SZA
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Source: Greg Swales/SKIMS / Greg Swales/SKIMS
SZA has just stolen the show without singing one note. She has lent her amazing energy to the new SKIMS campaign and it doesn’t disappoint.
As spotted on Variety Magazine the songstress has added modeling to her resume. This week Kim Kardashian’s underwear brand unveiled the TDE talent as the new face of their “Fits Everybody” line. The new drop celebrates and embraces every woman’s unique curves. “Our buttery soft, molds-to-your-body fabric that stretches to twice its size” is the brand’s headline for the launch.
“I’m excited to be in Skims’ latest Fits Everybody underwear campaign and to align myself with a brand that strives to make women feel both comfortable and sexy,” SZA said in a formal statement. SKIMS founder Kim Kardashian also expressed her excitement for having the Grammy Award winning vocalist on board as well. “SZA’s honesty, confidence, and dynamic energy are unparalleled. She’s truly the woman of the moment, and I’m so honored for her to be featured in SKIMS latest campaign”.
The “Fits Everybody” collection includes a variety of bodysuits, t-shirts, slips, briefs, bras and more. You can shop the pieces here.
Photo: Greg Swales/SKIMS
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
SZA is sizzling in the latest campaign for Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand. The “Kill Bill” singer stars in SKIMS’ Fits Everybody underwear campaign, which launches on Wednesday (March 22).
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“I’m excited to be in SKIMS’ latest Fits Everybody underwear campaign and to align myself with a brand that strives to make women feel both comfortable and sexy,” SZA said in a statement.
“SZA’s honesty, confidence and dynamic energy are unparalleled,” said Kardashian. “She’s truly the woman of the moment, and I’m so honored for her to be featured in SKIMS’ latest campaign.”
SZA x SKIMS
Greg Swales/SKIMS
The campaign launch coincides with the final stop on SZA’s SOS tour at The Forum in Los Angeles on Wednesday. To honor successful the tour run, the campaign will debut on billboards around The Forum and across the U.S. in addition to launching on digital and social platforms.
“SZA is a defining voice in popular culture today, a multifaceted artist who’s an inspiration to women everywhere,” said Jens Grede, Co-Founder & CEO of SKIMS. “We are thrilled to spotlight SZA in this campaign as we believe she embodies the values of SKIMS.”
Shot and directed by SKIMS collaborator Greg Swales, the campaign features SZA in pieces from the size-inclusive, buttery-soft collection.
SKIMS has previously worked with Snoop Dogg, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, Alessandra Ambrosio, Candice Swanepoel, and The White Lotus stars Beatrice Grannò and Simona Tabasco.
See more photos of SZA’s SKIMS’ campaign below.
SZA x SKIMS
Greg Swales/SKIMS
SZA x SKIMS
Greg Swales/SKIMS
Billboard celebrated the music industry’s most talented, impactful women at the 2023 Women in Music awards at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Mar. 1).
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Beyond honoring the 2023 Woman of the Year SZA and her many accomplishments — including her 10th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with her latest album, SOS — artists like Ivy Queen, Rosalía, Lana Del Rey, Kim Petras, TWICE, Lainey Wilson, Doechii, Becky G and Latto were also honored with their own awards at the ceremony. Rosalía was the event’s first-ever Producer of the Year, Ivy Queen accepted the Icon Award, Lana Del Rey was the night’s Visionary, Kim Petras took home the Chartbreaker award, TWICE was the Breakthrough artist, Lainey Wilson was awarded the Rulebreaker honor, Doechii was honored as the Rising Star, Becky G accepted the Impact award and Latto was 2023’s Powerhouse.
“I really just want my life to be more than music,” SZA said during her unscripted, moving acceptance speech, “to be more than an artist. I want to serve others, I want to serve people, I want to be open and available for whatever God wants for me, and saying yes to everything that’s scary, to everything that feels like it’s not for you or where you don’t belong, is really the only way where we walk through those doors.”
