SZA
SZA | |
---|---|
![]() SZA in 2024 | |
Born | Solána Imani Rowe November 8, 1989 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
Years active | 2011–present |
Works | Discography |
Awards | Full list |
Musical career | |
Origin | Maplewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
Genres | |
Instrument | Vocals |
Labels | |
Website | szactrl szasos |
Solána Imani Rowe (born November 8, 1989), known professionally as SZA (/ˈsɪzə/ SIZ-ə), is an American singer-songwriter. She first gained recognition through her self-released EPs See.SZA.Run (2012) and S (2013), which helped her become the first female artist to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment. Her third EP, Z (2014), was her first project to be released to digital retailers and reached the top-ten on the U.S. Independent Albums chart.
After signing a joint recording contract with RCA Records, SZA released her debut studio album, Ctrl (2017). It was met with critical and commercial success, earning four Grammy Award nominations and becoming the second longest-charting R&B album by a female artist on the Billboard 200.[1] The following year, SZA was nominated for the Golden Globe and Academy Awards for Best Original Song via her collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on the U.S. and UK top-ten single "All the Stars".[2] Her featured appearance on Doja Cat's "Kiss Me More" broke the record for the longest-running all-female collaboration within the U.S. top ten,[3] and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
SZA's second album, SOS (2022), spent ten non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200 and broke the record for the largest streaming week for an R&B album in the U.S. Supported by six singles, including the top-ten songs "Good Days",[4] "I Hate U",[5] "Nobody Gets Me" and "Snooze", SZA earned her first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Kill Bill" in 2023. She later earned her second chart-topping single of the year with her guest appearance on Drake's "Slime You Out".
SZA has received several accolades in her career, including four Grammy Awards, a Brit Award, an American Music Award, a Guild of Music Supervisors Award, and two Billboard Women in Music awards (including Woman of the Year). As a songwriter, she has co-written songs for Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Travis Scott, ScHoolboy Q and Rihanna. In 2024, she was honored with the Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[6]
Early life and education
Solána Imani Rowe was born on November 8, 1989, in St. Louis. She grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, often returning to St. Louis to visit her mother's family.[7][8][9][10] Her father was an executive producer at CNN, while her mother was an executive at AT&T. Rowe has an older half-sister, Panya Jamila.[8][11] Her mother is Christian and her father is Muslim.[11] She was raised as a Muslim and continues to follow Islam.[8]
It's like the belief in one God, all the pillars of Islam et cetera, and I think those are ideas that will never leave me, those make sense in my spirit. It's the way that I connect with God; it has always made sense to me. I think I would love to wear my hijab but I feel like I don't wanna wear my hijab and talk crazy on stage and be in videos with Travis Scott. Like I don't wanna be disrespectful because I have too much love and respect for the religion, for my father, and for myself.[12]
She attended a Muslim prep school every day after her regular schooling, where she was forced by her father to wear a hijab. After the September 11 attacks, Rowe was subjected to bullying in 7th grade, leading her to stop wearing one.[8][13] Rowe attended Columbia High School, where she was active in sports, including gymnastics and cheerleading.[14][12] After graduating from high school in 2008,[15] Rowe later went to three separate colleges, finally settling at Delaware State University to study marine biology.[8][11] She eventually dropped out in her last semester, taking on a variety of jobs in order to make money.[11][16][17]
Rowe formed her stage name from the Supreme Alphabet, taking influence from rapper RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan. The last two letters in her name stand for Zig-Zag and Allah, while the first letter S can mean either savior or sovereign.[8]
Career
2011–2014: Career beginnings and EPs
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/SZA%2C_August_2013.jpg/190px-SZA%2C_August_2013.jpg)
