.

But, as Mark Coles explores in Profile, Lizzo is celebrated for more than just her music. She is known for inspiring self-love and acceptance too, earning her icon status in the body positivity movement.

Here are ten things we learnt about Lizzo.

Lizzo, the American rapper and singer and an icon in the body positivity movement.

1. She was a runaway hit at Glastonbury

At 2019’s Glastonbury Festival the big buzz wasn’t about a headliner but all about Lizzo, who performed away from the main pyramid stage. The festival’s organiser recalls the effect the American singer had on the crowd: “It was 30,000 people in that field. If it had the capacity for 50 it would have had 50,000 people. It was packed, and the energy in the field was just amazing. People were just on such a high.”

2. She鈥檚 a record breaker

Lizzo’s song Feeling Good as Hell was a huge hit on both sides of the pond. In the States it spent seven weeks at the top of the charts, making it the longest running number one by a female rapper in US music history.

Lizzo

Highlights of Lizzo's set at Glastonbury 2019

3. She鈥檚 a woman with a mission

Lizzo has become an icon of the body positivity movement. Her music is about inclusivity, being yourself, and being championed regardless of gender, skin colour or body size.

British artist Mina Lioness says, conventionally, bigger women are encouraged to wear black and cover up – but Lizzo doesn’t do any of that. “If you’ve seen her shows she wears a leotard and she’s twerking and she’s all out. She encourages people to be accepting of how they look,” says Mina.

Lizzo herself explains how body positivity is the aim of the game: “Right now, my mission is to put women of colour and natural girls and all kinds of black girls and big girls on a platform. I’m gonna maintain the natural styles. I’m keeping brown!”

Is 'Fat Positivity' a positive thing?

Does the Hamburger Queen beauty pageant celebrate being big or encourage bad health?

4. Her real name is Melissa

Lizzo was born Melissa Viviane Jefferson in Detroit in April 1988, the youngest of three children. Her parents moved to Houston, Texas, when she was young. At school she was in to hip hop and R&B, and by 14 she had formed her own rap crew.

But journalist Allison Davis explains how she would also do things that were unconventional for a young black woman: she wore bell bottom jeans and Ugg boots, listened to Indie bands like Radiohead and played the flute.

5. She was in her school marching band

As a young flautist, Lizzo had ambitions of becoming a classical music star. She was even in her school marching band, which got her some stick from her fellow students. But Lizzo had the last laugh. Flaunting her flute on the football field won her a scholarship to study music at the University of Houston. Now even her flute has 250,000 Instagram followers!

  • Profile: Lizzo

    The American rapper and singer nominated for eight Grammy Awards and an icon of the body positivity movement.

Lizzo performing at Glastonbury 2019.

6. She went through a period of living in her car

In 2010, when Lizzo was at University, her father passed away. It shook her foundations at a very vulnerable age. Allison Davis explains how the young musician was overwhelmed and became depressed. “There were some times when she lived in her car, when she couldn’t find a couch,” says Allison.

7. She was in a female rap collective called Grrrl Party

After a spell living with her mother in Denver and working in a local supermarket, Lizzo moved to Minneapolis and submersed herself in the city’s underground music scene. She joined a female rap group The Chalice and when they split she formed a bigger group called Grrrl Party.

“I always describe Grrrl Party as the most beautiful tornado that ever hit your town,” says Shannon Blowtorch, the all-girl rap collective’s DJ. “It was always wild… It didn’t matter where we were at, it was twerk o’clock.”

8. She got her first music producer on board by tweeting him

Aaron Mader, known professionally as Lazerbeak, is a Minneapolis-based artist and producer.

鈥淵ou rarely ever see a black, bigger woman on the billboard awards, charting for a record of seven weeks at number one.鈥�
Mina Lioness

Lizzo, who was branching out into solo work, tweeted him, “I wish I could afford a Lazerbeak beat.” He replied with, “It probably doesn’t take that much. Buy me a six pack and let’s talk,” inviting Lizzo over to his studio.

Lizzo’s debut album Lizzobangers, produced by Lazerbeak, came out in 2013 to largely rave reviews and by the end of the year Time magazine was tipping her as one of 14 acts to watch in 2014.

Beverly hills palm trees in Los Angeles

9. She has always dreamed big

Lazerbeak recalls how he and Lizzo would hang out, “scheme”, get pizza and talk about their dreams. “She has always dreamed really big,” says the producer. “Even at that time she was talking about how someday she was going to meet Beyoncé; someday she was going to play Madison Square Garden.”

Two years later she signed to Atlantic Records and moved to LA.

10. She鈥檚 shaking up the music industry

Mina Lioness (who has a credit on Lizzo’s song Truth Hurts) says there’s no disputing the impact Lizzo is having on the music industry: “You rarely ever see a black, bigger woman on the billboard awards, charting for a record of seven weeks at number one.”

Her image, along with her lyrics – which have always championed the underdog and the marginalised – are giving people a sense of hope says Mina. “Other artists say, ‘You know what? That could be me.’”

More from Radio 4