She concluded with a powerful affirmation: “You just have to say yes to the possibility,” she said. “And thank y’all for saying yes to me.”
If you missed out on the official livestream, or just need another dose of inspiration, check out all of the 2023 Billboard Women in Music acceptance speeches below.
SZA (Woman of the Year)
Ivy Queen (Icon)
Lana Del Rey (Visionary)
Rosalía (Producer of the Year)
TWICE (Breakthrough)
Becky G (Impact)
Latto (Powerhouse)
Kim Petras (Chartbreaker)
Lainey Wilson (Rulebreaker)
Hailey Bieber graces the cover of Vogue Australia‘s March issue, and for the corresponding story published on Saturday (Feb. 25), the model sat down with her husband Justin Bieber, who interviewed her for the first time.
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The duo chat about everything from Hailey’s popular skincare brand Rhode, wardrobe tips, biggest inspirations and much more. At one point, Justin asks his wife what her favorite song is right now. While one might expect her husband’s biggest fan to choose a JB song like “Peaches” or “Intentions,” Hailey instead revealed that SZA‘s Billboard 200 chart topping album, SOS, is what she has on repeat right now. The singer’s sophomore project is currently enjoying its monumental 10th week atop the chart.
She added that her favorite songs off the album are “Snooze” and “Blind,” while Justin reminded her that she also likes “Far.”
“I love ‘Far’ right now, you’re right, that one’s my favorite,” she agreed, before adding that she’s also been loving an unreleased Justin song. “The new song that you just recorded, I can’t stop listening to right now. Nobody knows what that is yet,” she gushed.
Elsewhere in the interview, Hailey sweetly shared her favorite thing about being married to the “Love Yourself” singer. “My favorite thing about being married is honestly the companionship I feel we have,” she told her husband. “Genuinely, you are my best friend in the entire world. There’s nobody I would rather spend more time with or do anything with.”
Read the full interview here.
Doechii recently watched Avatar: The Way of Water, and it got her thinking about a key Na’vi tenet: “All energy is borrowed, and someday you have to give it back.” “That’s exactly how I feel,” she says. “From the women before me, I’m borrowing their energy so that one day I can give it back to the girl after me. That’s what I’m here to do.”
In just the past year, the 24-year-old rapper from Tampa, Fla. — who started releasing music in the 2010s before self-funding her debut EP in 2020 — has used that energy to impressive ends. In March, she became the first female rapper to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment, subsequently scoring a record deal with Capitol as well. Late-night TV and awards show performances followed, as did a string of standout singles, most notably “Persuasive,” which has 30 million official U.S. on-demand streams, according to Luminate. She also released her major-label debut EP, the five-track she / her / black b–ch, which peaked at No. 23 on the Heatseekers Albums chart and featured Rico Nasty and labelmate slash “big sister” SZA.
“Everything aligned,” says Doechii. And yet, despite her stellar 2022, this year’s Rising Star is planning an even bigger 2023 — which will include the first male feature on one of her songs, a Coachella performance and the release of her first full-length. “I’m in year three of my five-year plan,” she continues. “I’m constantly rising and I definitely haven’t arrived yet — at all. But I’m coming.”
What kind of pressure have you felt as the first female rapper signed to Top Dawg Entertainment?
A good pressure, because I know with me being the first, the next female rapper on TDE is going to look to me, look at the things I did and didn’t accomplish, and hopefully be better than me. That’s the point. I’m a leader of a new era of TDE, which feels really good. A lot of my fans reach out all the time about the impact that I’m making for them just being an alternative Black girl. Doing it on TDE like this is cool.
You mentioned borrowing energy and passing it on. Who did that for you?
They don’t even know they did it for me. It was artists like Trina, Nicki Minaj, Lauryn Hill, SZA — just powerful women being powerful women. Even watching Beyoncé be Beyoncé, she shows me that I have permission to be a boss. I can be a woman, and I can be a boss. Then Rihanna, she’ll be like, “I can be a savage.” Sometimes I’m sassy, sometimes I’m not. Watching all of them gives me permission to be more of myself.