SZA first met members of Top Dawg Entertainment during the CMJ New Music Report in 2011, when her boyfriend's clothing company sponsored a show in which Kendrick Lamar was performing. Her early music was given to TDE president Terrence "Punch" Henderson, who was surprised with the quality of the material.[18] The two stayed in touch, and after SZA began generating buzz with the release of her two EPs, TDE stepped in to sign her in 2013, making her the label's first female artist. SZA's early music was recorded with her friends and neighbors in which they "stole a bunch of beats off the Internet".[16] On October 29, 2012, SZA self-released her debut EP See.SZA.Run.[19]
On April 10, 2013, SZA released her second EP, S, which was met with positive reviews from music critics.[20][21] SZA promoted the extended play with the release of a music video for the song "Ice Moon", directed by Lemar & Dauley.[22] On July 14, 2013, Top Dawg signed SZA.[23] In October 2013, SZA went on a four show tour with Swedish band Little Dragon; starting on October 17 at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles and ending on October 24 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY.[24] In December 2013, SZA released the song "Teen Spirit" which was followed by the release of a remix featuring American rapper 50 Cent, along with a music video directed by APlusFilmz.[25] In 2014, SZA featured on a variety of songs from her label-mates albums including two songs for Isaiah Rashad's debut EP Cilvia Demo as well as featuring on Schoolboy Q's first album Oxymoron.[26][27]
On March 26, 2014, she released the single "Child's Play" featuring Chance the Rapper and produced by Dae One & XXYYXX.[28] A studio EP, Z, was released on April 8, 2014; the lead single, "Babylon" was accompanied with a music video directed by APlusFilmz.[29] To promote Z, SZA performed at several performance showcases at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas.[29] SZA made her chart debut in the UK, where Z charted at number thirty-two on the R&B Charts, during the week ending April 19, 2014.[30] Z debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200 at number thirty nine, selling 6,980 copies in its opening week; the album also peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hip hop/R&B chart.[31]
SZA subsequently began recording her fourth EP, A.[32] In July 2014, SZA featured on Kitty Cash's single "Moodring".[33] Later that month, SZA released a collaboration with Jill Scott called "Divinity".[34] On July 11, 2014, SZA released a video for her song "Julia" from Z.[35] In December SZA and The Internet supported Aiko's "Enter The Void" tour.[36] On November 18, 2014, SZA released a song called "Sobriety".[37]
2015–2018: Ctrl and breakthrough
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/SZA_CTRL_Tour_Toronto_2017_10_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-SZA_CTRL_Tour_Toronto_2017_10_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Whilst working on A, (now repackaged as her debut album[38] and later retitled Ctrl), SZA began writing songs for other women including Beyoncé and Rihanna. Along with Rihanna and Tyran Donaldson, SZA co-wrote "Consideration" for Rihanna's album Anti (2016); besides writing, SZA also appeared on the track and later performed "Consideration" with Rihanna live at the 2016 Brit Awards on February 24, 2016.[39][40]
In January 2017, SZA released "Drew Barrymore", the lead single from her upcoming album Ctrl.[41] On April 28, 2017, SZA signed her first major-label recording contract with RCA Records.[42][43] On June 9, 2017, SZA released her debut album, Ctrl, to universal acclaim from music critics, scoring an 86 out of 100 rating on Metacritic.[44] Ctrl debuted at number three on the U.S. Billboard 200,[45] with 125,000 album-equivalent units, of which 80,000 were pure album sales; the album was supported by several singles, including "Love Galore", which peaked in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was later certified platinum.[46] Ctrl was ranked as the best album of 2017 by Time.[47]
From August 2017 to February 2018, SZA promoted the album on a North American and Oceanic concert tour consisting of more than fifty shows.[48] SZA opened for the European portion of Bryson Tiller's "Set It Off Tour" in support of his album True to Self from October 17, 2017, to November 30, 2017, separate from SZA's tour.[49]
In August 2017, SZA collaborated with American pop rock band Maroon 5 on their single "What Lovers Do" from their sixth studio album Red Pill Blues. The single reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. This marked SZA's first top-ten hit as a featured artist on the Hot 100. The following month SZA released "Quicksand", which appeared on the soundtrack for HBO's Insecure,[50] and, alongside Khalid and Post Malone, was featured on the remix version of Lorde's single "Homemade Dynamite", from her second studio album Melodrama.[51] Also in 2017, SZA worked on a joint album with Mark Ronson and Tame Impala.[52]
