Lizzo’s Big GRRRL Small World is a confidence machine. It is the 2015 follow-up to her debut, and it wants to prove she can do everything she claimed she could on that first record: rap, sing, joke, and stare down the internet’s worst instincts. The album runs 12 tracks and 43 minutes, and it moves fast enough that the whole thing feels like a dare to sit still.
The record is built around a simple idea: Lizzo is a big girl living in a small world, and she refuses to let either fact slow her down. That tension is the engine of the album, and it shows up in the lyrics, the production, and the way she carries a beat from start to finish. This is a performer who knows exactly what she looks like, and she is not afraid to tell you about it.
Opening With “Ain’t I”
The album starts with “Ain’t I,” a track that sets the tone immediately. It is a statement of presence, not a declaration of war, and it announces the album’s central argument: Lizzo is here, she is large, and she is unapologetic about both facts. The song builds from a simple hook into a full-throated chorus, and it earns its place as one of the record’s standout moments.
“Betcha” follows, a track that leans into the album’s comedic side without losing its edge. It is a light, playful number, but it also carries a sharp critique of the objectification that comes with fame. The humor is genuine, and the bite underneath is what makes it land.
“Ride” Through “B.G.S.W.”
“Ride” slows the pace slightly while maintaining the album’s energy. It is a solid track, but it does not reach the heights of the songs around it. “Humanize” is the exception. This is a track that confronts fame and misogyny with humor, and it does so with a musicality that sets it apart from the rest of the record.
“Bother Me” is a mid-tempo track that works as a bridge into the album’s second half. It is competent, but it does not leave much of an impression. “B.G.S.W.” picks the pace back up, and it stands out as one of the tracks that critics pointed to. The song displays a marked tendency to end up in an entirely different place from where it began, and that quality is part of what makes it work.
“The Fade” is a shorter, more direct track that does not overstay its welcome. It is a solid entry in the album’s middle stretch, but it is not essential. “1 Deep” is the album’s quietest moment, a track that lets the melody carry the weight of the song. It is a pleasant detour, but it does not demand much attention.
“The Realest” and the Back Half
“The Realest” picks the pace back up again, and it is one of the tracks that critics highlighted. It is a confident, polished performance, and it shows Lizzo at her most assured. “En Love” follows, a track that critics singled out for its wicked fun. It is the kind of song that is all delivered with sheer glee.
“My Skin” is the other standout in the back half of the album. It is a track that critics praised, and it is easy to understand why: it is a song that confronts body image head-on, and it does so with a wit and a musicality that make it stand out. “Jang a Lang” closes the record on a high note, a track that brings the album to a decisive finish without overstaying its welcome.
What Works and What Does Not
The album’s strengths are clear. Lizzo’s musicality is the star of the show, and she uses it to carry songs that would collapse under anyone else’s weight. Her wit is sharp, and she uses it to cut through the noise of fame. She is willing to confront misogyny head-on, and she does so with a humor that keeps the record from feeling grim or preachy.
The record’s weaknesses are smaller. Some tracks, like “Ride” and “1 Deep,” feel like they are coasting on the momentum of the songs around them. They are not bad, but they are not essential. The album’s middle stretch is where it loses a bit of its focus, and it takes a few tracks to get back to the level of the opening and closing sequences.
But the record’s best moments are undeniable. “My Skin,” “Humanize,” and “Ain’t I” are tracks that stand out strongly. They are the reason the album earns a strong score.
The Critical Reception
The album’s reception was warm. Metacritic gave it a 79 out of 100, and Pitchfork scored it 7.5 out of 10. Critics called it a confident, polished follow-up to Lizzo’s debut, praising her wit, musicality, and willingness to confront fame and misogyny with humor.
The album’s tracks display a marked tendency to end up in an entirely different place from where they began. That quality is part of what makes “B.G.S.W.” work, and it is a thread that runs through the record’s best moments.
The album’s lesser moments are not failures, but they are the reason the record falls short of greatness. The middle stretch drags a bit, and a few tracks feel like filler between the highlights. But the highlights are so strong that the record as a whole earns its place as one of the more interesting releases of 2015.
This is an album that rewards attention. It is worth listening to from start to finish, and it is worth revisiting the standout tracks when you want proof of Lizzo’s talent. The record is not perfect, but it is confident and frequently very funny.
The Standout Tracks
- “Ain’t I” opens the album with a full-throated chorus that earns its place as one of the record’s standout moments.
- “Humanize” confronts fame and misogyny with humor and musicality, setting it apart from the rest of the record.
- “My Skin” confronts body image head-on with wit and a musicality that make it stand out.
- “B.G.S.W.” displays a marked tendency to end up in an entirely different place from where it began, a quality that makes it work.
- “En Love” is delivered with sheer glee, a track critics singled out for its wicked fun.
- Ain't I3:56
- Betcha2:59
- Ride3:50
- Humanize3:30
- Bother Me5:02
- B.G.S.W.3:16
- The Fade3:00
- 1 Deep3:27
- The Realest3:54
- En Love3:24
- My Skin4:18
- Jang a Lang2:52
