Solána Imani Rowe (born November 8, 1989), known professionally as SZA, is an American singer-songwriter, Born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Maplewood, New Jersey. 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, and an older brother, Daniel, aka Manhattan, a rapper. Her mother is Christian and her father is Muslim. She was raised as a Muslim and continues to follow Islam.
Four: Love Galore
Going way back to 2017, this song plummeted SZA into the limelight with her sensational vocals, she drew everyone in and got us hooked! With over 110M views on its official music video on YouTube, “Love Galore” is a song by American singer SZA, featuring vocals from American rapper and singer Travis Scott. It was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records as the second single from SZA’s debut studio album, Ctrl, on April 28, 2017. SZA and Scott wrote the song alongside TDE President Punch, and with producers Scum, Lang, and ThankGod4Cody. “Love Galore” received a Grammy nomination at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. It was certified Gold and Platinum in Canada, United Kingdom and the United States. It also peaked at the number one for US Adult R&B Songs, number 3 on US Rhythmic Chart and more!
FYI
SZA co-wrote “Feeling Myself” with Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé.
Rowe formed her stage name from the Supreme Alphabet, taking influence from rapper RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan.
She has been worked with so many artists including 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, DJ Khaled, Bon Jovi, Halsey, Rihanna, Chance The Rapper, Doja Cat, Post Malone and many others!
Three: Good Days
“Good Days” is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA on December 25, 2020, as the lead single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). SZA wrote the song alongside Jacob Collier, who provides background vocals, and with producers Carter Lang, Los Hendrix, and Nascent. It garnered over 89M views on its official music video on YouTube. The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number three in New Zealand, and number eight in Ireland and Singapore. It was the eighth most streamed international song in Malaysia for a week of its release. It was nominated at the Grammy Awards in 2022 for the category of Best R&B Song and at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards for the category of Best R&B song of the year.
Two: Slime You Out Ft SZA
“Slime You Out” is a song by Canadian rapper and singer Drake featuring American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released through OVO Sound and Republic Records as the second single from Drake’s upcoming eighth studio album, For All the Dogs, on September 15, 2023. The official audio has garnered over 4.1M views on YouTube and over 29M streams on Spotify. The song has peaked at top spots on music charts like number 3 on UK Hip-Hop/ R&B charts and Australia Hip-Hop/ R&B charts, Number 9 on New Zealand Music Charts and many more.
Bonus: Kiss Me More
“Kiss Me More” is a song by American rapper and singer Doja Cat featuring fellow American singer SZA. The song was released on April 9, 2021, as the album’s lead single through Kemosabe and RCA Records. “Kiss Me More” was written by the artists alongside the song’s producers Yeti Beats and Rogét Chahayed, as well as Tizhimself and Carter Lang, and Lukasz Gottwald. It has been described as a disco-influenced pop song. It garnered over 431M views on its official music video on YouTube and was a viral sensation on the popular app Tiktok.
Accolades/ Awards & Nominations
- Her debut studio album “Ctrl” became second longest-charting R&B album by a woman in the history of the US Billboard 200.
- At the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, the album “Ctrl” earned her four nominations, including Best New Artist.
- She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award and Academy Award for Best Original Song for her collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on the top ten single “All the Stars”.
- Her collaboration with Doja on the song “Kiss Me More” earned her Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
- SZA has received multiple accolades throughout her career, including an American Music Award, a Grammy Award, a Guild of Music Supervisors Award, and two awards from Billboard Women in Music (including Woman of the Year), in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Brit Award.
- She received the “Rulebreaker Award” at the Billboard Women in Music event in 2018.
- SZA also won the Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist in 2017.
Discography
American singer SZA has released two studio albums, three extended plays (EPs), and 16 singles.
- Ctrl (2017)
- SOS (2022)
One: Kill Bill
“Kill Bill” became SZA’s first song to top the Billboard Hot 100, “Kill Bill” is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It gave SZA her first number one on the Billboard Global 200, garnering over 84M views on its official music video on YouTube, and over 1B streams on Spotify. The song broke the record set by “Old Town Road” (2019) for the chart’s longest-running number one, with 21 weeks. It became her third and fastest to top Rhythmic Airplay, the chart for rhythmic contemporary radio. “Kill Bill” was produced by Rob Bisel and Carter Lang, who wrote the song with SZA.
For Awards, Kill Bill won the Award for Video of the Year the BET Awards in 2023, it was also nominated for several awards at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Direction, Best Editing, Song of the Summer, Video-of the Year.