On November 28, 2017, SZA received five Grammy nominations including one for Best New Artist. She received the most nominations of any women artist for the 2018 Awards and was the fourth most nominated artist in total.[53] Despite this, she did not end up winning any of the awards she was nominated for.[54]
In January 2018, SZA featured with Kendrick Lamar on the track "All the Stars", which was released as the lead single to the soundtrack album of the film Black Panther.[55][56] The single peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and this made SZA's second top-ten hit on the chart, after Maroon 5, "What Lovers Do" which peaked at number 9 on the chart. SZA collaborated with Cardi B on the track "I Do" for the album Invasion of Privacy.[57]
2019–present: Collaborations, SOS and Lana
In May 2019, SZA featured on DJ Khaled's eleventh studio album, Father of Asahd, on the track "Just Us". A music video was later released for the song.[58] On February 26, 2020, SZA and Justin Timberlake released "The Other Side", a song part of the Trolls World Tour soundtrack, alongside its music video.[59] In March 2020, SZA signed with WME for representation in all areas.[60][61] SZA performed, together with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi and Halsey, a benefit concert for the state of New Jersey, in support of the state's work fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. It took place on April 22, 2020, through at-home performances and the revenue will go to the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund.[62][63] On May 25, 2020, SZA showed interest on Twitter in releasing "a music dump" of previously unreleased material, potentially containing 20 songs.[64]
In August 2020, SZA tweeted and deleted, "At this point y'all gotta ask punch", referring to Terrence "Punch" Henderson, who is president of Top Dawg Entertainment. In another tweet, SZA indicated that "all [Punch] says to her" about releasing new music is "soon".[65] This revealed that her relationship with her label owner Punch (Top Dawg Entertainment) has been hostile since the delays of her second album which was last announced back in an interview in 2019.[66] SZA came back with her first release as a lead artist since 2017 on September 4, 2020, with "Hit Different", featuring Ty Dolla Sign, and production from The Neptunes.[66][67] On December 25, 2020, SZA released "Good Days" on streaming platforms as a single after it originally debuted as a snippet in the outro of the "Hit Different" music video.[68] English singer Jacob Collier provided background vocals for the single.[69] The song hit its peak of number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100,[70] making it SZA's first top-ten single as a solo artist, despite SZA herself revealing that it was not initially planned to be a single.[71] Both tracks were expected to appear on her then upcoming second studio album, with only "Good Days" eventually making the final cut.[72]
On April 9, 2021, SZA was featured on the Doja Cat single "Kiss Me More". It became a number-one hit in New Zealand and reached the Top 40 in over a dozen countries, further having earned top-ten placements in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and Lithuania. The song also has a music video which premiered the same day as the single and was directed by Warren Fu.
In late 2021, SZA's cover of "The Anonymous Ones" was released. It is a song written for the soundtrack of the 2021 film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen. Her version of the song also plays during the closing credits of the film itself.[73]
A long-awaited collaboration from SZA with Summer Walker, "No Love" was finally released on November 5, 2021, after previously being teased back in late June via Walker's Instagram.[74] After its success on the R&B charts, it later became an official single when the extended version was released in March the following year, along with a music video.
On December 3, 2021, SZA released the song "I Hate U", after it went viral on TikTok; it was originally released exclusively on SoundCloud in August 2021.[75] SZA confirmed after the 64th Annual Grammy Awards that she had finished her second album and is planning on releasing it "soon".[76]
On June 9, 2022, SZA released a deluxe version of her debut studio album Ctrl to commemorate its 5-year anniversary. It featured 7 previously unreleased songs, such as "2AM", "Jodie", "Percolator", and an alternative version of "Love Galore" without Travis Scott.
