As Lizzo promised, she is “reclaiming” the word “b–ch” on the title track to the singer’s upcoming album of the same name. Lizzo dropped the boldly titled single on Friday (May 1), giving fans the first taste of her third studio LP, which is due on June 5.
The song, which interpolates singer Meredith Brooks’ strident 1997 Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 single of the same name, is the second taste of the album, following on the heels of the smoldering love-me-or-leave-me “Don’t Make Me Love U.”
In a statement describing the inspiration for the follow-up to 2022’s Special, Lizzo said, “Reclaiming the word ‘b—h’ is power — it’s taking a label once used to diminish women and turning it into a declaration of confidence and unapologetic self-love. So many incredible women in music have used the word for positivity, like Meredith Brooks and Missy Elliott. It was only fitting to name my album Bitch because it has become my favorite word when using it on my own terms and because I am 100% that b—h!”
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A preview of the song posted on Thursday (April 30) featured an intro from Katt Williams, who warns, “It’s a line, if you cross it, that’s your motherf–kin’ ass!,” a bit taken from the comedian’s 2024 Woke Foke comedy special in which he defended Lizzo against her detractors. The singer included Williams’ follow-up wisdom in the caption to the snippet, “You can be fat, you can be black, but you can’t be no fat black B—H, BITCH drops tonight yall ready?!” in the sneak peek that also included a short bit of the bouncy refrain, “She’s a b—h, She’s a b—h, OK?”
Lizzo first coined the latter phrase on her diamond-selling 2017 single “Truth Hurts,” in which she pronounced herself 100% that … one. She doubled-down on the upcoming LP’s profane title with the provocative cover art, which shows the singer’s right hand flipping the bird, with a miniature version of her subbing in for the middle finger, arms held high above her head in triumph.
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The album’s Spotify preview page reveals that it is slated to feature 12 tracks, whose titles include “A Toast,” “Happy 2 Be,” “Don’t Make Me Love U,” “Bitch,” “She Stole My Man,” “Whose Hair Is This,” “Little Black Cat,” “Sexy Ladies, “That Grrrl,” “Too Nice,” “Like a Crime” and “Goodmorning!”
