Lizzo is the woman we never asked for, but always needed. In a world of Cardi B, she a refreshing dose of positivity. Women’s empowerment has taken a turn towards the worst, encouraging toxic behaviors, and very poor morals.

  “Sad little b****, you can’t f*** with me if you wanted to,” expels Cardi B, a former exotic dancer who is praised for admitting to drugging men.

  What is the impact of her promiscuous mindset on the youth?

  Do those ideas, so highly viewed in that music, change the way young people look at sex, commitment, comradeship, drugs, partying, cheating, and more?

  It doesn’t seem to be a good thing that this type of toxic confidence exists. Don’t get me wrong- women need confidence. But women need more “We got this” confidence than “I’m better than y’all for stealing yo man”.  

  That’s where Lizzo, who has worked in multiple different types of music, comes in. This woman released two albums, Lizzobangers (2013) and Big Grrrl Small World (2015), before signing with Atlantic Records.

  Though she has been active since 2010, her only attained mainstream success this year was with the release of Cuz I Love You, her third studio album. This would re-release her 2017 song, “Truth Hurts”, that rose to the top of the Billboard charts two years after its initial release.

  Her persistence, spending nine years at work before success, speaks to her work ethic and talent. Lizzo is unique for her musical talents outside of rapping. She plays the flute, sings effective soul, and writes her own music. Sorry Cardi, but, where’s your flute?

  “If I’m shinin’, everybody gonna shine,” Lizzo said in her hit, “Juice”. How can you not love her confidence? That confidence is so strong it spreads to the listener through her songs. Her usage of vintage sounds that call back to 70s disco, classic R&B, flute solos, and more, makes her music have a unique sound.

  Lizzo lit up Philadelphia’s “Made in America” festival this year, and is still touring. Her NPR tiny desk concert, available on YouTube, is a perfect example of her many talents. She, in a live, auto tune free setting, belts out songs with a classic, powerful soul voice, raps without running out of breath, plays a flawless flute solo, and engages with the audience. Her stage presence is electric.

  At the end of the day, “Bodak Yellow” had it’s time and its adverse effects on culture. As we push forward into a decade of equality, strength, and empowerment, my hope is that artists like Lizzo lead the charge of the music industry.