A Look Back at SZA's Career Through the Years — from Her Days as a Budding Star to "SOS" and "Lana"

12/20/2024 10:00 AM

The singer-songwriter released the deluxe version of her album 'SOS,' titled 'Lana,' on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024

SZA's latest record Lana has landed.

Two years after her hit second studio album SOS, SZA has revealed new tracks with the deluxe version, titled Lana. But the "Snooze" singer has put in the work since coming onto the scene over a decade ago, collecting collaborations with Rihanna, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Doja Cat and more during her rise to hitmaker status.

SOS spent ten weeks atop the Billboard 200, and "Kill Bill" became her first No. 1 on the Hot 100. The four-time Grammy winner began teasing Lana as early as last year, revealing a set of covers in December 2023. However, she didn't officially announce the release date until December 2024, in conjunction with a music video featuring Ben Stiller.

As she releases the deluxe version of her SOS album and prepares for her Grand National Tour with Lamar, see photos of SZA from 2013 to now.

2013

After two EPs, See.SZA.Run and S, she signed to Top Dawg Entertainment, becoming labelmates with Kendrick Lamar and Isaiah Rashad.

2014

In April 2014, she dropped her second EP in her "SZA" trilogy, Z. Later that year, she opened for Coldplay and Jhené Aiko on their tours.

"I didn't expect people to like my music or to take to it the way they have," she told Billboard in an interview that year. "Everything blew up. It's different now. I feel like I owe people more."

2015

Initially slated to drop the final installment of her "SZA" trilogy, A, in 2015, SZA later scrapped the EP and began working on her debut album. She provided background vocals for Lamar's Grammy-winning album To Pimp a Butterfly and featured on songs by Jay Rock, Wale and DRAM.

2016

While putting together her debut LP, she penned songs for other artists, including "Consideration" for Rihanna's album Anti. She featured on the track for the album and performed it with the "Love on the Brain" singer at the 2016 BRIT Awards.

2017

Her highly anticipated debut album Ctrl was released to critical acclaim in June 2017 after her label took the hard drive containing the record. Ctrl peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and was named by several critics as one of the best albums of the year.

"I just got so nervous because I felt like my album was just this imaginary thing. I didn't think about having to turn it into anyone, that anyone would have to hear it," SZA explained to Vulture. "Because if I think about turning it into a label then I have to wonder 'Did they like it? What'd they think of me?' "

2018

She attended her first Grammy Awards in January, where she was nominated in five categories, including best new artist and best R&B performance. The following month, she wrapped up Ctrl the Tour.

SZA had several high-profile collaborations in 2018, featuring on Lamar's top 10 hit "All the Stars," the lead track on the Black Panther soundtrack and Cardi B's "I Do" off her album Invasion of Privacy.

2019

Her 2019 was another year of collaborations, with appearances on four songs: "The Other Side" with Justin Timberlake for the Trolls film, Post Malone's "Staring at the Sun," DJ Khaled's "Just Us" and "Power Is Power" with Travis Scott and The Weeknd.

2020

In September 2020, she dropped "Hit Different" with Ty Dolla Sign, her first song as a lead artist in three years, and followed it up with "Good Days" on Christmas. The latter track became her first top 10 hit as a solo artist.

2021

Her collaboration with Doja Cat, "Kiss Me More," peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 and earned the duo a Grammy for best pop duo/group performance. At the end of the year, she released "I Hate U" following a viral moment on TikTok.

2022

After five years and several release date delays, SZA announced her second studio album SOS would drop on Dec. 9. 

"It's about heartbreak, it's about revenge, it's about being pissed," she told Glamour of the album's themes.

2023

She embarked on her first-ever arena tour in February, performing 63 shows across North America, Europe and Oceania. Variety named her Hitmaker of the Year, and she dedicated the award "to all my fans that listened to me before I ever went number one or anything like that." 

SZA also received six nominations at the Grammys, including album of the year for SOS and record and song of the year for "Kill Bill."

2024

After concluding her SOS tour in May, she filmed her acting debut One of Them Days, a buddy comedy opposite Keke Palmer. She also headlined a string of music festivals in the summer, including Lollapalooza in Chicago and Glastonbury in the United Kingdom. 

Following two features on Kendrick Lamar's surprise album GNX, the pair announced a joint stadium tour for 2025. The surprises didn't stop there: SZA also released the reissue of SOS, titled Lana, on Dec. 20.