Doechii photographed on May 17, 2022 at Seret Studios in Brooklyn.
Hao Zeng
Is there a favorite recent memory you shared with your labelmate SZA?
She’s like a big sister to me. When we were on tour [in 2021] she gave me a lot of advice on what to expect from the industry and how to carry myself. She has just always been supportive of who I am.
You mentioned your five-year plan — what will year five look like?
By year five I want to be at my peak. I want to be in my Sasha Fierce era, the top of my game with still a long way to go — but I want to reach my prime and never leave it.
You show so many sides of yourself in your music. What haven’t we seen yet?
Y’all are going to get it this year. It’s my pop era. Usually I’m alone [in the studio], but these days I’ve been inviting people in. Usually I like people to send me beats and I’ll just listen through, but recently I’ve been working with producers like J White in person, which is cool. So my vibe is kind of changing; it’s a lot of energy. It feels like a party.
Doechii photographed on May 17, 2022 at Seret Studios in Brooklyn.
Hao Zeng
Is this the year you’ll release a full project?
I will. I said that last year, though, and I didn’t. Like, for real for real, I have to this year. It’s not even funny, I have to. It’s time for me to debut this year. My fans will kill me if I don’t.
This story will appear in the Feb. 25, 2023, issue of Billboard.
SZA’s SOS jumps back to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Feb. 18), collecting an eighth nonconsecutive week atop the list. It earned 100,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 9 (up less than 1%), according to Luminate.
The last album by a woman with eight weeks at No. 1 was Taylor Swift’s Folklore, more than two years ago, as it notched its eighth and final week atop the list on the chart dated Oct. 31, 2020.
Also in the top 10 on the new Billboard 200, Shania Twain captures her sixth top 10-charting album, as her latest studio effort, Queen of Me, debuts at No. 10.
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Feb. 18, 2023-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Tuesday (Feb. 14). For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.
Of SOS’ 100,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Feb. 9, SEA units comprise 99,000 (up less than 1%, equaling 135.4 million on-demand official streams of the set’s tracks), album sales comprise 500 (up 2%) and TEA units comprise 500 (up 8%). SOS has yet to be released for sale on any configuration other than a digital download album.
The last R&B/hip-hop album with at least eight weeks atop the list was Drake’s Views, which 13 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 (May 21-Oct. 8, 2016). SOS has the most weeks at No. 1 for an R&B/hip-hop album by a woman, or an R&B album by a woman, since Mariah Carey’s Music Box spent eight nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 in late 1993 and early 1994. SOS has the most weeks at No. 1 for an R&B album by any act since Usher‘s Confessions ruled for nine nonconsecutive weeks in 2004.
R&B/hip-hop and R&B albums are defined as those that have hit or are eligible for Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top R&B Albums charts, respectively.
Four former No. 1s trail SZA, as Swift’s Midnights rises 3-2 (62,000 equivalent album units; down 9%), TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION falls 1-3 (48,000; down 70%), Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album climbs 6-4 (46,000; up 8%) and Metro Boomin’s Heroes & Villains dips 4-5 (nearly 46,000; down 3%).
The Weeknd’s The Highlights vaults 41-6 with 45,000 equivalent album units earned (up 207%). The best-of effort contains such hits as “Blinding Lights” and the resurgent “Die for You” (from The Weeknd’s studio albums After Hours and Starboy, respectively). On the new chart, the TEA and SEA units for those songs contribute to The Highlights, as a song’s activity is assigned to the artist’s album with the most traditional album sales in a week. (The Highlights sold nearly 1,000 copies in the latest tracking week, while After Hours and Starboy each sold under 1,000.) A week ago, the TEA and SEA for the songs were directed to After Hours and Starboy, respectively, as they outsold The Highlights that week.
