History of SZA in Timeline
Solána Imani Rowe, professionally known as SZA, is an American singer-songwriter renowned for her diaristic lyrics and alternative R&B sound, which blends various genres. She is considered a highly influential figure in contemporary R&B music. Her work reflects a unique artistic vision, making her a significant presence in the modern music landscape.
1987: Whitney Houston's Album Achievement
In 1987, Whitney Houston's album "Whitney" achieved a similar feat to SZA's SOS by having a long run at number one on the Billboard 200.
November 8, 1989: Solána Imani Rowe's Birth
On November 8, 1989, Solána Imani Rowe, known professionally as SZA, was born. She is an American singer-songwriter known for her impact on contemporary R&B.
1992: Premiere of Martin
In 1992, the sitcom Martin, featuring Tisha Campbell as Gina, premiered; SZA later referenced this role in her song "Go Gina."
1994: Nickname Chickabee
In 1994, as a child, Solána Imani Rowe was affectionately nicknamed "Chickabee" by her mother, derived from the film Nell.
1997: Series Finale of Martin
In 1997, the series Martin concluded, after which SZA referenced the character Gina, played by Tisha Campbell, in her song "Go Gina."
1998: Record Breaking
In 1998 Brandy and Monica had a record for "The Boy is Mine" before SZA broke it in 2021.
2001: Release of Save the Last Dance
In 2001, the film Save the Last Dance, starring Julia Stiles, was released, a film SZA references in her song "Blind".
2003: Release of Kill Bill: Volume 1
In 2003, the film Kill Bill: Volume 1 was released, later inspiring SZA's song "Kill Bill".
2004: Release of Kill Bill: Volume 2
In 2004, the film Kill Bill: Volume 2 was released, completing the duology that inspired SZA's song "Kill Bill".
2008: High School Graduation
In 2008, SZA graduated from Columbia High School, marking the end of her secondary education.
2011: Meeting TDE Members
In 2011, SZA first met members of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), setting the stage for her future signing with the label.
October 29, 2012: Release of Debut EP See.SZA.Run
On October 29, 2012, SZA self-released her debut EP, See.SZA.Run, which garnered positive reviews and marked the beginning of her professional music career.
2012: Release of See.SZA.Run EP
In 2012, SZA garnered initial attention with the self-released EP See.SZA.Run, marking a key point in her early career.
April 10, 2013: Release of S EP
On April 10, 2013, SZA self-released her second EP, S, which was positively received and helped build her growing fanbase.
July 14, 2013: Signing with Top Dawg Entertainment
On July 14, 2013, SZA officially signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), becoming the label's first female artist and marking a significant step in her career.
October 2013: Tour with Little Dragon
In October 2013, SZA joined Swedish band Little Dragon for a four-show tour, increasing her exposure and experience in live performances.
2013: Befriending Lizzo
In 2013, SZA befriended Lizzo after a Red Bull tour, and they considered starting a rock band together.
2013: Release of S EP and Signing with TDE
In 2013, SZA released her second EP, S, and subsequently signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), solidifying a major step in her music career.
2014: First Song with Kendrick Lamar
In 2014, SZA and Kendrick Lamar released their first song together, "Babylon", from SZA's third EP Z.
2014: Contributions to Other Artists' Work
In 2014, SZA began writing songs for other singers, contributing to various artists' projects and expanding her role in the music industry.
2014: Move to Los Angeles and Meeting Mac Miller
In 2014, SZA moved to Los Angeles and met Mac Miller, who produced two songs from her album Z.
2014: Release of Z EP
In 2014, SZA released her third EP, Z, under Top Dawg Entertainment, further establishing her presence in the music scene.
2014: Release of "Teen Spirit" on SoundCloud
In 2014, SZA released the single "Teen Spirit" on SoundCloud, categorizing it as "Glitter Trap" and "Not R&B" to express her disdain for being solely labeled as an R&B artist.
2014: Features on Labelmates' Projects and Release of Z EP
In 2014, SZA was featured on multiple tracks from her labelmates' projects and released her third EP, Z, further establishing herself in the music industry.
