On her debut album, 2013’s Lizzobangers, Lizzo made a nimble distinction between being successful and being famous, “because success and fame be two different things,” she rapped.
The Detroit-born, Houston-raised vocalist’s early solo releases established her as a freethinking hip-hop artist. By that token, they were successes. Fame came later with her sleeper hit “Truth Hurts”, which charted in 2019 after going viral on TikTok. It delivered a kiss-off to an ex over an irresistibly catchy singsong beat. “Yeah, I got boy problems, that’s the human in me,” Lizzo chanted. “Bling bling, then I solve ’em, that’s the goddess in me.”
Positive thinking has been crucial to her success, a tool for surmounting the obstacles she has faced as a “big black woman” (as she described herself when she made the cover of Vogue). The message of self-empowerment continues on Special. But fame has lent it a different emphasis. The looser, wittier, more uncensored personality of her earlier three albums has been muted.
Opening track “The Sign” looks back at the scenario in “Truth Hurts”. “I keep on writing these songs/’Cause he keeps on doing me wrong,” Lizzo sings. A refrain emphasises her specialness (“Oh hell no, you can’t get this at the store”), but the reference to her breakthrough hit actually gives the song a second-hand aspect. So does the beat, a skittering affair reminiscent of Outkast.
The album’s tracks cover female friendship (“Grrrls”, “Birthday Girl”), sexual inclusiveness (“Everybody’s Gay”) and body positivity (“Naked”). Musical styles move between disco, soul, pop, hip-hop and ballads. A versatile vocalist, Lizzo performs each genre shift with aplomb. “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)” is the standout, an exuberant 1980s throwback with hints of her former mentor, Prince. Other songs, however, are well-crafted but lack character. They sound muzzled by the chart expectations that come with fame, forgetful that there are other types of success.
★★★☆☆
‘Special’ is released by Nice Life/Atlantic Records
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