SZA

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10 Feb 2024

SZA

Solána Imani Rowe, known professionally as SZA, is an American singer-songwriter who rose to prominence with her unique blend of R&B and neo-soul music. Born on November 8, 1989, SZA gained recognition for her self-released EPs, including "See.SZA.Run" (2012) and "S" (2013), which led to her becoming the first female artist signed to Top Dawg Entertainment.
Her third EP, "Z" (2014), marked her transition to digital retail platforms and achieved success, reaching the top ten on the US Independent Albums chart. Following her joint recording contract with RCA Records, SZA released her debut studio album, "Ctrl" (2017), which received widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. It earned her four Grammy Award nominations and became one of the longest-charting R&B albums by a female artist on the Billboard 200.

In 2018, SZA received nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Awards for Best Original Song for her collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on "All the Stars". Her feature on Doja Cat's "Kiss Me More" set a record for the longest-running all-female collaboration within the US top ten and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
SZA's second album, "SOS" (2022), spent multiple weeks atop the Billboard 200 and broke records for streaming in the R&B genre in the US. Supported by hit singles like "Good Days," "I Hate U," "Nobody Gets Me," and "Snooze," SZA achieved her first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Kill Bill" in 2023. Additionally, she topped the charts again with her guest appearance on Drake's "Slime You Out."

Throughout her career, SZA has received numerous accolades, including four Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, and recognition from organizations like the Guild of Music Supervisors and Billboard Women in Music. She has also contributed her songwriting talents to artists such as Nicki Minaj, Travis Scott, and Rihanna, solidifying her impact on the music industry.

Solána Imani Rowe, professionally known as SZA, was born on November 8, 1989, in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey. Her upbringing was influenced by her father, an executive producer at CNN, and her mother, an executive at AT&T. SZA has an older half-sister named Panya Jamila and an older brother named Daniel, also known as Manhattan, who is a rapper. Raised in a household where her mother practiced Christianity and her father practiced Islam, SZA was brought up as a Muslim and continues to follow the faith.

During her childhood, SZA attended a Muslim prep school where she wore a hijab daily, a decision enforced by her father. However, after facing bullying following the September 11 attacks, she stopped wearing the hijab during seventh grade. Despite this, SZA maintains a deep connection to her faith and expresses respect for Islamic principles.

She attended Columbia High School, where she participated in sports such as gymnastics and cheerleading. After graduating in 2008, SZA pursued higher education at three different colleges before settling at Delaware State University to study marine biology. However, she ultimately dropped out in her last semester and took on various jobs to support herself.
SZA derived her stage name from the Supreme Alphabet, drawing inspiration from the rapper RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan. The initials in her name represent Zig-Zag and Allah, reflecting her spiritual and personal influences. The letter "S" in her stage name can signify either "savior" or "sovereign," adding depth to her artistic identity.

SZA's journey with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) began in 2011 when she attended the CMJ New Music Report with her boyfriend, whose clothing company sponsored a show featuring Kendrick Lamar. Her early music caught the attention of TDE president Terrence "Punch" Henderson, who was impressed by its quality. After generating buzz with her self-released EPs, SZA signed with TDE in 2013, becoming the label's first female artist. Her early music was recorded with friends and neighbors, using beats sourced from the internet.

In 2012, SZA self-released her debut EP titled See.SZA.Run, followed by her second EP, S, in 2013, which received positive reviews. The release of the song "Teen Spirit" and its remix featuring 50 Cent, along with a music video, further enhanced her visibility. She also collaborated with label-mates such as Isaiah Rashad and Schoolboy Q on various projects.
SZA's single "Child's Play" featuring Chance the Rapper, released in March 2014, preceded the launch of her studio EP titled Z in April 2014. The lead single, "Babylon," was accompanied by a music video, and the EP debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number thirty-nine. Following the release of Z, SZA continued to work on her fourth EP, A, collaborating with artists like Kitty Cash and Jill Scott.

Throughout 2014, SZA remained active, releasing singles like "Julia" and "Sobriety" and participating in tours, including supporting Jhené Aiko's "Enter The Void" tour alongside The Internet. These endeavors contributed to SZA's growing presence in the music industry and solidified her position as a rising star within the R&B genre.

As SZA worked on her project A, which was later repackaged as her debut album and retitled Ctrl, she began writing songs for other artists, including Beyoncé and Rihanna. She co-wrote "Consideration" with Rihanna and Tyran Donaldson for Rihanna's album Anti (2016). SZA also featured on the track and performed it live with Rihanna at the 2016 Brit Awards.
In January 2017, SZA released "Drew Barrymore," the lead single from her upcoming album Ctrl. She signed her first major-label recording contract with RCA Records on April 28, 2017. Ctrl debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, receiving universal acclaim from music critics. The album featured several successful singles, including "Love Galore," which earned platinum certification and peaked in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.

SZA embarked on a North American and Oceanic concert tour from August 2017 to February 2018, promoting Ctrl with over fifty shows. She also opened for Bryson Tiller's "Set It Off Tour" in Europe. Additionally, SZA collaborated with Maroon 5 on "What Lovers Do," which became her first top-ten hit as a featured artist on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2017, SZA contributed to the soundtrack for HBO's Insecure with the song "Quicksand" and collaborated with Khalid and Post Malone on the remix version of Lorde's single "Homemade Dynamite." She also worked on a joint album with Mark Ronson and Tame Impala.

SZA received five Grammy nominations in November 2017, including Best New Artist, but did not win any awards. In January 2018, she featured with Kendrick Lamar on "All the Stars," the lead single from the Black Panther soundtrack, which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. SZA also collaborated with Cardi B on the track "I Do" for Cardi B's album Invasion of Privacy.