On October 28, 2022, a new single titled "Shirt" was released alongside a music video starring actor LaKeith Stanfield.[77] The song was originally teased by SZA in late-2020 and after it gained popularity on TikTok because of a viral challenge, a snippet appeared as an outro at the end of the official music video of "Good Days".[78] SZA teased another snippet of a song at the end of the "Shirt" music video, which she revealed to be called "Blind".[79][80]
On her 33rd birthday on November 8, 2022, SZA released a teaser titled "PSA" on her Instagram. The video ends with a morse code for "S.O.S.", sparking speculations about an upcoming project.[81][82] On November 16, 2022, Billboard officially confirmed that her second studio album is titled SOS and was set for a December release date.[83] On November 30, 2022, SZA posted the cover of her upcoming album SOS to her Instagram account.[84] After performing "Shirt" and "Blind" on NBC's Saturday Night Live, SZA announced that the album would be released on December 9, 2022.[85] The album spent its first seven weeks atop the Billboard 200 Albums Chart in the United States, becoming the longest-running number-one woman album of the decade and the first R&B album to spend its first seven weeks atop the chart since Whitney Houston's Whitney (1987).[86]
To promote the album, SZA embarked on an arena tour in 2023—the SOS Tour.[87][88] The tour consists of 54 shows across North American and Europe.[89] Omar Apollo, d4vd and RAYE served as the opening acts.[90][91]
Influences
Music
Growing up, SZA was exposed by her family to artists from different genres, which were formative influences for her music.[92] Her mother enjoyed R&B and church music,[93] her father was a fan of jazz and funk musicians like Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, and John Coltrane,[13][94] and her sister listened to melodic rap and hip hop artists like Tupac Shakur.[1][92] SZA listens to Ella Fitzgerald for vocal influence[95] and has said that Lauryn Hill is one of her personal influences.[96] SZA has expressed admiration for singer Ashanti, citing her as a major inspiration and someone she has loved since childhood.[97]
SZA also cites Meelah, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, LFO, Macy Gray, Common, Björk, Jamiroquai, and "a lot of Wu, Nas, Mos Def, Hov" as inspirations.[8] Speaking on her influences, SZA said: "[My] personal influences came from dancing with American Ballet Theatre and doing pieces to Björk [music]. That's the only time I had really any outside influence to music. So, the people that I fell in love with on a musical level were always much older. Jamiroquai is just, like, the shit for me."[98] In an interview for Live Nation Entertainment, SZA described the meeting she had with Beyoncé for the writing of the song "Feeling Myself", affirming "Beyoncé might be the most perfect, beautiful being I've ever met in my whole life. She's the most inspirational woman on earth, next to my mother". SZA also spoke about Rihanna, admiring her strong and confident attitude, of someone who does only the music she wants to do, and that if there's anybody that she could imagine singing her words, it would be Rihanna.[99]
SZA's songs are built over "layers of sliced, delayed, and reversed vocals" and contains "twists and mutates",[100][19] and her vocal style has been described as taking on the "lilt" of a jazz singer.[101] SZA is known as TDE's first woman signee and first singer, which also drew attention during the early stages of her career.[102] According to Marissa G. Muller of Rolling Stone magazine, SZA's vocals alternate between a "vapory husk and a sky-high falsetto".[103] Jordan Sargent of Pitchfork magazine labeled SZA's vocals as being "chillwave" and "ethereal".[104] SZA began writing songs due to being "passionate" about writing, and enjoyed poetry; when writing lyrics, SZA "freestyles" them in order to express whatever comes to her "mind", noting that it does not always make sense to herself.[16] Thematically, SZA's work contains "unravelling lyrics", that touch upon themes of sexuality, nostalgia, and abandonment.[100]
Critics have frequently described SZA as an R&B singer-songwriter,[105][106] a narrative for which she has expressed disdain[107] consistently since the beginning of her career.[108][109] The label felt disrespectful and lazy to her.[110] For her second studio album, SOS, she wanted to prove her versatility beyond R&B, disillusioned with how Black artists have been historically segregated from White artists through pigeonholing Black artists strictly within R&B music.[111][112] Other critics have written she combines R&B with rap[113][114] or pop music in her works,[115] and their attempts to pin her down to genres outside R&B has had SZA confused. She grew up listening to an eclectic combination of pop, rock, jazz, folk, and rap artists[112][116] and, as such, prefers to be labeled as someone who makes music and nothing more. She said: "when you try to label it, you remove the option for it to be limitless. It diminishes the music."[116] "Genre agnosticism" was how Michael Madden of Consequence described SZA's musical style.[117]
Fashion
