SZA

Lakeith Stanfield Voids His Phone’s Warranty In SZA’s ‘I Hate U’ Visualizer

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With the third season premiere of FX’s hit show Atlanta set for next March, fans face an agonizingly long wait to find out what happens to our guys Earn, Alfred, and Darius. Until then, though, they’re filling the days with a vast array of fascinating projects. Brian Tyree Henry, who plays Al — aka Paper Boi — just made his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as The Eternals‘ Phastos and is currently on post-production for the Fox animated comedy Housebroken, while Donald Glover, the show’s creator and star as Earn, is finishing up his TV series remake of spy rom-com Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Meanwhile, Lakeith Stanfield, the mysterious and off-beat Darius, is coming off a thrilling turn as cowboy Cherokee Bill in the Western fantasy The Harder They Fall. He’s also fond of doing surprise side projects like popping up in the visualizer for SZA’s new hit single, “I Hate U,” which dropped today, three weeks after the song broke an Apple Music streaming record. In the clip, Lakeith is the poor fella on the receiving end of SZA’s wrath, arguing with her over the phone while standing alone on a windswept bluff overlooking a stormy beach. When he receives the final, relationship-ending text, he’s overcome with the loss and chucks his iPhone in the ocean — which is something I don’t think Apple Care covers. The video closes with the cryptic message “Not the end,” which SZA fans are sure to interpret as a signal that the long-awaited follow-up to her acclaimed debut album CTRL is on the way.

You can watch the visualizer above.

SZA And Kacey Musgraves Are Both Really Interested In A Collaboration

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SZA may be focused on her big upcoming acting gig at the moment, but she could have a new collaboration on the horizon as well, as both she and Kacey Musgraves think that they ought to get together and make a song.

Yesterday, a Twitter user wrote, “@sza and @KaceyMusgraves have so much in common and relate the same way but just two different genres they need to collaborate immediately.” The tweet, which came from an account that has 13 followers as of this post, would have been easy enough for Musgraves to ignore. She was apparently intrigued enough by the idea, though, to share the tweet and add, “honestly.”

Later, SZA took to her Instagram Story to share a screenshot of the tweet from a SZA fan page and write, “I think It’s time KACEYYY [single tear emoji] [heart emoji].”

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When it comes to collaborations, SZA is a seasoned veteran. Just in the past couple months, she performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! with Isaiah Rashad and linked up with Summer Walker on “No Love.” Meanwhile, Musgraves’ albums aren’t exactly filled with collabs, but she got a lot of people involved in her 2019 holiday special The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show, which featured folks like Lana Del Rey, Camila Cabello, Troye Sivan, Fred Armisen, Zooey Deschanel, Kendall Jenner, and Leon Bridges.

SZA Celebrates Landing Her First Acting Role: ‘Can’t Believe I Got The Part I Wanted’

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Being a popular musician requires at least a degree of acting, assuming you’re starring in your own music videos. Even beyond that, though, artists project a version of themselves in the public sphere. In any case, SZA is becoming even more of an actor as she has apparently landed her first real acting role.

Over the weekend, SZA a photo of a cake that reads, “Congrats record breaker and fire actress,” and wrote on her Instagram Story, “I can’t believe I got the part I wanted [watery eyes emoji] she’s an actress.” At the moment, it’s not clear what gig SZA booked, as she doesn’t say in her post or anywhere else.

In the comments of The Shade Room’s post about the image, SZA wrote, “Lmao thank y’all ! And before y’all start somebody BOUGHT me this cake . It’s a sweet gesture n i was being appreciative .”

Annie Bercy, a director and photographer who has worked with SZA, also shared a post about the part, writing on Instagram, “Everything @sza touch turn into gold. My girl is now adding ‘actress’ to her repertoire, congratulations babe!”

SZA has had brushes with the film and TV industries before with her award nominations: In 2019, she and Kendrick Lamar earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Original Song with “All The Stars.” She’s also been on a TV show before, although there wasn’t a ton of acting involved, as she portrayed LaToya Thompson on Insecure, appearing just in a still photo.

SZA’s ‘I Hate U’ Breaks A Significant Apple Music R&B Streaming Record

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The road to SZA’s follow-up to 2017’s Ctrl has been anything but straightforward. But 2021 has seen her dropping new music consistently in a wave of singles that began at the tail end of 2020 with the release of “Hit Different” with Ty Dolla Sign and then “Good Days” in December. As soon as the new year turned, she said in an interview with Cosmopolitan that “This album is going to be the sh*t that made me feel something in my… here and in here. That’s what’s going to go on the album. I’m making all different types of sh*t every day from different places in my spirit.”

The groundwork has been laid, and SZA has been active this year, dropping tracks with Doja Cat, Kali Uchis and her latest single, “I Hate U.” “Honestly this started out as an exercise, she said on Instagram when the latter was released for streaming. “I jus wanted somewhere to dump my thoughts w out pressure..y’all made it a thing and I’m not mad lmao. ask and u shall receive. I HATE YOU OUT ON ALL PLATFORMS.”

“I Hate U” has clearly been on steady rotation for a lot of people since its release. Billboard just reported that it has broken the record for the most-streamed song by a female R&B artist in its first week. It debuted at No. 7 on the Hot 100 this week and still has a ways to go before it can topple Adele’s seven-week reign at the top with “Easy On Me.” But even that track didn’t reach No. 1 until it’s a third week out. Until then, here’s another feather in SZA’s cap.

