Before half of America tunes into the Super Bowl to see the Kansas Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles, it might behoove you to learn a bit more about Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show co-star, SZA. SZA is currently a big name in the music business, however, her swift rise to fame has left her backstory a bit in the dust.
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Even though the artist has won five Grammys, she did not garner loads of solo commercial fame until 2022. However, don’t go scouring the internet yourself to find out more about her, because we got you covered. That being so, here are three fun facts about Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show co-star, SZA.
SZA—The Acclaimed Co-Writer
Prior to her getting her solo career off the ground, SZA was a hot commodity in the world of co-writing. Thanks to her talents, she has co-written songs with Nicki Minaj, Travis Scott, Beyoncé, Schoolboy Q, and Rihanna. Matter of fact, SZA also helped Lamar write his song, “Untitled 04 | 08.14.2014.”
Regarding her collaborations with other artists, SZA has most notably written songs “Feeling Yourself,” “Ok Alright,” “Neva Change,” and “Consideration.” Needless to say, SZA has been at the top of the music industry for quite a while, you just might not have seen her name on the marquee.
The First Female to Sign With Top Dog Entertainment
Top Dog Entertainment is a record label known for its decorated roster of R&B and hip-hop musicians. Their roster includes Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Isaiah Rashad, and ScHoolboy Q. Given the male-dominated list, SZA became the first ever woman to sign with the independent label in 2013.
Since her signing, SZA has released two studio albums, one reissue album, and three extended plays. However, as of 2024, SZA announced she’d be leaving Top Dawg Entertainment and her manager, Terrance “Punch” Howard, the founder and CEO of TDE.
Her Talents Have Appeared in Blockbuster Hits
Given her musical versatility, SZA has dipped her toe in the film industry. Particularly, in 2021, before her hard launch, SZA covered the song “The Anonymous Ones” for the film, Dear Evan Hansen. Not only did the song appear in the commercial hit, but it also garnered the film an HMMA Award for Best Soundtrack Album.
In addition to her musical role in Dear Evan Hansen, SZA’s work also appeared in the Oscar-nominated film, Black Panther. Sang alongside her friend and collaborator, Kendrick Lamar, “All the Stars” peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
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