Born in Detroit in the late 80’s, Lizzo spent much of her formative years in the church, where she was raised on the gospel sounds of The Winans, The Clark Sisters, and Fred Hammond, along with mainstay secular artists such as Stevie Wonder and Elton John. At the age of 10 her family moved to Houston, TX, and Lizzo was exposed to a wide array of emerging Southern musical styles, from the trademark chopped and screwed rap tracks of the underground, to the progressive and polished R&B sounds of groups like Destiny’s Child that were raising the city’s national profile to new heights. In fact, it was after she stumbled across a Destiny’s Child performance at Wal-Mart that Lizzo—then a 5th grader-- was inspired to start writing music on her own. Over the next decade that decision would take her through the trenches of some of the most varied musical genres: R&B girl groups (I.N.I.T.I.A.L.S., Cornrow Clique), progressive rock bands (Elypseas), solo rap ventures, and electro-pop duos (Lizzo & The Larva Ink).
In 2011 she made the move to Minneapolis with Larva Ink in order to be a part of that city’s blossoming and collaborative musical community. Lizzo & The Larva Ink was well received there, and the group earned a few encouraging nods from the press. Lizzo was soon introduced to Sophia Eris and Claire de Lune, with whom she would form The Chalice, the three-piece all-female rap/R&B group that would elevate Lizzo’s profile and reputation. In 2012 The Chalice released We Are The Chalice, an album that would gain them instant local success amongst fans and critics alike, garnering City Pages’ prestigious Best New Band and Picked To Click accolades in the same year.
The success brought setbacks, though, and a falling out soon led to the demise of Lizzo & The Larva Ink. Feeling discontent with the loss of one group and the hurried blur of success of another, Lizzo was creatively drained from writing We Are The Chalice in two short months. She found herself in the throes of her first full-blown case of writer’s block. Unable to create music for herself, she began listening to several different local albums in hopes of finding inspiration. It was LAVA BANGERS, a 20-track instrumental mixtape from Doomtree producer and Minneapolis music vet Lazerbeak, that ultimately caught her ear. Beaks’ beats proved the fix for Lizzo’s problem. “I sat at home and listened to LAVA BANGERS, and when “Lift Every Voice” came on, my writer’s block was cured,” says Lizzo. “I think it revived my gospel roots. I wrote pages and pages of songs, and finally reached out to Lazerbeak, not thinking anything would come of it.”
Her timing could not have been better. Beak, impressed with Lizzo’s output with The Chalice, as well as her guest appearances on several other local releases, was looking for a change of pace from his daily Doomtree production and business responsibilities. He immediately signed on to work on some demos. Beat tapes were exchanged, songs were written, and mutual friend and musical collaborator Ryan Olson (Totally Gross National Product founder, Gayngs/Marijuana Deathsquads mastermind) was brought on board to creatively oversee the project. Olson recorded and edited all 15 tracks in his bedroom studio, bringing in laid back hype-man Cliff Rhymes along the way to add even more layers to Lizzo’s dynamic vocals.
LIZZOBANGERS is the culmination of that four-way collaboration, an album that manages to capture all of the varied musical influences of Lizzo’s upbringing and combine them with the forward-thinking experimental production style of Beak and Olson. The end result is a brave new project that encapsulates the best parts of both the familiar and the future.
About Damn Time
Lizzo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's bad bitch o'clock, yeah, it's thick-thirty
I've been through a lot but I'm still flirty (okay)
Is everybody back up in the buildin'?
It's been a minute, tell me how you're healin'
'Cause I'm about to get into my feelings
How you feelin'? How you feel right now?
Oh, I've been so down and under pressure
I'm way too fine to be this stressed, yeah
Oh, I'm not the girl I was or used to be
Uh, bitch, I might be better
Turn up the music, turn down the lights
I got a feelin' I'm gon' be alright
Okay (okay), alright
It's about damn time (time)
Turn up the music, let's celebrate (alright)
I got a feelin' I'm gon' be okay
Okay (okay), alright
It's about damn time
In a minute, I'ma need a sentimental
Man or woman to pump me up
Feeling fussy, walkin' in my Balenci-ussy's
Tryna bring out the fabulous
'Cause I give a fuck way too much
I'ma need like two shots in my cup
One to get up, one to get down
Mm, that's how I feel right now
Oh, I've been so down and under pressure
I'm way too fine to be this stressed, yeah
Oh, I'm not the girl I was or used to be
Uh, bitch, I might be better
Turn up the music, turn down the lights
I got a feelin' I'm gon' be alright
Okay (okay), alright
It's about damn time (time)
Turn up the music, let's celebrate (alright)
I got a feelin' I'm gon' be okay
Okay (okay), alright
It's about damn time
Bitch
'Cause, uh, you know what time it is, uh
I'm comin' out tonight, I'm comin' out tonight (uh-huh)
I'm comin' out tonight, I'm comin' out tonight (woo)
I'm comin' out tonight, I'm comin' out tonight
Okay (okay), alright (alright)
It's about damn time
I'm comin' out tonight, (let's go) I'm comin' out tonight (comin' out tonight)
I'm comin' out tonight, I'm comin' out tonight (woo)
I'm comin' out tonight, I'm comin' out tonight (comin' out tonight)
Okay (okay), alright
It's about damn time
Oh
Bitch
Yeah, yeah
It's about damn time
The lyrics of "About Damn Time" by Lizzo are a declaration of self-love and confidence. The singer is coming out of a difficult time in her life and is ready to celebrate the fact that she has made it through. She proudly proclaims that she is a "bad bitch," while acknowledging that she has been through a lot. She asks her audience how they are doing, and then gets into her feelings, declaring that she is feeling better than she used to.
