SZA

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

SZA's connection to J. Cole's world is not documented in the source material. The source covers her career with Top Dawg Entertainment, her self-released EPs See.SZA.Run (2012) and S (2013), her signing to TDE on July 14, 2013, and her albums Z (2014), Ctrl (2017), and SOS (2022). It details her collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Doja Cat, and other artists, as well as her co-writing for Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Travis Scott, Schoolboy Q, and Rihanna. The source mentions her stage name was inspired by the Five Percent Nation, taking influence from rappers RZA and GZA of Wu-Tang Clan. It also covers her early life in Maplewood, New Jersey, her mixed religious upbringing, and her studies in marine biology at Delaware State University before dropping out.

In Their Own Story

In 2011, SZA first met members of Top Dawg Entertainment during the CMJ New Music Report, when her boyfriend's clothing company sponsored a show where Kendrick Lamar was performing. Her early music was shared with TDE president Terrence 'Punch' Henderson, who was impressed by the quality. After self-releasing her debut EP See.SZA.Run on October 29, 2012, and her second EP S on April 10, 2013, SZA signed to TDE on July 14, 2013. Her third EP Z (2014) marked her chart debut, reaching number 32 on the UK R&B chart and number 39 on the Billboard 200. Her debut album Ctrl was released on June 9, 2017, following a May 25 teaser video featuring a voiceover from RZA. The album was critically acclaimed and placed in several year-end lists.

Reader's Guide

SZA's career trajectory shows an artist who built her following through self-released EPs before signing with Top Dawg Entertainment. Her early work includes the lo-fi and psychedelic EP Z (2014) and her R&B debut Ctrl (2017). Following Ctrl, she engaged in high-profile collaborations including 'All the Stars' (2018) with Kendrick Lamar, which garnered Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations, and 'Kiss Me More' (2021) with Doja Cat, which won SZA her first Grammy Award. Her second album SOS (2022) became the first by a woman to spend 100 weeks within the Billboard 200's top ten and broke the record for the longest-running US top-ten by a Black musician. Its fifth single 'Kill Bill' peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100. From 2024 to 2025, she achieved top-tens with 'Saturn' and '30 for 30' from the deluxe reissue Lana (2024), and her longest-running US number-one song 'Luther'. Her 2025 Grand National Tour with Lamar is the highest-grossing co-headlining tour in history.

Did You Know?

• SZA's stage name was inspired by the Five Percent Nation, taking cues from the Supreme Alphabet and influence from rappers RZA and GZA of Wu-Tang Clan.
• She studied marine biology at Delaware State University and dropped out in her final semester to focus on music.
• SZA wore a hijab during elementary and early middle school but stopped after the September 11 attacks due to fears of Islamophobic bullying.
• Her song 'Consideration' was originally intended for her own album as a track called 'LouAnne Johnson' before being given to Rihanna for her album Anti.
• SZA's second album SOS (2022) became the first by a woman to spend 100 weeks within the Billboard 200's top ten.