About Damn Time

The harmony is deliberately accessible — diatonic chords in a bright major key that prioritizes rhythmic and textural feel over harmonic sophistication. The song's distinctiveness comes from its production DNA (driving bassline, syncopated rhythm section, flute melody, interpolated piano hook) rather than unconventional chord choices, a hallmark of the best classic funk and disco anthems.

'About Damn Time' was the final song written for Lizzo's album Special. Blake Slatkin and Ricky Reed began building the track in January 2022, starting from four piano chords that Reed used as the foundation for a groove-heavy bassline. When Lizzo heard the instrumental, she traveled to the studio and wrote the hook and melodies herself. The song required approximately 30 additional studio sessions across four months to complete, and at one point had an entirely different chorus.

Released on April 14, 2022 as the lead single from Lizzo's fourth album Special, 'About Damn Time' blends disco grooves, a driving bassline, and Lizzo's signature flute with an infectious chorus built around a piano motif interpolated from a 1984 hip-hop classic. It became her second Billboard Hot 100 number one, fueled by a massively viral TikTok choreography and Lizzo's own promotional energy.