Lizzo Has Something to Say — And She’s Saying It With Bars
“My Face Hurts From Smiling” is not just the name of Lizzo’s surprise new mixtape — it’s a statement, a shrug, a warning, and a wink all at once. Fresh off the viral storm of her freestyle “Yitty on Yo Tittys,” the Grammy and Emmy-winning powerhouse returns to her rap roots with a 13-track project that’s brash, bold, and brilliantly unfiltered. Out now via Atlantic Records, the mixtape marks a new creative chapter — one where Lizzo embraces the mic not as a pop star, but as a rapper with something to get off her chest.
From the jump, “My Face Hurts From Smiling” makes it clear: Lizzo is done explaining herself. This isn’t polished pop with rap sprinkled on top — this is lyrical precision laced with humor, rage, sex appeal, and a decade’s worth of earned confidence. It’s a love letter to her artistry — and a middle finger to anyone still underestimating it.
The opener “Crashout” sets the tone with firecracker bars and an unshakable hook: “They just mad ’cause I got motion like a roller coaster.” The chant “We outside, hoe” echoes like a summer rally cry — playful yet pointed, a reminder that Lizzo doesn’t fold under pressure; she thrives in it.
She’s joined by a few heavyweights:
“Still Can’t Fuh” featuring Doja Cat is a swaggering, high-tempo exchange that flips the male gaze on its head and reclaims the narrative with spitfire wit.
On “IRL” with SZA, Lizzo slips into a smoother, more introspective pocket — a hazy, dance-forward anthem for girls who feel too much and still don’t give a damn.
And of course, “Yitty on Yo Tittys (Freestyle)”, the viral track that started it all, is here in full form — a bouncy, off-the-cuff reminder of her freestyle foundation and the joy of not taking yourself too seriously.
But don’t be fooled: behind the jokes and jabs, “My Face Hurts From Smiling” is a reckoning. Lizzo uses rap as a tool of reclamation — of her time, her talent, her truth. After years of public praise and critique, she’s cutting through the noise. The bars are sharp. The beats are heavy. The tone is free.
Lizzo has always been a shapeshifter — blending genres, bodies, and expectations into art that resonates far beyond the music charts. But on this mixtape, she isn’t just genre-blurring — she’s boundary-breaking. And she’s doing it on her terms.
“My Face Hurts From Smiling” is a reminder: Lizzo’s not new to this — she’s just finally giving herself full permission to be loud, lyrical, and legendary.
Stream the mixtape, turn it all the way up, and let Lizzo remind you: the bars were always there. You just weren’t listening loud enough.
—AZARIAN