Building on her sensational breakout album Ctrl in 2017, American singer SZA, born Solána Imani Rowe, has released her second album SOS… and the five-year wait is more than worth it.
The 23-track album features a veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of R&B and hip-hop, including features from Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Bjork, and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
The album was preceded by the release of three singles - Good Days, I Hate U, and Shirt— the first two of which peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.
Musically, the album is R&B-inspired, with influences from hip hop and pop. The album samples from soul, gospel, jazz and melodic rap and has been described as “a varied palette,” combining surf rock and grunge elements, alongside SZA’s trademark beloved lo-fi beats.
Most critics have been blown away by the progression she has shown between her debut and the follow up, with the 33-year-old artist receiving acclaim for the range of raw and real human emotion she conveys in each song, without compromising on impeccable music.