Lizzo - Cuz I Love You


Lizzo
Cuz I Love You
2019
Spotify

It's kind of hard to believe that Cuz I Love You is Lizzo's first major label release because it seems like she has been a topic of conversation for some time now. Her brand of self love and celebration of self have spawned legions of fans and made her Instagram a mainstay. Two Coachella performances plagued with sound difficulties aside Her live shows have herladed as some of the best shows happening this year. It's true, Lizzo's massive voice and curvy onstage dancers means there is plenty of excitement and plenty of jigglin to be had. It's easy to write Lizzo off as more pandering, but there is something about her version of self acceptance that is far more earnest than others in the space like Megan Trainor. Where Megan sounds like she is singing exactly what her record company wants you to hear, Lizzo has this honest voice that comes across as someone who believes the things she says, and wants you to by in as well. This version of Lizzo is not the same one from her debut, she's shifted from a cutting rapper into this performance monster ready to consume every single audience member by any means necessary. There are not really any new musical ideas being pushed on this album, just a sheer will of personality from the performer. Lizzo dives in to what it  means to be confident, both externally and even more importantly internally with these songs, showing that it's one thing to say how confident you are but an entirely other thing to believe it in your heart.

You would expect Hip Hop to be the main force on this record, but instead Lizzo makes it more of an across the board experience bouncing between soul and hip hop likes it's nothing. Gucci Mane and Missy Elliot round out the features giving the record some heavy hitting backup, but it's those songs that Lizzo truly leans into her more hip hop centered tendencies. It's such a fun record, from start to finish, and it never let's a second of space go un bopped. "Heaven Help Me" closes with Lizzo's well touted flute skills, giving us a little peak in what those years of Flute lessons lead to. "Lingerie" closes the record with this slow burn R&B banger, letting you slide into the conclusion without to much of a shock. This album really does well to capture some of that energy that Lizzo is able to release in her live shows, it gets you amped and ready to fucking dance right along with her. She's here and she is ready to kick down the door. I'm here for it.

7.9 out of 10

Comments

Popular Posts