Lizzo
Lizzo | |
---|---|
Born | Melissa Viviane Jefferson[1] April 27, 1988[2] |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2010–present |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instruments |
|
Labels |
|
Website | lizzomusic |
Melissa Viviane Jefferson (born April 27, 1988), known professionally as Lizzo, is an American singer, rapper, and presenter. Her debut album, Lizzobangers, was released in 2013.[3] She released her second album, Big Grrrl Small World, in 2015.
After the release of Big Grrrl Small World, she was signed to Atlantic Records.[4] On April 19, 2019, she released Cuz I Love You, her third studio album.[5]
Life and career
Lizzo was born in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10 her family relocated to Houston, Texas.[6] She began her career in rapping while living in Texas.[7] Lizzo started rapping as a teenager in the Southwest Alief part of Houston, Texas, which is known as “the SWAT". At the age of 14 she formed a group called Cornrow Clique with her best friends.[8] She moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2011. In Minneapolis, she performed with indie groups including the electro soul-pop duo, Lizzo & the Larva Ink.[9] During this time she helped form three-piece all-female rap/R&B group, The Chalice. In 2012, The Chalice released their first album, We Are the Chalice, which was locally successful.[10]
Lizzobangers, Lizzo's debut album produced by Lazerbeak and Ryan Olson,[11] was released on October 15, 2013 to regional and national success.[12] The album focuses on hip-hop.[13] Lizzo toured the US and UK in the fall of 2013 opening for Har Mar Superstar, and additionally sang with his band.[14][15] In October 2013, Lizzo won City Pages' "Picked to Click" award for best new Twin Cities artist.[16] The following month Time named her one of 14 music artists to watch in 2014.[17]
On June 1, 2014, Lizzo shared the stage with St. Paul and The Broken Bones, performing "A Change Is Gonna Come" together.[18] On October 7, 2014, Lizzo appeared as the musical guest on the Late Show with David Letterman.[19]
In September 2014, Lizzo was featured alongside her Chalice bandmates Sophia Eris and Claire de Lune on the song "BoyTrouble" on Prince and 3rdEyeGirl's album Plectrumelectrum.[20] On working with Prince, Lizzo says the experience was "surreal... almost like a fairytale" and that it was "something I will never actually get over".[21]
Big Grrrl Small World was released on December 11, 2015.[22] Lizzo's first major-label EP, Coconut Oil, was released on October 7, 2016.[23]
Lizzo appeared as a guest judge on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[24]
In 2018, Lizzo toured both with Haim and Florence and the Machine[25] and is beginning her own personal tour for Cuz I Love You in 2019.
After struggling with body issues at an early age, Lizzo became an advocate for body positivity and self-love,[26] while making diversity the focus of her music, in regards to one's body (in "Fitness" and "Juice"), sexuality ("Boys"), race ("My Skin") and more.[25] Her group of back-up dancers, the Big Grrrls, consists of all plus-size dancers.[27] Highlighting body inclusivity and celebrating individuality, Lizzo appeared in ModCloth's "Say It Louder" campaign. It launched on June 11, 2018.[28][29] In the same month, she sported the first plus-size outfit made for FIT's Future of Fashion runway show by Grace Insogna at an LGBTQ event at Pride Island.[30]
Lizzo was profiled in the June 2018 Teen Vogue Music Issue.[31] Her single "Juice" was released on January 4, 2019, by Atlantic Records.[32] On February 14, 2019, she released the title track off her third studio album Cuz I Love You, which was fully released on April 19, 2019.[33]
Lizzo is also well known for her ability to play the flute. She began playing as a child, and has continued to improve her flute playing skills into adulthood.[34][35] She graduated from The University of Houston with a degree in Classical Flute [36]
In April 2019, Lizzo performed at the Coachella Music Festival for the first time.[37][35] On June 8, 2019, she headlined at the Indy Pride Festival 2019 in Indianapolis, IN.[38] On June 9th, she headlined the Sacramento Pride Festival 2019 in Sacramento, CA.[39]
Lizzo performed "Truth Hurts" at the 2019 BET Awards and played the flute onstage[40].
