SZA Religion

What religion is SZA?

SZA is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and music video director who identifies as Muslim. Her father is Muslim and her mother is Christian. SZA was raised as an Orthodox Muslim, she has said that she believes in a higher power rather than limiting herself to a single religious tradition. She has acknowledged influences from Islam, Christianity, and Hindu philosophy, explaining that her faith is centered on personal growth, gratitude, and inner peace. She has practiced and identified with Christianity, and she considers herself Muslim.

After releasing two independently produced EPs, See.SZA.Run (2012) and S (2013), SZA signed with Top Dawg Entertainment in 2013, becoming the label’s first female artist. She gained widespread recognition with her third EP, Z (2014), before achieving mainstream success with her Grammy-nominated debut album, Ctrl (2017). The album was praised for its honest songwriting and modern R&B sound, earning multi-platinum certification and producing hit singles such as “Love Galore,” “The Weekend,” and “Broken Clocks.” During this period, SZA also built a reputation as a songwriter, contributing to songs for artists including Rihanna, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, and Travis Scott.

SZA reached even greater commercial and critical success with her second studio album, SOS (2022), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and became one of the longest-running top-ten albums in the chart’s history. The album produced several global hits, including the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Kill Bill,” one of the biggest songs of 2023. She followed it with the deluxe reissue Lana (2024), featuring successful singles such as “Saturn,” “BMF,” and “30 for 30.” Her collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, “Luther,” became her longest-running number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, while their Grand National Tour set the record as the highest-grossing co-headlining tour in history.

Throughout her career, SZA has established herself as one of the most influential contemporary R&B artists. She has won multiple Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, a Brit Award, Billboard Women in Music’s Woman of the Year honor, and the Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame in recognition of her songwriting achievements. She has also expanded into acting with her feature film debut in One of Them Days (2025).

Early life

SZA was born Solána Imani Rowe on November 8, 1989, in St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised in Maplewood, New Jersey. She grew up in a religiously diverse household with a Christian mother, an executive at AT&T, and a Muslim father, a producer at CNN. SZA was raised as an Orthodox Muslim and has an older brother, rapper Daniel Manhattan, as well as an older half-sister, Tiffany Daniels.

During her childhood, SZA attended both public school and a Muslim preparatory school. She wore a hijab throughout her early years but stopped after experiencing bullying following the September 11, 2001 attacks. She later attended Columbia High School, where she was active in gymnastics and cheerleading before graduating in 2008. After high school, SZA enrolled at Delaware State University to study marine biology with plans to pursue a career in environmental science. She left during her final semester and worked several jobs before deciding to focus on music full-time. Around that time, she connected with Terrence “Punch” Henderson, co-president of Top Dawg Entertainment, a meeting that eventually led to her signing with the label. Her stage name, SZA, is derived from the Supreme Alphabet, with the letters representing “Self-Savior,” “Zig-Zag,” and “Allah.”

Early Career And Breakthrough

SZA began her music career by independently releasing the EP See.SZA.Run in October 2012, followed by her second EP, S, in April 2013. Both projects earned positive reviews for their alternative R&B sound and helped establish her as one of the genre’s most promising new artists. The growing attention around her music led to a meeting with Terrence “Punch” Henderson, president of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), who signed her later that year as the label’s first female artist. Under Top Dawg Entertainment, SZA released her third EP, Z, on April 8, 2014. The project featured collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Isaiah Rashad, and Chance the Rapper, while singles such as “Babylon,” “Childs Play,” and “Warm Winds” introduced her to a wider audience. Z debuted in the top 40 of the Billboard 200, becoming her first charting project and marking her commercial breakthrough. Critics praised the EP’s blend of alternative R&B, neo-soul, hip-hop, and electronic influences, further establishing SZA as one of the genre’s most distinctive voices.

Following the success of Z, SZA expanded her profile through collaborations and songwriting for major recording artists. She co-wrote songs for Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Nicki Minaj while appearing alongside Rihanna on “Consideration,” the opening track of the multi-platinum album Anti (2016). Although her debut studio album faced several delays, anticipation continued to grow until the release of Ctrl in 2017, the critically acclaimed project that transformed SZA from an emerging R&B talent into a mainstream star.

