Solana Imani Rowe has proved to be one of the greatest R&B artists of our recent decade. More commonly known as SZA, this singer has captivated audiences with her euphonic vocals, unique rhythm, and groovy instrumentals. Her debut album, Ctrl, won the hearts of millions of fans with its deeply emotional, yet relatable lyrics; along with its unconventional sound and incredible range of R&B, hip-hop and alternative tracks. With this impactful release setting the bar for her career, fans anxiously anticipated what her next comeback would have to offer. With the release of her latest album, it’s safe to say that SZA did not disappoint. “SOS”, released December 9, 2022, marks SZA’s sophomore album after a five-year hiatus. Featuring various pre-release singles such as: “Shirt,” “Good Days” and “I Hate U” along with charting songs such as Kill Bill and Nobody Gets Me, this album broke records for its longevity on the Billboard 200 charts. SOS proved itself to be a wild success, and for very good reason.SZA experimented with intense lyrics and bold beats as she explores themes of revenge and self-empowerment in songs like “Kill Bill” and “Low”, and mellows out with vulnerable ballads such as “Special” and “Blind”. The track list also includes minimal R&B such as “Shirt” and “Love Language”, and expanded into the world of 2000’s pop-punk in “F2F”. SZA even explores hip-hop as she shows off her rapping skills in “Smoking on my Ex Pack” and “Forgiveless”. This wide range of genres SOS delivered felt like a breath of fresh air to me; every song was filled with astounding lyricism and intricate back tracks that truly are one of a kind. The way SZA writes music regarding her greatest feelings and vulnerabilities in this album only makes her more connected towards her audience, which justifies her accumulating fan base of millions. The diversity of music found in this album alone exceeded any expectations I previously had, and further displayed SZA’s immense musicality. I can confidently say that this album was well worth the five year wait.

Rating: Five Stars