Bad Bunny’s chart-topping Un Verano Sin Ti rises 8-7 with 45,000 equivalent album units earned (up 16%), while Drake and 21 Savage’s former leader Her Loss falls 5-8 with 43,000 (down 2%).
Harry Styles’ former No. 1 Harry’s House returns to the top 10, climbing 13-9 (38,000; up 51%), following its win for album of the year at the Grammy Awards (Feb. 5). The set also took home the trophy for best pop vocal album, while Styles additionally performed on the show, singing the set’s single “As It Was.”
Twain closes out the top 10 of the new Billboard 200, as her latest studio album, Queen of Me, debuts at No. 10 with 38,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 34,000; SEA units comprise 3,500 (equaling 4.92 million official on-demand streams of the set’s tracks) and TEA units comprise 500. Twain previously visited the top 10 with Now (No. 1 in 2017), Greatest Hits (No. 2; 2004), Up! (No. 1, 2002), Come On Over (No. 2, 1997) and The Woman In Me (No. 5, 1996).
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
After dominating 2022 with viral TikTok tracks, Grammy wins and, of course, her seven-week Billboard 200 chart-topping sophomore album S.O.S., SZA has officially been named Billboard‘s 2023 Woman of the Year.
The honor will be given at the Billboard Women in Music Awards, which will take place March 1 at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles.
“Since she burst onto the scene in 2017, SZA has defied genres and continually released raw, powerful songs which have landed her music on the Billboard charts,” said Hannah Karp, Billboard’s Editorial Director, in a press statement. “The release of her latest album, ‘SOS’ has solidified her as a distinct force in contemporary R&B, and catapulted her into superstardom. We can’t wait to honor her as Woman of the Year.”
In 2017, SZA unveiled her major-label debut album Ctrl, which was celebrated by fans for its raw and honest lyrics, paired with the singer’s honeyed vocals. The album landed No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums, No. 2 on Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums and No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and went on to be certified three times platinum by the RIAA. Ctrl has remained on the Billboard 200 chart since its release and holds the record for the longest run for any Black female artist’s debut album.
In the five years since, SZA won a Grammy for best pop duo/group performance for her Doja Cat collaboration “Kiss Me More” and received the Rulebreaker Award at the 2019 Billboard Women in Music Awards.
On Dec. 9, the 33-year-old dropped her long-awaited sophomore album, S.O.S., which immediately debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, her first chart-topper. With more than 400 million streams in the U.S. during release week, S.O.S. became the second-largest streaming week for a female artist and third-largest of 2022 among all albums.
SZA is gearing up to embark on her first arena tour this year, which is slated to kick off just before the WIM ceremony on Feb. 21 in Columbus, Ohio.
The star joins previous Women of the Year honorees including Olivia Rodrigo (2022), Cardi B (2020), Billie Eilish (2019), Ariana Grande (2018), Selena Gomez (2017), Madonna (2016), Lady Gaga (2015) and Taylor Swift (2014).
The event, hosted by Quinta Brunson, will recognize music’s top female artists, producers and executives for their contributions to the music industry, their communities and beyond. Becky G will be honored with the Impact Award presented by American Express, Doechii with the Rising Star Award presented by Honda, Ivy Queen with the Icon Award, Kim Petras with the Chartbreaker Award, Latto with the Powerhouse Award, Lainey Wilson with the Rulebreaker Award, Lana Del Rey with the Visionary Award, and TWICE with the Breakthrough Award.
Tickets are available to the public, and can be purchased via Ticketmaster here, with more information at billboardwomeninmusic.com. Prices range from $85 to $275. Sponsors for the 2023 Women in Music Awards include American Express, Honda, Mugler, Nationwide, Bose and Smirnoff ICE.
SZA may be a Grammy winning, Billboard 200 chart-topping artist now, but it was no easy journey getting here.
