They have been the hallmark of Lizzo’s early work and appear again on Special, the recently released follow-up to 2019’s Cuz I Love You. Lizzo’s shield against naysayers who criticize her body and attitude has been unwavering positivity, funk and disco-inspired pop melodies, and hashtaggable turns of phrase. How Lizzo got here shows remarkable perseverance in an unforgiving world where no matter how much wealth and status you accrue, people will always find a way to shame you for not adhering to a set standard. These days music feels secondary to her empire, like Rihanna with Fenty.

Though she’s been hustling in the music biz for at least a decade, Lizzo’s ubiquity is relatively new, and now she’s making the most of it. She’s won Grammys, hosted a reality show (Amazon Prime Video’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls), launched a size-inclusive shapewear line (Yitty), and been hailed as a symbol for body positivity. Lizzo herself hit the big screen, appearing in Hustlers alongside Cardi B and JLo. Singles like “Truth Hurts” and “Juice” exploded on every listening platform and soundtracked movies and commercials. In the years since Lizzo released her major-label debut album, Cuz I Love You, she has achieved a level of household-name status most artists can only dream about.

Wiz khalifa cd 2015