BEYOND THE NOTES
Photo courtesy of Cassidy Meyers
March 5, 2025 | Shreya Varma
2025 is the year of SZA. Her mesmerizing voice and commanding stage presence captivated millions of Super Bowl viewers, turning a halftime cameo into a viral sensation. Within a week, her streaming numbers skyrocketed by 80% — a preview of what’s ahead this year. Her success across the entertainment industry transcends outdated narratives that Black women can only thrive in genres traditionally associated with Black culture, such as R&B. With an international stadium tour alongside Kendrick Lamar on the horizon and a breakout role in film, she continues to inspire women of color worldwide and redefine what it means to be a multi-hyphenate artist.
This year’s Grammy Awards added another accolade to her already decorated career, earning her her fifth Grammy this year for “Saturn” in the “Best R&B Song” category. Her ability to blend raw emotions with genre-defying sounds has set her apart, with social media users often joking that listeners might not always catch every lyric, but they’ll feel every word. Since her 2017 debut, Ctrl, SZA’s music has only grown in influence. The album remained on the charts for over five years, and her 2018 collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on “All the Stars”—nominated for Golden Globe, Grammy, and Academy Awards—introduced her to an even broader audience.
Then came SOS. Released in 2022, SOS dominated the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks. Most recently, SOS Deluxe: Lana, released in December of 2024, reaffirmed her ability to blur the lines between slow-burning ballads with high-energy tracks, pushing the boundaries of R&B even further.
Partnering with many artists throughout her music career, one of SZA’s longest creative partnerships is with Kendrick Lamar. First collaborating on her 2014 Z EP under their shared label, Top Dawg Entertainment, their creative synergy has only strengthened over the past decade. That chemistry takes center stage in 2025 with The Grand National Tour. Their highly anticipated stadium tour was announced last December. Fans got a taste of their on-stage magic when SZA joined Lamar in his Super Bowl performance.
Beyond music, SZA has now made waves in the film industry. In her film debut, One of Them Days, directed by Issa Rae, she plays Alyssa, one-half of a dynamic duo alongside Keke Palmer’s Dreux. The comedy follows their frantic 24-hour scramble to pay rent while also getting Dreux to a crucial restaurant manager interview. Shot entirely in Los Angeles on a modest $14 million budget, the film exceeded expectations, grossing over $34 million at the domestic box office. More than just a successful debut, it’s a statement that films starring Black women can and do thrive, despite industry skepticism.
SZA’s collaborations across industries speak to her artistic vision and values. Musically, her collaborations reflect a commitment to authentic storytelling, whether with Kendrick Lamar on his sharp narratives of Black Narrative or Issa Rae’s pioneering work in celebrating multidimensional Black characters. Through it all, SZA remains unapologetically herself. While crossing over between industries is not uncommon in entertainment, SZA’s rapid success in film speaks to something deeper. It’s proof that she’s here to shatter stereotypes and thrive on her own terms.
LATEST