2015: Initial Planned Release of Ctrl
In 2015, Ctrl was originally slated for release, but faced delays due to disagreements between SZA and TDE executives.
2015: Background Vocals on To Pimp a Butterfly
In 2015, SZA contributed background vocals to two tracks from Kendrick Lamar's acclaimed album To Pimp a Butterfly.
2016: Co-writing and Performing "Consideration" with Rihanna
In 2016, SZA co-wrote "Consideration" for Rihanna's album Anti and joined Rihanna for a live performance at the Brit Awards, enhancing her reputation as a songwriter and performer.
2016: Frustration and Consideration of Quitting Music
In 2016, SZA expressed frustration with the album-making process and considered quitting music, highlighting the challenges she faced during this period.
2016: Criticism of Donald Trump
In 2016, during that year's presidential election, SZA condemned Donald Trump supporters, criticizing their endorsement of "bigotry, lying, and xenophobia".
April 2017: Signing with RCA Records
In April 2017, SZA signed a contract with RCA Records, marking another significant step in her career.
August 2017: Promotion of Ctrl on Tour
From August 2017 to February 2018, SZA promoted her album Ctrl on a North American and Oceanic concert tour, engaging with fans and expanding her audience.
August 2017: Collaboration on "What Lovers Do"
In August 2017, SZA collaborated with Maroon 5 on "What Lovers Do", which became her first top-ten song in the US, marking a breakthrough achievement.
October 17, 2017: Opening for Bryson Tiller's Tour
From October 17, 2017, to November 30, 2017, SZA opened for the European portion of Bryson Tiller's "Set It Off Tour", gaining exposure to a broader audience.
November 2017: Grammy Nominations
In November 2017, SZA received five Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist, recognizing her growing influence in the music industry.
November 30, 2017: End of Bryson Tiller Tour
On November 30, 2017 SZA concluded her appearances on the European portion of Bryson Tiller's "Set It Off Tour".
2017: Relationship Break Off
Around 2017, SZA's relationship with her ex-fiancé ended, sending her into a state of catastrophizing.
2017: Release of Ctrl
In 2017, SZA released her album Ctrl, which has since been credited with influencing the sound of contemporary R&B.
2017: Hurricane Harvey Relief
In 2017, following Hurricane Harvey, SZA invited fans to spend time with her after Ctrl the Tour in exchange for donating essential items.
2017: Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist
SZA won the Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist in 2017.
January 2018: Collaboration on "All the Stars"
In January 2018, SZA collaborated with Kendrick Lamar on "All the Stars" for the Black Panther soundtrack, achieving another top-ten hit.
February 2018: End of Ctrl Album Tour
In February 2018, SZA finished promoting her album Ctrl on a North American and Oceanic concert tour, marking a successful period of live performances.
December 2018: Leak of Comethru Album
In December 2018, SZA faced her first major leak when a nine-track unreleased album titled Comethru was distributed through a label called Scissor.
2018: Release of "All the Stars"
In 2018, SZA and Kendrick Lamar released "All the Stars", which became a top 10 single.
2018: Grammy Awards
In 2018, despite multiple nominations, SZA did not win any Grammy Awards, which was considered a setback despite her widespread recognition.
2018: Mac Miller's Death
In 2018, the accidental lethal overdose of SZA's best friend Mac Miller further pushed her into suicidal thoughts and demotivated her from making music.
May 2019: Featured on "Just Us"
In May 2019, SZA was featured on "Just Us" from DJ Khaled's album Father of Asahd.
2019: Financial Contribution to Fan's Chemotherapy
In 2019, SZA contributed financially toward a fan's chemotherapy treatments and helped find a kidney donor.
2019: Album Delay
In 2019, SZA faced delays with her second album, creating tension with her label TDE.
2019: Billboard "Rulebreaker Award"
SZA received the "Rulebreaker Award" at the Billboard Women in Music event in 2019.
February 2020: Collaboration on "The Other Side"
In February 2020, SZA collaborated with Justin Timberlake on "The Other Side" for the Trolls World Tour soundtrack.
