“Rumors” is Lizzo’s first release of 2021, and her first major release since her critically acclaimed 2019 album Cuz I Love You. Fellow rapper Cardi B features on the track, marking the first collaboration between the two. “Rumors” likely acts as the debut single to Lizzo’s follow-up album.

The song was teased with an a capella snippet on August 1, 2021, through Lizzo’s TikTok account, with a second one following on August 6. On August 9, she revealed Cardi B as the feature through a FaceTime call posted on her socials. The two held a livestream on YouTube ahead of the music video’s release alongside the single on the night of August 12th.