During an interview, SZA said she is less inspired by strictly music, and more inspired by creating art in general; she has looked up to people who were not "typical artists" including her "favorite gymnast, ice-skater, saxophonist, painter, or movie director", continuing to say she was particularly inspired by film director Spike Lee.[98] During an interview with W, SZA spoke on her style influences, saying a large amount of her style inspiration comes from movies, including Wes Anderson films, praising his use of "pantone color palette" and that she "would love to dress like a character from Moonrise Kingdom. Or perhaps Bill Murray in The Life Aquatic."[118] Along with her music, SZA's image has been compared to neo-soul artists Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu.[102] SZA's hair became a point of interest during the early stages of her career and she discussed it in interviews with Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.[96] During her performances, SZA tends to wear "free-flowing" clothes that are easy to move around in and wears pajamas or baggy clothing onstage.[119]
Discography
Tours
Headlining
- Ctrl The Tour (2017–2018)
- SOS Tour (2023–2024)
Co-headlining
- The Championship Tour (with Top Dawg Entertainment artists) (2018)
Supporting
- Coldplay – Ghost Stories Tour (2014)
- Jhené Aiko – Enter the Void Tour (2014)
- Jessie J – Sweet Talker Tour (2015)
- Bryson Tiller – Set It Off Tour (2017)
Awards and nominations
In her career, SZA has received four Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe nomination, and an Academy Award nomination. She has earned one American Music Award, six Billboard Music Award, three MTV Video Music Awards, six BET Awards, including Best New Artist in 2018 and Album of the Year in 2023. She received the "Rulebreaker Award" at the Billboard Women in Music event in 2018 and also won the Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist in 2017.
In September 2022, SZA was applauded as one of the rising stars on the TIME 100 Next List.[120] At the 2022 Grammy Awards, SZA won with Doja Cat for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their hit collaboration "Kiss Me More".[121] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked SZA at number 180 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[122]
See also
- Top Dawg Entertainment discography
References
- ^ a b Smith, Danyel (February 8, 2023). "SZA's Ruination Brought Her Everything". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ Davis, Rachaell (January 22, 2019). "All The Stars: SZA And Kendrick Lamar Are Now Oscar-Nominated". Essence. Archived from the original on July 9, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- ^ "Doja Cat & SZA's "Kiss Me More" Breaks Record Held By Brandy & Monica". www.hotnewhiphop.com. August 24, 2021. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- ^ "Morgan Wallen, SZA Hit Hot 100's Top 10, Chris Brown & Young Thug Rule Radio Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ "SZA reacts to landing her first solo 'Billboard' Hot 100 hit, "Good Days" – Music News – ABC News Radio". abcnewsradioonline.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (April 16, 2024). "SZA to Be Honored by Songwriters Hall of Fame With Hal David Starlight Award (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
- ^ Villamere, J.C. (November 7, 2020). "Happy 30th SZA: Her Career Highlights To Date". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Ahmed, Insanul (September 8, 2013). "Who is SZA?". Complex Music. Archived from the original on April 29, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Lester, Paul (March 8, 2013). "New Band Of The Day: SZA". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Vaughn, Kenya (October 20, 2023). "SOSTL with SZA". St. Louis American. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Morris, Alex (August 30, 2017). "How SZA Beat Depression and Cracked the Top 10 With 'Ctrl'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
- ^ a b "Sza On CTRL, Relating to Rihanna, Standing for Pharrell & Her Faith". HOT 97. June 6, 2017. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Marcos, Carlos (December 31, 2023). ""Déjame decirte un secreto: me he estado tirando a tu chico": la cruda honestidad de SZA conquista el pop". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ Schwartz, Danny (June 14, 2017). "Everything You Need To Know About SZA". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ Schatz, Lake (June 5, 2018). "SZA gives motivational speech at old high school, performs "The Weekend": Watch". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c Ugwu, Reggie (May 23, 2013). "SZA Talks Quitting Her Day Job, Working With Holy Other & Emile Haynie". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Peters, Micah (June 9, 2017). "SZA Takes Back Her 'Ctrl'". The Ringer. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
- ^ Ugwu, Reggie (April 7, 2014). "SZA Talks 'Z' Album & Being the Only Girl In Top Dawg Entertainment". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ a b Frydenlund, Zach (October 29, 2012). "EP Premiere: SZA "See SZA Run"". Complex Music. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Kivel, Adam (April 22, 2013). "Album review: SZA - "S EP"". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on June 23, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Kelly, Katie (April 10, 2013). "Download SZA's new EP". Pigeons and Planes. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2020 – via Complex.
