Lizzo

Melissa Jefferson, better known by her stage name Lizzo, is an alternative hip-hop artist best known for her singles "Truth Hurts," "Juice," and "Good as Hell." Her music, which blends hip-hop, soul, R&B, and funk-pop genres, is known for its themes of body positivity, self-love, and self-confidence. Having released four studio albums, her third one, "Cuz I Love You," peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200, while her fourth album, "Special," was released in 2022. She has won a total of four Grammy Awards.

In today's hip-hop culture, Houston-bred, Minneapolis-based artist Lizzo relies on inventive wordplay and an ability to seamlessly flow between rapping and singing to set her above the rest. Her unique delivery and cadence, fueled by the depth of her pop culture and social and historical references, are a testament to her creativity and talent. Beyond her music, Lizzo is also an advocate for body positivity, having launched Yitty shapewear, and self-love, and has a strong LGBTQ+ following.

Born in Detroit in the late '80s, Lizzo spent much of her formative years in the Pentecostal church. At the age of 10, her family moved to Houston, Texas, exposing her to a wide array of emerging Southern musical styles. It was after seeing Destiny’s Child perform that Lizzo was inspired to start writing music on her own. Over the next decade, she ventured into various musical genres, including R&B, progressive rock, and electro-pop, before focusing on trap-based hip-hop, ultimately leading to her signing with Nice Life and Atlantic Records.

Before signing with Nice Life and Atlantic Records, Lizzo released two studio albums -- "Lizzobangers," and "Big Grrrl Small World." In 2014, Time named her one of 14 music artists to watch. Her first major-label EP, "Coconut Oil," was released in 2016. Lizzo then embarked on the "Good as Hell Tour" in 2017 to promote "Coconut Oil."

In 2019, she attained mainstream success with the release of her third studio album, "Cuz I Love You," which peaked in the top five of the Billboard 200. The album spawned two singles: "Juice" and "Tempo". The deluxe version of the album included her 2017 single "Truth Hurts," which became a viral sleeper hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 two years after its initial release. Around this time, her 2016 single "Good as Hell" also climbed the Billboard charts, reaching the top ten of the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100.

Aside from singing and rapping, Lizzo is also an accomplished flutist and actress. She has appeared in films such as "UglyDolls" and "Hustlers," and was the host of the Amazon Prime Video reality television series "Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls." Lizzo has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career, including four Grammy Awards, a Billboard Music Award, a BET Award, and two Soul Train Music Awards. Fortune magazine included her in their Most Powerful Women in business list in 2024.

She graduated with a classical flute degree from the University of Houston and turned down a scholarship for graduate studies at the Paris Conservatory in order to pursue projects in hip-hop and popular music. The road to stardom was not easy for Lizzo, though -- at 21, after the death of her father, she lived out of her car for a year as she tried to break into the music industry. Today, Lizzo is recognized globally not only for her musical talent but also for her advocacy work and influence in promoting body positivity.