SZA, born Solána Imani Rowe, is an American singer and songwriter from St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Maplewood, New Jersey. Her work sits across alternative R&B, contemporary R&B, electronic, hip hop soul, neo soul and pop.

Early releases

SZA self-releases her debut EP, See.SZA.Run, in 2012. In 2013 she follows it with the S EP, which receives positive critical attention. Later that year she signs to Top Dawg Entertainment and begins work on Z, which is later issued as a full album in 2014.

Breakthrough with CTRL

Her debut studio album, CTRL, arrives in 2017 through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. The album includes guest appearances from Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, James Fauntleroy and Isaiah Rashad. It debuts at number three on the Billboard 200 and becomes a major critical and commercial success. Reviewers praise its cohesion, production and SZA’s vocal delivery. CTRL receives four Grammy nominations in 2018, including Best New Artist, and is placed on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.

SOS and later work

SZA’s second studio album, SOS, is released in 2022 through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. It features Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott and Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Six singles are issued in support of the album between 2020 and 2023, and five of them reach the US Billboard Hot 100 top ten. “Kill Bill” becomes her first number one on the chart. SOS debuts at number one on the Billboard 200, becomes her first album to do so, and sets a US record for the largest streaming week for an R&B album. The album receives nine nominations at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards and wins Best Progressive R&B Album. It also appears on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.

SOS Deluxe: LANA and touring

SOS Deluxe: LANA is a reissue of SOS on Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. It includes 19 tracks, draws in leaked songs from SOS, and is later expanded with four additional tracks, including “PSA” and “Joni” featuring Don Toliver. “Saturn” is released as the lead single and is also performed at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. SZA also tours extensively in support of this period, with the SOS Tour taking in North America, Europe and Australia, and later a co-headlining Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar across North America and Europe, plus solo shows by Lamar in Australia and Latin America.