- ^ Dharmic X (November 13, 2013). "SZA Releases Mystical Video For "Ice Moon"". Complex Media. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Nixon, Khari (August 14, 2013). "Presenting TDE New Songstress". The Source. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Muir, Ryan (August 28, 2013). "Little Dragon playing two NYC shows w/ SZA". Brooklyn Vegan. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Dharmic X (December 6, 2013). "50 Cent Remixes SZA's "Teen Spirit"". 50 Cent Remixes SZA's "Teen Spirit". Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Jeffries, David. "Cilvia Demo – Isaiah Rashad > Overview". AllMusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ Jeffries, David. "Oxymoron – Schoolboy Q > Overview". AllMusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ Handke, Tobias (March 26, 2014). "SZA - Child's Play (Ft. Chance The Rapper)". Indie Shuffle. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ a b Fitzgerald, Trent (March 9, 2014). "SZA Reveals 'Z' EP Release Date, Drops 'Babylon' Video". Boombox.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "UK R&B chart for April 19, 2014". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
- ^ Tardio, Andres (April 16, 2014). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending April 13, 2014". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Ramirez, Erika (May 9, 2014). "The Juice Podcast: SZA & MoRuf Talk TDE, New Albums, Usher & 2 Chainz". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "New Music: Kitty Cash & SZA – 'Moodring'". Rap-Up. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "New Music: SZA & Jill Scott – 'Divinity'". Rap-Up. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Video: SZA – 'Julia / (Tender)'". Rap-Up. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Jhené Aiko Announces Enter The Void Tour With SZA And The Internet Following Missed #DefJam30 Concert Performance". Musictimes.com. October 22, 2014. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
- ^ "New Music: SZA – 'Sobriety'". Rap-Up. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Harling, Danielle (September 11, 2014). "Kendrick Lamar's Storytelling On New Album Is "On A Grander Scale", SZA Says". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- ^ Adejobi, Alicia (February 24, 2016). "Brit Awards 2016: Drake to join Rihanna for first live performance of Work at London's O2 Arena?". International Business Times. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "SZA: Sovereign ZigZag Allah - Zariah Perkins". Black Music Scholar. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- ^ "SZA Announces 'CTRL' Album, Drops 'Drew Barrymore' Single". Rap-Up. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ Cinnsealach, Somhairle (April 28, 2017). "SZA Signs To RCA Records". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on June 17, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ Schwartz, Danny (April 28, 2017). "SZA Announces Deal With RCA". hotnewhiphop.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ "Reviews and Tracks for CTRL by SZA". Metacritic. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
- ^ Eustice, Kyle (June 19, 2017). "Hip Hop Album Sales: SZA's "CTRL" Debuts On Billboard 200". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- ^ Penrose, Nerisha (September 28, 2017). "SZA's 'Love Galore' With Travis Scott Now Certified Platinum". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- ^ "The Top 10 Albums of 2017". Time. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (July 5, 2017). "SZA Announces Tour". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ Renshaw, David (July 10, 2017). "Bryson Tiller Announces European Tour With SZA". The Fader. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ Wicks, Amanda (September 8, 2017). "Listen to SZA's New Song "Quicksand"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ Kim, Michelle (September 13, 2017). "Lorde Announces New SZA-Featuring "Homemade Dynamite" Remix". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- ^ "SZA Recording Joint Album With Mark Ronson & Tame Impala". That Grape Juice. July 13, 2017. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ "Grammys 2018: See the Complete List of Nominees". Billboard. November 28, 2017. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ "Here's Why The Internet Is Screaming #JusticeForSZA". BET. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ Madden, Sidney (January 4, 2018). "Kendrick Lamar And SZA Release 'All The Stars' Single From 'Black Panther'". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ^ Blais-Billie, Braudie (January 4, 2018). "Kendrick Lamar and SZA Drop New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ^ "Cardi B (Ft. SZA) – I Do". Genius.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- ^ Michael, Saponara (May 17, 2019). "SZA & DJ Khaled Conquer the Throne in Victorious 'Just Us' Video: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 19, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
- ^ Shaffer, Claire (February 26, 2020). "Justin Timberlake, SZA Get Funky on 'The Other Side'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ Mims, Taylor (March 3, 2020). "SZA Signs With WME For All Areas: Exclusive". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- ^ Mims, Taylor (March 3, 2020). "SZA signs with WME talent agency". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ Torres, Eric (April 14, 2020). "Bruce Springsteen, SZA, More Performing at New Jersey Coronavirus Benefit Concert". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Ives, Brian (April 23, 2020). "Bruce Springsteen, SZA, Bon Jovi, Halsey, Lead 'Jersey 4 Jersey Benefit". WROR. Archived from the original on April 26, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ^ Lim, Eddy (May 26, 2020). "SZA teases "music dump" of unreleased material". NME. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (August 20, 2020). "SZA Calls Out "Hostile Relationship" With Record Label President". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 24, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