Isaiah Rashad And SZA Deliver A Groovy ‘Kimmel’ Performance Of ‘Score’

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Isaiah Rashad and SZA stopped by the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show to perform a groovy rendition of their new song “Score” from Rashad’s new album, The House Is Burning. Decked out in a button-up shirt with a scintillating pattern, the Chattanooga rapper delivers the laid-back lines with an easygoing flair. SZA emerges midway through the performance in a letterman jacket and jeans with a flannel shirt tied around her waist, and the two artists show off their chemistry, a smooth blend of silk and grit.

Isaiah is in the midst of a triumphant comeback, releasing The House Is Burning, his second studio album, after a near-five-year hiatus during which he got clean and recovered from his irresponsible early career spending habits. After rolling out The House Is Burning with videos for enjoyable singles like “Headshots (4r Da Locals),” “Wat U Sed,” and “From The Garden,” he embarked on the Lil Sunny’s Awesome Vacation tour before releasing a deluxe edition of the album, with appearances from the likes of Juicy J, Project Pat, and Young Nudy.

Meanwhile, Isaiah’s collaborator SZA is slowly inching her way toward releasing her own big follow-up to 2017’s CTRL with new singles like “I Hate U” and “The Anonymous Ones.”

Watch Isaiah Rashad’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! performance of “Score” with SZA above.

Single Ladies: SZA Drops New Song On Streaming Platforms, Kali Remixes Yung Miami’s “Rap Freaks”, Tierra Whack Release New Project

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This week brings another hot lineup of singles for you to listen to by great women musicians. SZA has released a new song after teasing it on Soundcloud. Tierra Whack is back with new music and Kali serves up her own version of “Rap Freaks.” SZA Releases “I Hate U”, Tierra Whack Is Back In […]

Summer Walker And SZA List Their Regrets Towards An Unappreciative Partner On ‘No Love’

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After a two-year wait that felt much longer, Summer Walker has finally delivered her sophomore album Still Over It. Based on the title, it’s clear that the new project delivers updates on Summer’s rollercoaster love life and her fed-up feelings with it. Upon hearing the title, fans were immediately excited that it would serve as a new chapter connected to her extremely successful debut album Over It. Of the many tracks that listeners are excited to hear, “No Love,” Summer’s collaboration with SZA is one many people can’t wait to press play on.

The song sees both singers listing their regrets towards an unappreciative ex. They both admit that if they received a do-over, they’d make sure to be more protective of their hearts with this person. In addition to an appearance from SZA, Summer Walker also recruited Ari Lennox, Lil Durk, City Girls’ JT, Omarion, Pharrell Williams, Ciara, and Cardi B to offer their own contributions to her debut album. Still Over It was only preceded by one single, “Ex For A Reason” with JT, meaning that listeners have plenty of new music to enjoy of the project.

In a message to Apple Music, Summer Walker shared what she hopes listeners take away from the new album. “Take this opportunity to learn from my mistakes,” she wrote in an exclusive message to the streaming platform. “You don’t have to guess if something is love. Love is shown through actions. Stop making excuses for people who don’t show up for you. Don’t ignore the red flags. And don’t think you have to stay somewhere ’cause you can’t find better — you can and you will.” Lastly, she added, “Don’t settle for less — you don’t deserve it and neither does your family.”

You can listen to Summer and SZA’s “No Love” collaboration above.

Still Over It is out now via LVRN/Interscope. Get it here.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Summer Walker’s ‘Still Over It’ Tracklist Features Cardi B, SZA, Pharrell, And More

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The wait for the follow-up to Summer Walker’s breakthrough 2019 debut Over It has been a roller coaster, one that’s now reaching the top of the climb before that final freefall that everyone looks forward to. First, Walker projected confirmation of the album’s November release timeline on the side of a building outside of the BET Awards, giving off heavy Yeezus guerilla marketing vibes. Then came a trailer announcing the November 5th official release date for Still Over It. That was followed by a tracklist teaser with an announcement for her next single, “Ex For A Reason,” featuring JT of City Girls, which dropped three days later.

Considering Over It broke Beyoncé’s record for the largest streaming week ever for an album by a female R&B artist, the build-up here is warranted. And now, today, Walker tweeted out the album cover along with the entire tracklist, and it’s stacked. Aside from “Ex For A Reason,” highlights include the album’s opening track, “Bitter,” with narration Cardi B, “No Love” featuring SZA, “Dat Right There” featuring Pharrell, plus tracks with Lil Durk, Ari Lennox, and more.

Check out the full Still Over It tracklist below.

1. “Bitter (Narration by Cardi B)”
2. “Ex For A Reason” Feat. JT from City Girls
3. “No Love” Feat. SZA
4. “Throw It Away”
5. “Reciprocate”
6. “You Don’t Know Me”
7. “Circus”
8. “Insane”
9. “Constant Bullsh*t”
10. “Switch A N***a Out”
11. “Unloyal” Feat. Ari Lennox
12. “Closure”
13. “Toxic” Feat. Lil Durk
14. “Dat Right There” Feat. Pharrell
15. “Screwin” Feat. Omarion
16. “Broken Promises”
17. “Session 33”
18. “4th Baby Mama (Prelude)”
19. “4th Baby Mama”
20. “Ciara’s Prayer (Narration by Ciara)”

Still Over It is out 11/5 via LVRN/Interscope. Pre-order it here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.