Discography
- Lizzobangers (2013)
- Big Grrrl Small World (2015)
- Cuz I Love You (2019)
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | UglyDolls | Lydia | Voice role |
2019 | Hustlers | Post-production |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Brad Neely's Harg Nallin' Sclopio Peepio | Herself | 4 episodes |
2016 | Wonderland | Host | 10 episodes |
2018 | Yeti! Yeti! | Magic Mushroom |
Year | Title | Artist | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Made in Chelsea: NYC | Herself | Season 1, episode 4 |
2014 | Late Show with David Letterman | Season 22, episode 29 | |
2015 | Access Hollywood | ||
2015 | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | Season 1, episode 56 | |
2016 | The Real | 1 episode | |
2016 | Party Legends | "Make Mistakes" | |
2016 | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee | "Post-Election" | |
2017, 2018 | Trivial Takedown | 2 episodes | |
2018 | Articulate with Jim Cotter | "Caroline Shaw, Lizzo, Robert Janz" | |
2018 | Hannibal Buress: Handsome Rambler | "The Lizzo Episode" | |
2018 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Season 10, episode 10 | |
2019 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | 1 episode | |
2019 | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 1 episode | |
2019 | 2 Dope Queens | 1 episode; podcast | |
2019 | C à vous | 1 episode | |
2019 | Neo Magazin Royale | 1 episode | |
2019 | The Jonathan Ross Show | 1 episode |
Concert tours
Headlining
Supporting
- Sister Sister Sister Tour (2018)[44]
- High as Hope Tour (2018)[45]
- Lollapalooza (2018)[46]
- Coachella (2019)[47]
- Indy Pride Festival (2019)[48]
References
- ^ RiemenSchneider, Chris (September 29, 2012). "Raising the Chalice". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
- ^ Fischer, Reed (December 27, 2013). "Lizzo: All I knew was mainstream and 'hood". City Pages.
- ^ Howard, Matt (September 12, 2013). "Meet Lizzo, Your New Favorite Hip-Hop Queen". Baeblemusic. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ^ Feeny, Nolan. "Lizzo's 'Coconut Oil' EP: Inside Her Feel-Good Revolution". ew.com. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ "Tickets Now". ticketsnow.com. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ^ Spanos, Brittany; Spanos, Brittany (2018-07-24). "Lizzo on Judging 'Drag Race,' Working With Prince and Becoming Eternal". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
- ^ Garcia, Sandra E.; Lombard, Amy (2018-09-18). "Lizzo Wants to Build You Up". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- ^ Garcia, Sandra E.; Lombard, Amy (2018-09-18). "Lizzo Wants to Build You Up". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ^ Rietmulder, Michael (October 9, 2013). "Lizzo: Like a boss". Vita.mn. Star Tribune.
- ^ Fischer, Reed (September 26, 2012). "The Chalice take hold of hip hop - Page 1 - Music - Minneapolis". City Pages. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ^ Lester, Paul (October 4, 2013). "Lizzo (New band of the day No 1,611)". The Guardian.
- ^ Keller, Josh (October 15, 2013). "Lizzo: Lizzobangers Review". Reviler. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ^ "Our five faves of the moment: 'Lizzobangers,' 'Maple and Vine,' more". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ^ Thompson, Ryan Kron (September 10, 2013). "Lizzo, "Batches & Cookies feat. Sophia Eris"". Impose.
- ^ Noblet, John (November 18, 2013). "Review: Har Mar Superstar @ Hare & Hounds, Thurs 14th Nov". Birmingham Review.
- ^ Fischer, Reed (October 16, 2013). "Picked to Click 2013 - Page 1 - Music - Minneapolis". City Pages. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ^ Locker, Melissa (November 13, 2013). "14 Musical Acts To Watch in 2014". Time. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ^ Bream, Jon (June 2, 2014). "Soul singer St. Paul owns Minneapolis in his Minnesota debut". Star Tribune.
- ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (October 6, 2014). "Lizzo to bang one out on Letterman's show Tuesday". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
- ^ Gabler, Jay. "Lizzo, Sophia Eris, and Claire de Lune featured on Prince and 3RDEYEGIRL album". Local Current Blog | The Current from Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ^ Fuse, Lizzo Calls Working With Prince "A Fairytale", retrieved 2019-01-20
- ^ Weiss, Dan. "Review: Lizzo Is Primed for WRRRLD Domination on 'Big GRRRL Small World'". Spin. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ Spanos, Brittany (October 7, 2016). "Lizzo Talks 'Self Care'–Themed Major-Label Debut, New MTV Show". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ^ "Shania Twain, "Broad City" Stars And More Join The Judges' Panel On "Drag Race" Season 10 - NewNowNext". www.newnownext.com.
- ^ a b Garcia, Sandra E.; Lombard, Amy (2018-09-18). "Lizzo Wants to Build You Up". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ^ Garcia, Sandra E.; Lombard, Amy (2018-09-18). "Lizzo Wants to Build You Up". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- ^ "Meet the Rising Musician Who's Starting a Body-Confidence Revolution". Vogue. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- ^ ModCloth. "ModCloth Says It Louder". www.prnewswire.com.
- ^ "Under Walmart's watch, ModCloth debuts digital campaign". adage.com. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
- ^ Alexandra Mann (2018-06-28). "Lizzo Performs at Pride Island in FIT Graduate's Design". FIT Newsroom. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- ^ Picardi, Phillip (June 15, 2018). "Why Lizzo Is the Sex-Positive, Twerking, Gospel-Singing Artist the World Needs". Teen Vogue. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ "Lizzo shares bouncy new single "Juice" with retro video: Watch". Consequence of Sound. 2019-01-04. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
- ^ Monroe, Jazz (January 28, 2019). "Lizzo Announces New Album and Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ HBO (2019-02-22), Lizzo's Flute & Twerk Lesson | 2 Dope Queens | Season 2, retrieved 2019-04-29
- ^ a b The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (2019-04-18), Lizzo - Taking Her Fans to Church with a Twerk & “Cuz I Love You” | The Daily Show, retrieved 2019-04-29
- ^ "Lizzo Has Some Words For Haters Who Doubt Her Flute Skills". PAPER. 2018-11-12. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- ^ "Coachella 2019 | Lineup". Coachella. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
- ^ "Indy Pride Festival lineup includes Lizzo, Blair St. Clair".
- ^ "Lizzo to headline expanded Sacramento Pride festival commemorating Stonewall Riots".
- ^ BETNetworks (2019-06-23), Lizzo Proves She’s 100% That B***h In “Truth Hurts” Performance! | BET Awards 2019, retrieved 2019-06-24
- ^ Espy, Jasmine (May 2017). "Lizzo wants to make Detroit feel 'Good As Hell'". BLAC Detroit. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
- ^ Monroe, Jazz (January 2019). "Lizzo Announces New Album and Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ Sapanora, Michael (April 2019). "Lizzo Announces Cuz I Love You Too Tour: See Dates". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (April 2018). "Haim Detail Headlining 'Sister Sister Sister' Tour". Retrieved April 10, 2018.
- ^ Kaye, Ben. "Florence and The Machine Announce North American Headlining Tour". consequenceofsound.net. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ "Lineup". Lollapalooza. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ^ Stidhum, Tonja Renée. "Childish Gambino, Pusha T, Solange and More to Descend Upon the Desert at Coachella 2019". The Grapevine. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- ^ Hill, Crystal (2019-06-09). "These were the best moments from Lizzo's Indy Pride performance". Indy Star. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
External links
- 1988 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American rappers
- 21st-century women musicians
- African-American female rappers
- Alternative hip hop musicians
- American female rappers
- American flautists
- American hip hop singers
- Members of the Church of God in Christ
- Rappers from Minneapolis
- Women in hip hop music
- Rappers from Detroit