Top Dawg Entertainment is regarded as one of the best rap labels out there and its artists are already household names in their own right. With names like Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, and Ab-Soul on the label’s roundup, it can be an intimidating group. There is, however, one member that sticks out against the crowd and her name is SZA — pronounced “sizza.”
As TDE’s only female artists it’s clear she has something special. Unlike her TDE companions, SZA brings a warm, breezy and emotional approach to her tracks. As an R&B singer, she is already able to reach a musical destination that her fellow members cannot. In that case, they’ll usually feature each other in their tracks to perfect the marriage between hard hitting rhymes and soulful croons.
On only her debut album, SZA has already featured some of hip hop’s best, including Chance the Rapper, Kendrick, and Isaiah Rashad. You might recognize her from Rihanna’s “Consideration” or the countless other tracks shes appeared on. In just one year SZA has appeared on Rihanna’s “ANTI,” Schoolboy Q’s “Blank Face LP,” Isaiah Rashad’s “The Sun’s Tirade” and Ab-Soul’s “Do What Thou Wilt.”
To say it’s been an impressive year for the R&B singer wouldn’t do her enough justice. She recently released a new single “Drew Barrymore” set to appear off her sophomore album CNTRL. SZA has been coy about offering up any details on when the album will drop but until then, Valley has put together a playlist of her best stand alone’s and features to get you through.
Every month Valley will be bringing you the hottest artists to bless your eardrums and amp up your playlists. Stay tuned!