The “Ctrl” Breakthrough

After several delays, SZA released her debut studio album, Ctrl, on June 9, 2017, through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and received widespread acclaim for its honest lyricism, contemporary R&B production, and themes of love, self-worth, insecurity, and personal growth.

Ctrl produced several successful singles, including “Love Galore” featuring Travis Scott, “The Weekend,” “Broken Clocks,” “Garden (Say It Like Dat),” and “Supermodel.” Both “Love Galore” and “The Weekend” achieved multi-platinum certifications in the United States, while “Broken Clocks” became one of SZA’s longest-charting solo hits on the Billboard Hot 100. The album remained on the Billboard 200 for years after its release.

The success of Ctrl earned SZA five nominations at the 60th Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Best Urban Contemporary Album, making her one of the ceremony’s most-nominated artists. Although she did not win that year, the album’s critical and commercial achievements elevated her profile worldwide and paved the way for high-profile collaborations with artists including Kendrick Lamar, Doja Cat, DJ Khaled, Justin Timberlake, Post Malone, and Cardi B. By the end of the Ctrl era, SZA had become one of the most influential figures in modern R&B, with the album frequently appearing on lists of the greatest releases of the 21st century.

Collaborations and Awards

Following the success of Ctrl, SZA became one of the music industry’s most sought-after collaborators. In 2018, she teamed up with Kendrick Lamar for “All the Stars,” the lead single from the soundtrack of Black Panther. The song became an international hit and earned nominations for both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. She later collaborated with artists including The Weeknd, DJ Khaled, Post Malone, Justin Timberlake, Cardi B, and Travis Scott.

SZA reached another milestone in 2021 with “Kiss Me More,” her collaboration with Doja Cat. The song became a worldwide commercial success and earned SZA her first Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. She continued her successful partnership with Kendrick Lamar on songs including “Luther” and “30 for 30,” both of which became major chart hits and further established the pair as one of the most successful artist collaborations of their generation.

As her career continued to grow, SZA received widespread recognition for both her music and songwriting. She has won multiple Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, BET Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and an American Music Award, while also receiving Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations. In 2024, she was honored with the Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, recognizing her impact as one of the most accomplished songwriters of her generation.

Philanthropy

Outside of music, SZA has consistently used her platform to support humanitarian, environmental, and social causes. In 2017, following Hurricane Harvey, she encouraged fans attending the Ctrl Tour to donate food, diapers, baby supplies, gloves, masks, and other essential items in exchange for the opportunity to meet her after the show. The campaign helped provide relief to families affected by one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history.

Environmental conservation has remained one of SZA’s most visible causes. She has frequently spoken about the importance of protecting the environment and raising awareness of climate change while partnering with organizations that promote sustainability and forest restoration. In 2019, she introduced the Ctrl Fishing Company merchandise collection, using the brand to encourage conversations about ocean conservation, plastic pollution, and sustainable living. She has also collaborated with organizations such as American Forests to support environmental initiatives.

SZA has also supported individuals facing serious health challenges through private acts of generosity. In 2019, she helped cover the chemotherapy expenses of a fan living with lupus, sickle cell disease, and Crohn’s disease, while using her social media platforms to help locate a kidney donor. Beyond individual assistance, in 2024, during an Auckland show for the SOS Tour, SZA expressed her support for Palestinian rights by waving their flag as she performed and saying “Free Palestine.”

Personal life

SZA has confirmed a brief relationship with Drake in 2009 and has also spoken about an 11-year relationship with an unnamed fashion designer, to whom she was once engaged.

Beyond her relationships, SZA has been open about the personal challenges she has faced throughout her life. She has spoken candidly about dealing with anxiety, depression, and the emotional impact of losing several people close to her, including close friends and former partners. She credits music, prayer, meditation, and self-reflection with helping her navigate difficult periods, while also encouraging greater awareness of mental health and emotional well-being. In recent years, she has incorporated practices such as yoga, meditation, and spiritual retreats into her daily life, describing them as important parts of her personal growth.