- ^ a b "SZA releases new song 'Hit Different,' featuring Ty Dolla $ign". EW.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ Legaspi, Althea (September 4, 2020). "See SZA, Ty Dolla $ign Contemplate a Relationship That 'Hit Different' in New Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (December 28, 2020). "SZA Is Focusing on 'Good Days' in Sunny New Single". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ Marie, Erika (December 25, 2020). "SZA Smolders On "Good Days" With Backup Vocals From Jacob Collier". hotnewhiphop. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ "The Hot 100 Week of February 6, 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- ^ SZA (February 2, 2021). "SZA on Twitter: billboard GLOBAL 200 and billboard HOT 100". Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Young, Alex (December 25, 2020). "SZA Shares New Single "Good Days": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "Dear Evan Hansen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Ben Platt, SZA, Sam Smith & Benj Pasek & Justin Paul". September 24, 2021. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ Walker, Summer. "Summer Walker and Sza in the studio 👀". instagram.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ Cowen, Trace William (December 3, 2021). "SZA's "I Hate U" Gets an Official Release After Going Viral on TikTok". Complex. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
- ^ Grant, Shawn (April 6, 2022). "SZA Says She Finished Her Album and Gives More Details Following Grammy Win". The Source. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "SZA Teases a New Song at the End of Her 'Shirt' Music Video". ELLE. October 28, 2022. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ Lamarre, Carl (October 28, 2022). "SZA Teams Up With Lakeith Standfield For New Video 'Shirt': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ "SZA Teases a New Song at the End of Her 'Shirt' Music Video". ELLE. October 28, 2022. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ Krishnamurthy, Chaitra (October 28, 2022). "Fans think SZA will drop new album in 2022 as they decode hints in Shirt MV". HITC. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ Brodsky, Rachel (November 8, 2022). "SZA Teases New Music With "PSA" Video, "S.O.S." Clues". Stereogum. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (November 8, 2022). "SZA Teases Cryptic 'PSA' Project in New Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ Mamo, Heran (November 16, 2022). "SZA Is Finally Ready to Release That Album (Yes, Really!)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "SZA on Instagram". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ "SZA announces on "Saturday Night Live," that her "S.O.S." album will be released on December 9". Hip-Hop Vibe. December 4, 2022. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Danyel (February 8, 2023). "SZA's Ruination Brought Her Everything". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ Cowen, Trace William (December 14, 2022). "SZA Announces Details for First Arena Tour: 'Time to Take This Sh*t on the Road'". Complex. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ Elitou, Tweety (January 11, 2023). "SZA's 'S' Hockey Jersey Is So Iconic That Fans Demanded It Become a Part of the SOS Merch Collection!". BET. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ Hudson, Alex (December 13, 2022). "SZA Announces 2023 North American Tour". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ Wilkes, Emma (December 13, 2022). "SZA Announces North American Arena Tour for 2023". NME. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ Graves, Wren (December 13, 2022). "SZA Announces 2023 'The SOS North American Tour'". Consequence. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ a b Aswad, Jem (November 30, 2023). "What's on SZA's Playlists? 'Kill Bill' Singer Talks Inspiration From Ella Fitzgerald and Her Love for Creed and Nickelback". Variety. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (November 29, 2023). "SZA, Variety's Hitmaker of the Year, Unpacks 'SOS,' Her 9 Grammy Noms, and Says 'F— You' to Song Leakers". Variety. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ "Cover Story: SZA". The FADER. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ Cliff, Aimee (April 7, 2014). "Five things you should know about SZA". Redbull.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ a b Nnadi, Chioma (March 27, 2014). "Why SZA's Huge Natural Hair is Our New Obsession". Vogue. Archived from the original on August 1, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Watch SZA Shower Ashanti With Love: 'You're So Amazing—You're Such A Huge Inspiration For Me'". September 16, 2021. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
- ^ a b Reese, Nathan (October 9, 2013). "SZA's Unlikely Path To Pop Stardom". Refinery29. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Sza Talks Beyoncé, Rihanna, and the Importance of Staying Present". LNTV. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ a b Benjamin, Ben (April 10, 2014). "SZA: 'Z' Album Review". Neon Tommy. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Ritchie, Kevin (April 17, 2014). "SZA: "Z" (Top Dawg Entertainment)". Toronto Now. Archived from the original on July 22, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ a b Erbentraut, Joseph (July 23, 2014). "You Probably Don't Know Rising R&B Star SZA Yet, But You Will". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Muller, Marissa G. (November 4, 2013). "Meet SZA, Kendrick Lamar's Newest Labelmate". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
For the record, her name is pronounced Sizza, like RZA and GZA.