April 22, 2020: Participation in Benefit Concert for COVID-19 Relief
On April 22, 2020, SZA participated in a benefit concert to support New Jersey's COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts, contributing to community support during the crisis.
May 25, 2020: Interest in Releasing Unreleased Songs
On May 25, 2020, SZA expressed interest in releasing a collection of previously unreleased songs, hinting at potential new music for her fans.
August 2020: Speculation About Label Tensions
In August 2020, SZA sparked speculation about tensions with TDE when she tweeted about label president Punch, revealing potential challenges in her relationship with the label.
September 4, 2020: Release of "Hit Different"
On September 4, 2020, SZA made her return as a lead artist with "Hit Different", featuring Ty Dolla Sign, marking a comeback and new release.
2020: Online meditation session with Lizzo
In 2020, SZA hosted an online meditation session with Lizzo on Instagram Live, where SZA played a Tibetan singing bowl.
2020: Grandmother's Death
In 2020, SZA's grandmother's death pushed her into suicidal thoughts and demotivated her from making music.
2020: Teasing of "Shirt"
In late 2020, SZA teased the song "Shirt", which later gained traction on TikTok and was featured in the music video for "Good Days".
April 2021: Featured on "Kiss Me More"
In April 2021, SZA was featured on Doja Cat's "Kiss Me More", which became a global success and broke chart records.
November 5, 2021: Release of "No Love" Collaboration
On November 5, 2021, SZA and Summer Walker released "No Love", a collaboration that gained success on R&B charts.
December 2021: Release of "I Hate U"
In December 2021, SZA officially released the single "I Hate U" after it went viral on TikTok, marking a digital-age success story.
2021: Partnership with Tazo and American Forests
In 2021, SZA partnered with Tazo and American Forests to address environmental racism, creating a corps trained in climate justice advocacy.
2021: Grammy Award for "Kiss Me More"
In 2021, SZA won her first Grammy Award for her feature on Doja Cat's "Kiss Me More", which also set a record as the longest-running all-female collaboration in the US top-ten.
March 2022: Re-release of "No Love"
In March 2022, "No Love" was re-released as an official single with an extended version.
June 9, 2022: Ctrl Deluxe Edition Release
On June 9, 2022, SZA released a deluxe edition of her album Ctrl to celebrate its five-year anniversary. This deluxe version included seven previously unreleased tracks.
September 2022: Included on Time 100 Next List
In September 2022, SZA was included as one of the rising stars on the Time 100 Next List.
October 28, 2022: Release of "Shirt"
On October 28, 2022, SZA released the single "Shirt", accompanied by a music video featuring LaKeith Stanfield. The song had previously gained popularity on TikTok.
November 8, 2022: Instagram Teaser "PSA" Release
On her 33rd birthday, November 8, 2022, SZA released a teaser titled "PSA" on Instagram, hinting at a new project with Morse code spelling out "S.O.S.".
November 16, 2022: SOS Album Announcement
On November 16, 2022, Billboard confirmed that SZA's second studio album would be titled SOS and was scheduled for a December release.
December 9, 2022: SOS Album Release
On December 9, 2022, after performing on Saturday Night Live, SZA announced that her album SOS would be released, incorporating various genres to showcase her versatility.
2022: Lizzo's Album Release
In 2022, Lizzo released the album "Special", which would later feature a remix with SZA in January 2023.
2022: Release of SOS
In 2022, SZA released her album SOS, which has since been ranked on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
2022: Release and Success of SOS Album
In 2022, SZA released her second studio album, SOS, which achieved significant commercial success, spending twelve weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 and breaking streaming records.
January 2023: Featured on Lizzo's "Special" Remix
In January 2023, SZA was featured on the remix of Lizzo's single "Special" from her 2022 album.
March 2023: Modeled for Kim Kardashian's Skims
In March 2023, SZA modeled for Kim Kardashian's fashion brand, Skims, representing the "Fits Everybody" collection.
August 2023: Announcement of Lana Album Title
In August 2023, SZA announced the title of her forthcoming album, Lana.
