SZA is one of the most influential and acclaimed artists in contemporary R&B. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since her debut in 2012, and has released two albums, four EPs, and numerous singles that have earned her 12 Grammy nominations and one award. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her songs explore themes such as love, sexuality, identity, and empowerment with a unique musical style that she calls glitter trap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at SZA\u2019s evolution as an artist and examine her 15 most influential songs and their impact on contemporary R&B. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you are a fan of SZA or just curious about her music, this article will give you a deeper insight into her creative process and artistic vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SZA was born Sol\u00e1na Imani Rowe on November 8, 1989, in St. Louis, Missouri. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She grew up in a Muslim household with a father who was an executive producer at CNN and a mother who was an Ivy League-educated academic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She listened to various genres of music from an early age, such as jazz, soul, gospel, hip-hop, and alternative rock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She attended a conservative Islamic school until she was in ninth grade when she moved to Maplewood, New Jersey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SZA started making music as a hobby in college, where she studied marine biology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She recorded songs on her laptop and uploaded them to SoundCloud under the name SZA, which stands for either\u00a0Sovereign Zig-Zag Allah\u201d\u00a0<\/em>or\u00a0\u201cSavior Zig-Zag Allah<\/em>, depending on the source. She also adopted the name because of the Wu-Tang Clan and their use of Supreme Alphabet.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n She independently released her first EP, See.SZA.Run, in 2012, followed by her second EP, S, in 2013. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These projects showcased her eclectic and experimental sound that blended R&B, soul, pop, indie rock, and electronic music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SZA caught the attention of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) label home of Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She met Terrence \u201cPunch\u201d Henderson, the co-founder of TDE, at a Kendrick Lamar show selling merchandise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He was impressed by her music and offered her a deal with TDE. She became the first female artist to sign with TDE in 2013. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She released her third EP, Z, in 2014 under TDE. Z was more polished and cohesive than her previous projects and featured collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Isaiah Rashad, and James Fauntleroy. Z received critical acclaim and debuted at number 39 on the Billboard 200 chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SZA\u2019s debut album Ctrl was one of the most anticipated albums of 2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was titled A and was supposed to be the final installment of her self-titled trilogy after S and Z. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the album faced delays and setbacks due to creative differences between SZA and TDE. SZA expressed her frustration and anxiety over the album\u2019s release on social media and even threatened to quit music several times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She also revealed that she had recorded over 150 songs for the album and had trouble choosing which ones to include.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ctrl dropped on June 9, 2017, after TDE\u2019s CEO Anthony \u201cTop Dawg\u201d Tiffith took control of SZA\u2019s hard drive and decided on the final tracklist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ctrl featured 14 songs exploring SZA\u2019s experiences with love, sex, relationships, self-esteem, and identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The album showcased SZA\u2019s raw and honest lyrics that were often confessional and self-deprecating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The album also showcased SZA\u2019s versatile vocals that ranged from soulful crooning to rap-like flows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The album had several producers, such as Pharrell Williams, Frank Dukes, Carter Lang, Cam O\u2019bi, ThankGod4Cody, Scum Beats, and others.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The album\u2019s sound blended contemporary R&B, neo-soul, pop, hip-hop, and alternative rock and featured guest appearances from Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, James Fauntleroy, and Isaiah Rashad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ctrl was a commercial and critical success. It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 60,000 units in its first week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2018. It received widespread acclaim from critics who praised SZA\u2019s songwriting, vocals, and authenticity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It ranked as one of the best albums of 2017 by various publications such as Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, The Guardian, Complex, and Time. It earned five Grammy nominations in 2018 for Best New Artist, Best Urban Contemporary Album, Best R&B Performance (\u201cThe Weekend\u201d), Best R&B Song (\u201cSupermodel\u201d), and Best Rap\/Sung Performance (\u201cLove Galore\u201d).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it won no awards, which sparked controversy and backlash from fans and celebrities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ctrl established SZA as one of the leading voices in contemporary R&B. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Her songs resonated with listeners who related to her vulnerability and honesty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Her songs also influenced other artists who adopted her style and sound. Some of the most popular songs from Ctrl are:<\/p>\n\n\n\nSZA\u2019s Breakthrough: How Ctrl Changed the Game for R&B<\/h3>\n\n\n\n