The star was the subject of a New York Times profile published this week, in which she details her rise to fame — which all started with her short time at Delaware State University, where she was planning to major in marine biology.
“I drank Malibu and smoked weed every day. And slept,” SZA said of her time in college, noting that she soon dropped out and moved back home to her hometown in New Jersey. She then lied about her age so she’d be allowed to bartend and sometimes dance at a number of strip clubs in Jersey and New York City.
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However, her older sister Panya Row found out about her job and told their mother, Audrey Rowe, who insisted that SZA leave the family home and figure out what her life’s direction will be. “When I wouldn’t do the college thing they wanted, my mom kind of insinuated that I had to like, get out,” the 33-year-old singer said. “I started staying on people’s couches, and vibing aimlessly. That sent me into a crazy depression but also lit a fire under my a–.”
In hindsight, Audrey says that she is grateful that SZA followed her dreams. “I wish I knew then what I know now about listening to what your child has a passion for, and supporting that, whatever it is. It’s so hard to follow your own dreams,” she told NYT. “So many of us abandon it very young, especially if the people that we respect and love and trust think we could or should be doing something different. I’m so glad that she didn’t listen to me.”
The singer is fresh off the release of her long-awaited sophomore album, S.O.S., which immediately debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, her first chart-topper. With more than 400 million streams in the U.S. during release week, S.O.S. became the second-largest streaming week for a female artist and third-largest of 2022 among all albums.
Pair two inspirational vocalists and what do you get? The ultimate remix of Lizzo‘s “Special” featuring SZA.
Lizzo, fresh off her record of the year Grammy, unveiled the updated version of her latest album’s title track on Thursday (Feb. 9), featuring a new opening verse from SZA. “Woke up this morning to somebody judging me / No surprise they judging me / Don’t know who I’m ‘sposed to be / I’m just actin’ up, I’m brash as f— / Never saying sorry / Found out in the end that I can only do it for me,” the singer croons in the first verse, before joining Lizzo in the chorus for angelic harmonies.
Lizzo hinted that she was getting to work on something with SZA back in November. “Something Special coming your way soon… 👀 @sza,” the four-time Grammy winner shared on Twitter, along with a video of her and SZA, with a snippet of the “Special” remix playing over the video.
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The duo’s collaboration was also featured in Lizzo’s Live in Concert HBO Max special, in which they performed the track onstage in November 2022 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
“My actual sister. I could cry thinking about you right now. Nothing could make special more special than you @sza [red heart emoji],” Lizzo captioned a clip from the performance. “A gift to the world,” SZA tells her Grammy winning bestie onstage. “Thanks so much for even being my friend. I love you. You’re special.”
Listen to the new version of “Special,” featuring SZA, below.
It’s about damn time! Months after Lizzo teased that “something special” with SZA was on the way, the “To Be Loved” singer finally provided fans with a clear confirmation and release date for their remix of “Special.”
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“‘Special’ featuring SZA drops tomorrow,” Lizzo said in a video posted to her Instagram on Wednesday (Feb. 8). Naturally, fans were besides themselves in the comments, sharing excited wails of happiness. After all, the collaboration has been a long time in the making.
Lizzo hinted that she was getting to work on something with SZA back in November. “Something Special coming your way soon… 👀 @sza,” the four-time Grammy winner shared on Twitter, along with a video of her and SZA, with a snippet of the “Special” remix playing over the video.
As for SZA, she gushed over her relationship with Lizzo on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast and let it slip they were in the studio together having fun. “We just have so much fun together. And I feel like she gets me. She’s another person who has hella music tastes and doesn’t fit in anybody’s box of anything,” she said.
The “Kill Bill” singer continued, “She makes it seem like she doesn’t even care, like she just does whatever she wants. And I just love being with her, just as a friend and hanging out. So whenever she comes to a studio, I just feel like, ‘Let’s drop into some bullsh–.’”
See Lizzo’s announcement below.