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A Journey to Self-Actualization: One Year of SZA’s ‘CTRL’
In the year since the release of SZA’s full-length debut, CTRL, the Top Dawg Entertainment first lady has become somewhat of a household name. Between festival placements, endorsements, and award nominations, SZA has seemingly been everywhere this past year.
CTRL was placed on several year-end album lists in December 2017 and was even named Album of the Year by TIME Magazine. The journey to CTRL’s release, however, was not as smooth as SZA’s vocals on each of the album’s 14 tracks.
The album, originally titled A, as a follow-up to her EPs, S and Z, was originally planned for release in 2015. In the year prior, SZA had come to large recognition after multiple music outlets praised her Chance the Rapper-collaboration “Child’s Play” from her EP, Z. She also penned portions of Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé’s “Feeling Myself,” and received much press coverage in anticipation for her major-label full-length debut.
In 2015, SZA’s TDE Labelmates Kendrick Lamar and Jay Rock both released albums, however, the year passed by with little to no hint of…