- ^ Sargent, Jordan (April 18, 2014). "SZA "Z"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 11, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Was SZA's 'SOS' Worth the Wait?". Time. December 9, 2022. Archived from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ Platon, Adelle (October 4, 2016). "SZA Tweets 'I Actually Quit,' Says TDE President Can Drop Album 'If He Ever Feels Like It'". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ Price, Joe. "SZA Suggests She Plans to Take Extended Break Following 'SOS' Release: 'I'm Gonna Disappear'". Complex. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Kiana (November 18, 2014). "Songs We Love: SZA, 'Sobriety'". NPR. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ "TDE Finally Confirms SZA as Newest Signee". Complex. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ "SZA's SOS debuts at No. 1". The FADER. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ Smith, Danyel (February 8, 2023). "SZA's Ruination Brought Her Everything". The New York Times Magazine. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ a b Caldwell, Brandon (July 11, 2020). "SZA Clarifies Her Remarks About Being A 'Queen' Of R&B". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ Richards, Chris (December 9, 2022). "On SOS, SZA unpacks her most complicated emotions in so many words". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ Inskeep, Steve; Fitzgerald, Kiana (December 29, 2022). "Lyrics from 'Blind' by Hip-Hop Singer-Songwriter SZA Will Stay with You" (Audio upload and transcript). NPR. Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ Ugwu, Reggie (May 23, 2013). "SZA Talks Quitting Her Day Job, Working With Holy Other & Emile Haynie". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ a b "SZA Reveals Album with Tame Impala and Mark Ronson". Rap-Up. October 21, 2017. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Madden, Michael (April 8, 2014). "SZA – Z | Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
- ^ Leon, Sarah (April 9, 2014). "She's Just SZA". W Magazine. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Bristow, Elizabeth (July 21, 2014). "SZA's Pitchfork Festival Style". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Porter, Sierra (September 28, 2022). "SZA Graces the Cover of TIME100 Next List". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ "Doja Cat & SZA Win GRAMMY For Best Pop Duo/Group Performance | 2022 GRAMMYs". www.grammy.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. January 1, 2023. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
External links
Media related to SZA (singer) at Wikimedia Commons
- SZA at AllMusic
- SZA
- 1989 births
- Living people
- 21st-century African-American women singers
- 21st-century American women singers
- African-American Muslims
- African-American women singer-songwriters
- American women singer-songwriters
- Alternative R&B musicians
- American contemporary R&B singers
- American women hip hop singers
- American women pop singers
- Brit Award winners
- Columbia High School (New Jersey) alumni
- Grammy Award winners
- MTV Video Music Award winners
- Muslims from Missouri
- Muslims from New Jersey
- Muslim women
- American neo soul singers
- People from Maplewood, New Jersey
- RCA Records artists
- Singer-songwriters from Missouri
- Singer-songwriters from New Jersey
- Singers from St. Louis
- Top Dawg Entertainment artists
- Juno Award for International Album of the Year winners