FRATPACKER WORLD.

Lizzo has always walked the line between self-love and self-defense. But on her surprise mixtape, My Face Hurts From Smiling, she takes off the glitter and lets the brass knuckles show. This isn’t a bubbly pop record. This isn’t a TED Talk in song form. This is Lizzo unfiltered, unhinged, and — for better or worse — unapologetically back in her rap bag.

No promo. No warning. Just 13 tracks of scorched-earth energy recorded in just a few days. And the result? A mixtape that feels more like a cathartic outburst than a career move — and that’s exactly why it hits.

“My face hurts from smiling” sounds cute until you realize it’s sarcasm. The title isn’t a flex. It’s a confession — that she’s done with the fake smiles for picture perfect moments. Lizzo’s not here to make you comfortable anymore. She’s here to show you that she’s not here to play around — loudly, messily, and in full trap drums.

From the first track, she ditches her polished pop persona for something more primal. She’s rapping — for real. There’s no Top 40 sugarcoating here. It’s full-throttle braggadocio, playful threats, and petty punches in all the right places.

Standouts like “Just 4 Fun” and “Gotcho Bitch” are aggressive, funny, and designed to shut the critics up (plus she gives here fellow lady rappers a shout out on this cut). She’s airing out insecurities, fake friends, and bad exes, all while dancing on their reputations. The flows are clean, the bars are sharp, and the energy is pure fire.

Lizzo doesn’t overcrowd the tape with guest verses. She just brings in two juggernaut women in music — and they deliver. Doja Cat pulls up on “Still Can’t Fuh”, and it’s the collab we didn’t know we needed (the sample with the thumping beat is pure flames!). Doja brings her signature blend of wild humour or and razor-sharp wordplay, while Liz matches her blow for blow. The track is wildly fun — easily a standout. SZA joins on “IRL”, which flips the tempo completely. It’s a Jersey-club-inspired mid-tempo joint about real-life, an anti online fame banger. They both flex the fact that really living hot in real life and there is no algorithm  or AI to their vibe. Their chemistry is natural, the hook is sticky, and SZA’s verse adds harmonies to the attitude of the track.

This isn’t an album aiming for awards or playlists. It’s a mixtape. A purge. Some tracks feel rough around the edges. The beats are in your face giving us that southern bounce throughout. After a few years of public pressure, lawsuits, and online dogpiling, this project feels like her first deep breath. It’s loud, aggressive and fun.

My Face Hurts From Smiling isn’t a return to form — it’s a full reset. It’s Lizzo choosing herself over the algorithm. It’s catharsis in 808s. And while it might not be for everyone, it doesn’t need to be. Her monologue on Ditto sums up the whole tone of the project, she definitely feeding the kids with this.