SZA was taken by surprise when she first heard her own vocals featured on Kendrick Lamar’s latest album, GNX, especially on the hit tracks “Luther” and “Gloria.” The All the Stars singer recently opened up about this experience during an appearance on Sherri Shepherd’s talk show, where she revealed that she didn’t expect to be included on Kendrick’s new project. She said, “When ‘Luther’ came out, I was like, ‘OK — that’s the vocals we’re using, period.’ Same with ‘Gloria,’ I was like, ‘OK!’” It’s clear she was both shocked and impressed by his choices for the album.
SZA shared that Kendrick’s ability to create a sense of mystery with his music is what makes him such a creative genius. She thoroughly enjoyed working with him and was blown away by the decisions he made when putting the songs together. The Not Like Us hitmaker’s unique style and unpredictable choices stood out to her during the process.
SZA also praised Kendrick for his guidance and his ability to let artists trust him throughout their collaboration. She explained how Kendrick played a huge role in her personal growth during a time when she was figuring out her sound and style. She called it her “fumbling and finding” phase and credited Kendrick for helping her embrace new opportunities and challenges with confidence. “He’s so good at saying yes but staying grounded,” she said, noting how he helps others trust his expertise while keeping a calm demeanor.
When asked about the possibility of working with Kendrick on a full joint album, SZA was all for it. She said, “I would love that. I think that would be amazing. He’s such a genius, and part of his genius is being so elusive and mysterious.” It’s clear that SZA has a deep admiration for Kendrick and would be eager to collaborate with him on a larger scale.
And the excitement doesn’t stop there—fans can look forward to SZA and Kendrick co-headlining the Grand National Tour, a massive U.S. stadium tour set to kick off in April 2025. This highly anticipated tour will give fans the chance to see the two incredible artists perform together across the country.