Lizzo and Missy Elliott have teamed up for a wildly hypnotic, raucous new single titled “Tempo.” This is the third new release off Lizzo’s forthcoming album Cuz I Love You.
“Tempo” launches with a Prince-like guitar riff, but that’s just a misdirection from the deliciously weird, bass-heavy sound of the rest of the song. “Slow songs, they for skinny hoes/Can’t move all of this here to one of those/I’m a thick bitch, I need tempo/Fuck it up to the tempo,” she seductively delivers on the track’s first verse. Elliott amps the energy up for her verse, offering up a raucous, hype delivery.
After “Tempo” premiered, Lizzo paid tribute to Elliott on Twitter:
You made this chubby, weird, black girl believe that ANYTHING was possible. And now we have a BANGER together ?— till this day you continue to inspire me to make my dreams come true. Now go fuck it up to the #TEMPO and STREAM OUR SONG!!!! ?? Love You @MissyElliott ? pic.twitter.com/xTMbWt3lM6
— |L I Z Z O| (@lizzo) March 20, 2019
“Tempo” follows the funky “Juice” and slow-burn romance of “Cuz I Love You.” Lizzo’s third LP, and first on a major label, will be released on April 19th. Her most recent non-single release was the 2016 EP Coconut Oil. In the nearly three years since, she’s unleashed a steady stream of varied, sonically diverse singles.