September 2023: Collaboration with Drake on "Slime You Out"
In September 2023, SZA collaborated with Drake on the single "Slime You Out" for his eighth album, which became her second song to top the Hot 100 chart.
2023: "Snooze" on Hot 100
In 2023, "Snooze" was the only one of SZA's songs to remain on the Hot 100 chart for the entire year, marking a significant achievement.
2023: Billboard and Rolling Stone Recognition
In 2023, Billboard recognized SZA as the second-greatest pop star, and Rolling Stone ranked her as the 180th best singer of all time.
2023: Lizzo Releases Remix of "Special" Featuring SZA
In 2023, Lizzo released a remix of "Special" featuring SZA.
2023: Ranked on Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked SZA at number 180 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
2023: Number-One Singles in 2023
In 2023, SZA achieved another US number-one single with Drake's "Slime You Out", adding to her list of successes.
2023: Release of "Nobody Gets Me"
In 2023, SZA's single "Nobody Gets Me" was released, written about her ex-fiancé.
2023: Billboard "Women of the Year"
SZA received the "Women of the Year" award at the Billboard Women in Music event in 2023.
January 2024: Warning of Legal Action Against Leaks
In January 2024, SZA warned that she may pursue legal action against those who release her music without permission.
February 22, 2024: "Saturn" Release
On February 22, 2024, SZA released "Saturn," which preceded the announcement of her upcoming album Lana and became a major success.
March 2024: Addressing Fan Leak on Twitter
In March 2024, SZA addressed a fan on Twitter named Janessa who leaked unreleased images and audio, leading to the deactivation of the fan's accounts.
April 16, 2024: Support for Palestine at SOS Tour Concert
On April 16, 2024, during the SOS Tour concert in Australia, SZA expressed her support for Palestine by holding the country's flag and calling out, "Free Palestine".
November 22, 2024: Featured on Kendrick Lamar's GNX Album
On November 22, 2024, SZA was prominently featured on Kendrick Lamar's sixth studio album, GNX, contributing vocals to "Luther" and "Gloria."
November 25, 2024: Album Announcement on Mafiathon 2
On November 25, 2024, SZA announced that she would release a new album before the end of the year on Kai Cenat's Mafiathon 2 Twitch stream.
December 20, 2024: Lana Deluxe Reissue Release
On December 20, 2024, Lana, the deluxe reissue for SOS, was released, including "Saturn", "BMF", "30 for 30", and "Drive".
2024: "Luther" Reaches Number One
In 2024, "Luther", featuring both SZA and Kendrick Lamar, reached number one in the US.
2024: Hal David Starlight Award
In 2024, SZA received the Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, recognizing her contributions to songwriting.
2024: Release of SOS Reissue Album Lana
In 2024, SZA released the reissue album of SOS, titled Lana, which included outtakes and new music, spawning two top-ten singles.
2024: SOS Tour Extends into 2024
SZA's SOS Tour, which began in 2023, extended into 2024, performing across North America, Europe, and Oceania with various opening acts.
February 9, 2025: Lana Rerelease and Super Bowl Performance
On February 9, 2025, Lana was rereleased with additional tracks and SZA was a featured performer in the Super Bowl LIX halftime show with Kendrick Lamar.
2025: Grammy Award for Best R&B Song
At the 2025 Grammy Awards, SZA won Best R&B Song for her single "Saturn".
2025: Perspective of Joni Mitchell
In 2025, "Joni"—a song about being resilient and achieving perfection amid the difficulties of life—was written from the perspective of Canadian musician Joni Mitchell.
2025: "30 for 30" Single
In 2025, SZA and Kendrick Lamar released "30 for 30" which was a top single.
2025: Number-One Singles and Acting Debut in 2025
In 2025, SZA had a US number-one single with Lamar's "Luther" and made her acting debut in the comedy film One of Them Days.
2025: Planned Feature on "BMF"
In 2025, SZA was originally planned to be featured on the single "BMF" from Lana.
2025: Silent retreat in India
In 2025, SZA went to a silent retreat in India, refraining from social media use for over a week and practicing samyama.
