The Impact That SZA's 'Ctrl' Left On The Music Industry
A year ago today, SZA released her debut album Ctrl. I think I can speak on behalf of many others when I say that it's an album that was on rotation the whole summer of 2017.
And with banging visuals for fan favorites like "Doves In The Wind" and "Garden (Say It Like Dat)" being released left and right, the album's the gift that keeps giving. The impact that it made in R&B and music as a whole can't be overlooked nor denied.
What made SZA win over America's heart was how perfectly imperfect she was. There was no filter for her raw and vulnerable lyrics. From the harsh relatability of wanting to be validated by the man you love to being over men and their antics altogether, there were pieces of the twenty-something experience laced throughout the 14-track debut. Her own insecurities and aspirations transformed into anthems like "Normal Girl" and "20 Somethings." It's something that most music had been missing.
Through each track, SZA became our homegirl and confidant, offering lessons she learned from her mother and grandmother through her own experiences of how to conquer fear, and finally take back control of our lives despite its obstacles and setbacks.
Ctrl solidified SZA as a threat in the music industry and listeners were in unanimous agreement. Her fanbase skyrocketed, accolades piled in, and her singles climbed the charts to new heights. SZA's journey to becoming one of today's leading ladies of R&B is an inspiring and miraculous one. Given its cultural impact, some might not realize there was a time Ctrl was not going to ever see the light of day.
In October 2016, after frustration waiting for TDE's president Punch to schedule the release of her album, SZA told fans in a tweet that she was quitting music. Thankfully, that never happened, but prior to the album's release, anxiety of failing began to kick in and further delayed the process.
In an interview with The Guardian, she said:
"I freestyle everything, all the way down. And I listen back and think, what's sh*tty? And if something's too sh*tty and I can't put my finger on it, and I think, wow this sucks to me, then I get way frustrated, and usually scrap the song."
Her anxiety got to the point that TDE had to step in themselves and release the album. SZA had low expectations, but the outcome turned out to be a 180 flip. Ctrl went platinum along with its leading single "Love Galore," while "The Weekend" sits at 2x platinum and "Garden" and "Broken Clocks" reached Gold. It became one of the most critically-acclaimed albums of 2017 and she became the most nominated woman at the 2018 Grammy Awards with five nominations.
What SZA achieved in less than a year is almost unheard of in today's R&B. And although she is considered an alternative R&B artist, her success further pushed the narrative that it's possible for R&B to thrive in a rap and pop-dominated industry. And it's only the beginning for the 27-year-old phenom.
Let's reminisce in the comments, what's your favorite track from Ctrl and why?
Want more stories like this? Check out these xoNecole related reads:
SZA Is A Testament To Feeling Fear & Doing It Anyway
SZA Getting Pulled From The TDE Tour For Swollen Vocal Cords Is A Reminder To Take Care Of Self
SZA's 'Ctrl' Review: An Unfinished Diary For The Lost 20-Something Girl In You
Ngozi Nwanji is from Silver Spring, MD and is currently a senior majoring in journalism at Temple University. Her passions include writing, Issa Rae, and music, especially 90s R&B.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Adrienne Bailon Reveals The Price Of Parenthood After Spending 'Over A Million' On IVF Treatments
Adrienne Bailon-Houghton is opening up the hidden expenses behind becoming a parent.
For PEOPLE, the former Cheetah Girl spoke candidly about how she and her husband, Israel Houghton spent "easily over a million" dollars on their journey to conceive their first child together.
The former The Real host acknowledged that this hefty sum is not attainable for most people, noting, "And that is not realistic for the average person. And I recognize that.”
Adrienne Bailon-Houghton revealed that in addition to enduring several “cycles of IVF,” she underwent numerous other fertility treatments over a challenging six-year period in her journey to conceive her son.
"I only did eight cycles of IVF, but that doesn't include the amount of IUIs I did and every other kind of imaginable treatments that you could imagine for fertility," Bailon-Houghton told the publication. "So it was a pretty tough six years of trying to have my son."
For years, the 3LW singer has expressed her acceptance of waiting for motherhood to align with divine timing, despite the discouragement she faced. In 2018, she shared with her The Real co-hosts, "I've had to come to peace with that it'll happen when it's God's timing, and I believe in that, and I have faith in all of that," she said. "But it can be really discouraging, and it can be really frustrating.”
Upon announcing the arrival of her son, Ever James, via surrogate in 2022, she reflected in an Instagram caption on the challenging journey, emphasizing her gratitude for their newborn amidst years of tears, disappointments, and medical procedures.
"Our baby boy is here & we are so in love! If you have followed our love story… you know that our journey to baby has been very challenging - But God is true to His word and His promises. We have quietly prayed while sitting on this most magnificent secret for the last 9 months," she wrote.
"He is worth every tear, every disappointment, every delayed prayer, every IVF cycle, every miscarriage. Everything. All we feel is joy and overwhelming love & gratitude," she continued.
"Grateful to God, to our angel surrogate and to all of our friends and family who have stood with us for over 5 years on this journey. He's here and we have never been happier to lose sleep! #HappilyEverHoughton 🤍"
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Featured image by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for alice + olivia