A History of Two Heavyweights: Kendrick Lamar & SZA

Few collaborations carry the weight of hip-hop icon Kendrick Lamar and R&B magician SZA’s in contemporary music. It’s astounding to think that SZA was discovered by their joint label, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), while selling merchandise at a Kendrick Lamar show – 14 years on, the pair boast hundreds of accolades between them, and an upcoming co-headlining stadium tour.

Their Grand National Tour is set to kick off in April, but before it does, let’s take a dive into the decorated duo’s history… 

The collaborators first appeared together on ‘Z’, SZA’s first EP released under TDE, a year after they signed her. ‘Babylon’ follows the more alternative sound of SZA’s early career. SZA’s slow, distorted vocals lay atop a moody soundtrack, in juxtaposition to the more polished pop sound of today. As Lamar’s vocals enter, in an effortlessly cool flow, we see her energy matched. It’s clear, even from their debut, that these two have something special between them. 

They continued working together for several years, with SZA lending background vocals to various Lamar tracks and Lamar featuring on SZA’s debut LP, ‘Ctrl’. Their pinnacle came in 2018, with ‘All The Stars’ of the Black Panther soundtrack – their partnership was not only a major commercial success but an iconic cultural moment. The song blends Lamar’s sharp lyricism with SZA’s soaring vocals, creating an elegantly potent piece that collected four Grammy nominations. This track marks the first time their artistic chemistry broke into the mainstream, proving an asset for both of their solo careers.

With this track record of joint excellence, fans were left pining for more magic. They got their wish with the release of the pair’s latest two albums, ‘GNX’ and ‘SOS Deluxe: LANA’. On both ‘luther’ and ‘gloria’, the pair manage to cultivate an out-of-body listening experience. ‘luther’ merges ethereal vocals, atmospheric production and a Cheryl Lynn/ Luther Vandross sample, stirring up ascension, where ‘gloria’ employs a more aggressive sound, with SZA arguing with her lover - rather comically - in an interlude (“I gave you life / I breathe the motherf*ckin’ charisma in this b*tch”). These tracks prove a slower moment in between the sped-up, heavy-hitting flow of ‘GNX’. 

On the other hand, ‘30 For 30’ plays as a much harder tune, with bars rolling out like punches as the two sing “If it’s f*ck me then f*ck you”. While very different to its predecessors - with SZA dropping her halo for boxing gloves - it’s still a marvellous collaboration. If anything, it stands as a testament to their combined artistic versatility. 

All eyes are now on the two, following their recent Super Bowl Halftime performance and a string of sold-out stadium shows on the horizon. It’s an exciting time for the thousands won over by their synergy, as we’re left anticipating their next move. 

Zahra Hanif

Image: Instagram

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