SZA has teased the possibility of releasing two albums of “peaceful children’s music” to complete her current contractual requirements.
The singer and rapper released ‘Lana’ last month after almost a year of speculating about its release. Rather than a standalone album, it exists as a deluxe version of her 2022 LP ‘SOS’, her second studio record.
Now, just weeks after it became available, SZA has suggested that she is ready to move on from its slick R&B aesthetic and onto a very different vibe, even hinting that she is tempted to seek a quieter life after fulfilling her current obligations.
Writing on X on Saturday (January 4), SZA wrote: “To fulfill my last 2 album requirements I think I just wanna make peaceful children’s music n get outta here. Then go be a farmer n donate the produce to underserved communities.”
To fulfill my last 2 album requirements I think I just wanna make peaceful children’s music n get outta here . Then go be a farmer n donate the produce to underserved communities.
— SZA (@sza) January 4, 2025
Both ‘SOS’ and its 2017 predecessor ‘Ctrl’ were released as part of SZA’s deal with Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. It is not clear how many more albums she is signed up for as part of the deal, but her comments would suggest that there are two remaining full-lengths expected as part of the contract.
‘Lana’ added an extra 15 tracks to ‘SOS’ existing 23 songs, bringing the overall number of tracks associated with the project to 38. However, last week, SZA told fans that “all updated mixes” and “new songs” are due to be added on Monday (January 6), “when the label comes back from holiday”.
When it was eventually shared on December 20, ‘Lana’ included a Kendrick Lamar feature on ‘30 For 30’, as well as production from Lil Yachty and Benny Blanco on one track each.
Lamar’s feature comes after SZA appeared on his surprise album ‘GNX’, and the pair and labelmates have announced a joint North American tour for this year.
The singer also revealed on Christmas Day that she had parted ways with Terrence “Punch” Henderson, who she has worked with since 2011. Henderson, the co-president of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), had been heavily involved in the making of ‘Lana’.
When ‘SOS‘ was first released, it received acclaim from critics, as well as nine Grammy nominations. It hit Number One on the Billboard 200 and Number Two on the UK Single Chart, also being certified 3x Platinum in the US.
In a five-star review of ‘SOS’, NME described it as “a comeback album well worth the wait,” adding: “’I’m making the best album of my life for this next album,’” SZA told Flaunt in 2020 and ‘SOS’ is just that – a phenomenal record that barely puts a foot wrong and raises the bar even higher than she set it before. That quote, though, came with a caveat: ‘Because it’s going to be my last album.’ Here’s hoping SZA reneges on that declaration but, if this is the last we hear from here, at least she’s going out on the highest of highs.”