“Tempo,” which brought together one of the most prominent female MC’s in history, and one of the most prominent alternative hip hop stars in history, Lizzo, has finally had its music video released today. Both of the MCs appear in the video, where they party and dance outside a diner named after the song’s title.
The song opens up with a heavy guitar riff, before Lizzo appears, dressed as a cowgirl with a revealing bikini appears and begins performing. Missy Elliott then appears in athletic wear donned in the word “Tempo.” after being summoned from under the hood of a classic car.
“I make all different types of music,” Lizzo explained to the Guardian during an interview at a buffet. “You see here, we got pineapples, we got croissants, we got sausages – which one you like? I feel like when you’re good at doing a lot of different styles, it hard to stick with one.” After working on the album for three years, this summer she finally laid down the songs that will make the cut. “I hit my stride. It was about embracing my singing voice.”
Lizzo, who has been an upcoming performer in the scene for several years now maintains a core value in her musicianship where she focuses on being happy with you body image and self-expression. Through her evocative music videos, live performances and song writing, she has been a welcome addition to the hip hop community.
“It’s unfair for us to assume that people know how to love themselves … [corporations have] spent decades telling people they weren’t good enough and selling them an ideal of beauty,” Lizzo further explained in the Guardian interview. “All of a sudden you’re selling them self-love? People don’t know how to love themselves, because they were trying to look like the motherfucker you were selling them!”
This latest video was directed by Andy Hines, who directed the music video for Big Sean’s “On Man Can Change The World.” Lizzo is currently on tour for her latest album CUZ I LOVE YOU where “Tempo” was also released on.