Cuz I Love You is Lizzo's third studio and major label studio album which was released on April 19, 2019 by Nice Life and Atlantic Records.
Album Background[]
The album is Lizzo's first release since her 2016 EP, "Coconut Oil EP."
Lizzo stated at the album preview party at the Crazy Girls strip club in Hollywood on January 30, 2019 that she has been working on the album for three years. She also previewed a collaboration with Missy Elliott titled "Tempo" that will appear on the album.
Along with the lead single "Juice", the album includes the "empowering dance track" "Like a Girl" and a song dedicated to an ex titled "Jerome"."
Tracklisting[]
- Cuz I Love You 2:59
- Like a Girl 3:04
- Juice 3:15
- Soulmate 2:55
- Jerome 3:51
- Crybaby 2:55
- Tempo 2:55
- Exactly How I Feel 2:23
- Better in Color 2:13
- Heaven Help Me 3:22
- Lingerie 3:21
Deluxe edition tracks
- Boys 2:53
- Truth Hurts 2:53
- Water Me 3:06
Super deluxe edition tracks
- Good as Hell 2:39
- Good as Hell (Remix) (featuring Ariana Grande) 2:39
Chart Performance[]
"Cuz I Love You" debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 with 41,000 album-equivalent units, of which 24,000 were pure album sales. It is Lizzo's first album to chart on the Billboard 200.
The album re-peaked at #6 on the charting week ending on June 27, 2019. It has stayed in the top 10 for 15 weeks after its release.
"Cuz I Love You" reached #4 in its 19th week on the chart dated September 7, 2019.
Critical Reception[]
"Cuz I Love You" received widespread acclaim from music critics upon its initial release. At Metacritic, the album has an average score of 84, based on 24 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim."
Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Heather Phares praised the album as "a triumphant showcase for every part of Lizzo's talent, physicality and sexuality."
Jumi Akinfenwa of Clash stated that by "Offering up a mix of pop, hip-hop, R&B and a sprinkling of trap and neo soul for good measure, Lizzo covers all bases and serves the perfect introduction to her world for mainstream audiences."
DIY magazine's Rachel Finn gave a positive evaluation of the album, writing that "Lizzo's vibrant personality and humour shining through a set of tracks that switches through elements of funk, pop and R&B with ease."
In an article for NME, reviewer Natty Kasambala described the album as being "as flawlessly genre-spanning as Lizzo herself: pop at its core, but with constant references to her jazz roots and historical love of twerking."
Claire Biddles at The Line of Best Fit shared similar sentiments, calling the album "Charming, addictive and seemingly effortless, Cuz I Love You is Lizzo's declaration of superstardom."
Slant Magazine's Zachary Hoskins concluded that "Lizzo's talent has always been evident, but this album’s material, her strongest to date, allows her put it on full display. By the languorous, seductive neo-soul of closing track "Lingerie," her enthusiasm is as contagious as it is well-earned."
Some reviewers were more reserved in their assessments of the album. In a review for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis felt that "Lizzo has something to say, and a smart way of saying it ... but the potency of what’s here would seem more potent still if it had been allowed a little room to breathe ... Instead, Cuz I Love You keeps its foot pressed down hard on the accelerator for half an hour in an attempt to ram-raid the charts."
Rawiya Kameir was also critical in the review for Pitchfork, claiming that "Despite her obvious skill and charisma, some of the album’s 11 songs are burdened with overwrought production, awkward turns of phrase, and ham-handed rapping."