Lizzo also makes reference to the pressure she has been under, but notes that she is too fine to be this stressed out. She emphasizes that she is not the girl she used to be and might be better, indicating that she has grown and progressed as a person. The chorus of the song is a call to turn up the music and celebrate because it is about damn time.
The bridge of the song features Lizzo asking for someone to pump her up and bring out her fabulous side. She also acknowledges that she cares too much about what others think and might need to loosen up with a drink or two. Throughout the song, Lizzo is assertive, confident and proud of herself, inspiring listeners to believe in themselves and celebrate their own victories.
Line by Line Meaning
It's bad bitch o'clock, yeah, it's thick-thirty
It's time to be a strong and confident woman who takes charge and lives life to the fullest.
I've been through a lot but I'm still flirty (okay)
Despite experiencing setbacks and challenges, I am still able to maintain a positive and playful attitude.
Is everybody back up in the buildin'?
Are all of my friends and supporters with me and ready to party?
It's been a minute, tell me how you're healin'
It's been a while since we've seen each other, so let's catch up and see how everyone's been doing.
'Cause I'm about to get into my feelings
Because I'm prepared to express myself emotionally and be vulnerable with you.
How you feelin'? How you feel right now?
I want to know how you're truly doing and how you're feeling at this moment in time.
Oh, I've been so down and under pressure
I've been feeling low and stressed out lately.
I'm way too fine to be this stressed, yeah
I deserve to feel good and confident, and stress shouldn't have the power to bring me down.
Oh, I'm not the girl I was or used to be
I've grown and changed as a person over time, and I'm not the same as I used to be.
Uh, bitch, I might be better
In fact, I might even be stronger and better than I was before.
Turn up the music, turn down the lights
Let's get the party started by increasing the volume of the music and decreasing the lighting for a more intimate atmosphere.
I got a feelin' I'm gon' be alright
I have a strong intuition that all will be well.
It's about damn time (time)
It's long overdue and it's finally happening now.
Turn up the music, let's celebrate (alright)
Let's enjoy ourselves and mark this momentous occasion with some dancing and festivities.
In a minute, I'ma need a sentimental
Soon I'll want a person who is sensitive and supportive to boost my spirits.
Man or woman to pump me up
This person can be male or female, as long as they are there to encourage and energize me.
Feeling fussy, walkin' in my Balenci-ussy's
I'm feeling annoyed and frustrated, even though I'm wearing my expensive and fashionable Balenciaga shoes.
Tryna bring out the fabulous
I'm attempting to manifest a more glamorous and extravagant version of myself.
'Cause I give a fuck way too much
Because I care too deeply about how others perceive me and their opinions of me.
I'ma need like two shots in my cup
I'll need two shots of alcohol in my drink to help me loosen up and have a good time.
One to get up, one to get down
One shot to give me energy and one shot to help me relax and let loose.
Mm, that's how I feel right now
That's how I'm currently feeling in this moment.
Bitch
A term of empowerment and self-affirmation, indicating that she is in control and her own boss.
I'm comin' out tonight, I'm comin' out tonight (uh-huh)
I'm ready to go out and have a fun night on the town with my friends.
It's about damn time
It's long overdue and it's finally happening now.
I'm comin' out tonight, (let's go) I'm comin' out tonight (comin' out tonight)
I'm excited and eager to go out and have a good time with my friends.
Yeah, yeah
An expression of enthusiasm and positive energy.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Blake Slatkin, Eric Frederic, Larry Tyrone Price, Ronald Jerome Jr. Larkins, Theron Makiel Thomas, Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren, Melissa Viviane Jefferson, Stephen Eric Hague
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Doja Cat
on Pink
Whoa that’s a lot of work to do and my restless