In an industry that thrives on body-shaming, superficiality and monopolizing labels, rapper Lizzo is promoting a high-energy brand of empowering, feminist hip-hop. On Tuesday, Lizzo will be partnering with female rappers SZA and Povi to bring some of her catchy hooks and lyrical mastery to eager ears at the Majestic. The show will be put on by Red Bull Sound Select, which aims to curate shows around the country that bring compatible artists together in performance and invigorate local music scenes. This latest installment of the series is sure to excite local hip-hop lovers and fans of Lizzo’s refreshing sound.
Speaking with Lizzo, she discussed how living in the Midwest has influenced her artistry, what it was like touring alongside riot grrrl gods Sleater-Kinney and her powerful ideas about feminism.
Melissa Jefferson, also known as Lizzo, was born in Detroit and ended up in Minnesota by way of Houston. On living in the Midwest and having it shape her musical artistry, Lizzo says, “There are no major labels around here, so you get a lot of support from people. That was the biggest change; people are so supportive of artists. It’s just us, we’re all we’ve got. It’s really cool.”
Lizzo is just as excited about this stop to her neighboring state as her fans. “We’ve been here before. I know Madison because of the capitol. I have memories of this place, and I do enjoy it every time we’re here.”
Of course, she knows the show will be the most exciting part of her visit, stating “Red Bull are really great curators. They put great shows together. Red Bull knows how to treat an audience. This is gonna be a great show—I’m really excited. I saw SZA live in Minneapolis about a year and a half ago. She was great then, she’s gonna be great now, come on out!"
A major development in Lizzo’s career took place this past year, as she supported the incredible Sleater-Kinney on tour. “I did a panel with a girl in London and she was a sub for Sleater-Kinney. Carrie [Brownstein] was asking who they should get to open for them and she suggested me. It’s weird how those things work out, just people talking to people. It was good vibes all around. It was the best tour I’ve ever been on to date.”
Apart from her music, Lizzo is also known for her strong beliefs in body positivity and feminism. “I have no choice but to be body positive because this body is not gonna change, so if I’m body negative it’s gonna be a real hard life (laughs). I’m most inspired by my friends around me who represent feminism. Honestly I’m very new to the 'f-word,' which is a big deal because once you claim the 'f-word,' it’s a moment in a person’s life where they’re like, ‘I am a feminist.’ You receive a different type of energy once you’ve claimed it and it’s just been wonderful. My friends educated me on feminism and eventually I was like, ‘you know what? I’m a feminist. I am a feminist.’ Now I wear it proudly and I speak on it proudly. I’m learning what it means to say the right thing and to understand feminism in hip-hop, in what I’m doing, and to be able to understand the changes it goes through. So, I was inspired by the people around me. For sure.”
Lizzo will be playing alongside SZA and Povi tonight at the Majestic. Tickets are $3 if you RSVP in advance or $10 at the door.
