SZA

Solana Imani Rowe, known professionally as SZA, is an American singer and songwriter who has become one of the defining voices of contemporary R&B. Born on November 8, 1989, in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Maplewood, New Jersey, SZA grew up in a Muslim household and studied marine biology at Delaware State University before pivoting to music. She self-released her first EP, See.SZA.Run, in 2012, which caught the attention of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), the label home to Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q.

SZA’s debut studio album, Ctrl, released in June 2017, was a critical and commercial breakthrough. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA. Tracks like “Love Galore” featuring Travis Scott, “The Weekend,” and “Broken Clocks” became anthems for a generation. Ctrl was widely praised for its raw honesty about relationships, self-doubt, and identity, and it appeared on numerous year-end and decade-end best album lists.

Her second studio album, SOS, released in December 2022, elevated SZA to superstar status. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and spent ten consecutive weeks at the top. The hit single “Kill Bill” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and other tracks like “Shirt” and “Snooze” also charted prominently. SOS was certified double platinum and earned SZA multiple Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year. She won the Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album and Best R&B Song. The album’s deluxe edition, Lana, extended the era further in 2024.

SZA’s artistry is characterized by her vulnerability, genre-blending approach mixing R&B with pop, neo-soul, and indie elements, and her willingness to explore complex emotional territory. She has collaborated with major artists including Kendrick Lamar on the Black Panther soundtrack song “All the Stars,” Doja Cat on “Kiss Me More,” and many others. Her SOS Tour was one of the highest-grossing tours of 2023, cementing her position as a top-tier live performer.