SZA Herself Was Surprised to Be on Kendrick Lamar's Album Drop: 'OK, That's the Vocals!'

Mar. 15, 2025

SZAis embracingKendrick Lamar’s air of mystery.

When chatting with SZA, 35, about the collaborations she’s done in the past with Kendrick, 37, the talk show host asked SZA if she would consider doing a joint album.

“I would love that,” the singer said. “I think that would be amazing. He’s such a genius and a part of his genius is being so elusive and so mysterious.”

SZA; Kendrick Lamar.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Steve Granitz/WireImage

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Steve Granitz/WireImage

“When ‘Luther’came out,I said ‘OK — that’s the vocals we’re using, period,’ " she continued. “Same with ‘Gloria,’ I said, ‘OK!'”

SZA went on to say she loves that about Lamar. “That’s part of the fumbling and finding. I feel like he’s a huge part of my fumbling and finding era because I’m just trusting all of his expertise and being thrust into these moments and spotlight and saying ‘yes.'”

“He’s so good at saying yes but staying grounded,” the"Kill Bill"singer continued, saying she wants to learn more from Lamar. “Teach me, sensei, what you know.”

SZA and Kendrick Lamar perform at Coachella in April 2018.Scott Dudelson/Getty

Scott Dudelson/Getty

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SZA also told Shepherd, 57, about co-headlining theGrand National Tourwith Lamar, marking her first stadium tour and what fans can expect. “There’s so many firsts happening back-to-back,” she said.

“I can’t express what it’s like to go through life for the first time in front of everybody.” SZA said that her last arena tour was the first arena tour she had ever done, and this is her first stadium tour right after.

When she’s onstage, SZA thinks ofJanet Jackson,PinkandBeyoncé. “I want to tap into the cosplay of it all and have fun and just get lost.”

Kendrick Lamar and SZA in Los Angeles in November 2013.Frazer Harrison/AMA2013/FilmMagic

Frazer Harrison/AMA2013/FilmMagic

In April, SZA and the Pulitzer Prize winner embark ontheir tour throughout the U.S.making stops in cities such as Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago and Detroit before wrapping up in Washington, D.C. in June.

source: people.com