Photo of SZA
Photo: Fuse Box Radio · CC BY-SA 2.0

Solo Artist

SZA

Active2011-present
OriginSt. Louis, Missouri, U.S. (raised in Maplewood, New Jersey)
Albums3
Tracks47

Most frequent collaborator: Carter Lang  ·  21 tracks

R&BAlternative R&BPopHip-Hop
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 47 of 47 tracks

Did SZA write her own songs?

Yes. SZA holds a writing credit on 100% of her tracks, and she is known for deeply personal, confessional lyrics. She writes them herself, though she builds the music with a tight circle of producer-writers, above all Carter Lang and ThankGod4Cody. A few of her tracks she wrote entirely alone, like 'Babylon.'

By the Numbers

3
Studio Albums
47
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
15
Years Active
114
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 47 / 47 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 47 tracks: how many SZA wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

SZA has a writing credit100%
19%
81%
Sole author9tracks19%
Co-written38tracks81%
Outside writers0tracks0%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
SZA's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 47 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)100%
Composer (music)100%
Producer0%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

SZA's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 100%
100%
100%
100%
2014Z
2017Ctrl
2022SOS
Early · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
2010s
Z, Ctrl
100%
2020s
SOS

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where SZA sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

SZA
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

EXO8%
Backstreet Boys25%
Rihanna44%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
Ariana Grande77%
Frank Ocean88%
100%SZA
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Love Galore
Ctrl
Written by SZA, Travis Scott, Cody Fayne, Carter Lang, Tyran Donaldson, Terrence Henderson, Solána Rowe
Co-wrote
The Weekend
Ctrl
Written by SZA, Cody Fayne, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Nathaniel Hills, Solána Rowe
Co-wrote
Broken Clocks
Ctrl
Written by SZA, Cody Fayne, Frank Dukes, Thomas Paxton-Beesley, Ashton Simmonds, Solána Rowe
Co-wrote
Kill Bill
SOS
Written by SZA, Rob Bisel, Carter Lang, Solána Rowe
Co-wrote
Snooze
SOS
Written by SZA, Kenneth Edmonds, Khristopher Riddick-Tynes, Leon Thomas III, Blair Ferguson, Solána Rowe
Co-wrote
Good Days
SOS
Written by SZA, Jacob Collier, Carter Lang, Carlos Muñoz, Christopher Ruelas, Solána Rowe
Co-wrote

Discography 3 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

SZA47 tracks
CL21 RB19 TD12 S11 CF11 T11

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. CL Carter Lang · RB Rob Bisel · TD Tyran Donaldson · S Scum · CF Cody Fayne · T ThankGod4Cody

The Writers & Producers Behind SZA 6 key collaborators

CL
Carter Lang
Songwriter
Ctrl / SOS21 tracks
RB
Rob Bisel
Songwriter
SOS19 tracks
TD
Tyran Donaldson
Songwriter
Z / Ctrl / SOS12 tracks
S
Scum
Producer
Ctrl / SOS11 tracks
CF
Cody Fayne
Songwriter
Ctrl / SOS11 tracks
T
ThankGod4Cody
Producer
Ctrl / SOS11 tracks

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

SZA receives a writing credit on every track across her entire catalog, from the Z EP (2014) through SOS (2022). Her primary long-term collaborators are producers Rob Bisel and Carter Lang, both of whom appear on over half of SOS's tracks as both co-writers and co-producers. ThankGod4Cody (Cody Fayne) is a recurring presence across both Ctrl and SOS as both writer and producer. SZA's lyricist score approaches near-100%; her composer score is fractionally lower due to sample-inclusive tracks where additional historical composers receive credit: Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder on Ctrl's "Anything," Björk on SOS's "Forgiveless," and Marvin Gaye on the Z EP's "Sweet November."

Quick Facts

  • GrammysHas won seven Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Song for 'Snooze'
  • SOSHer 2022 album spent over ten weeks at number one on the Billboard 200
  • Kill BillA number-one hit and one of the best-selling singles of 2023
  • TDEThe first woman signed to the label Top Dawg Entertainment, in 2013
  • Confessional writingKnown for deeply personal, confessional lyrics she writes herself

Creative Fingerprint

A confessional writer, always collaborating: SZA is credited on 100% of her tracks, writing her own vulnerable lyrics but building the music with a tight circle of producer-writers, above all Carter Lang and ThankGod4Cody.

The Story

SZA (born Solána Imani Rowe, November 8, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter from St. Louis, Missouri, raised in Maplewood, New Jersey. She became the first woman signed to Top Dawg Entertainment, releasing a series of EPs, including the well-received Z (2014), before her debut studio album Ctrl (2017) established her as a defining voice in contemporary R&B. Her songwriting is deeply personal and confessional, drawing on vulnerability, relationships, and self-image. Her second studio album SOS (2022) was a commercial breakthrough, spending a record 10 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 (the longest run by any album since 1993) and making SZA the first woman to spend 100 weeks in the Billboard 200 top-ten. She writes or co-writes virtually all of her original material.

Awards & Recognition

Has won seven Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Song for 'Snooze'
SOS (2022) spent over ten weeks at number one on the Billboard 200, one of the longest runs by a woman
'Kill Bill' reached number one and was one of the best-selling singles of 2023
The first woman signed to Top Dawg Entertainment, in 2013
One of the most acclaimed and influential R&B artists of her generation

Frequently Asked Questions SZA

Did SZA write her own songs?
Yes. SZA holds a writing credit on 100% of her tracks, and she is known for deeply personal, confessional lyrics. She writes them herself, though she builds the music with a tight circle of producer-writers, above all Carter Lang and ThankGod4Cody. A few of her tracks she wrote entirely alone, like 'Babylon.'
Who wrote 'Kill Bill'?
'Kill Bill' (2022) was co-written by SZA with her producers Rob Bisel and Carter Lang. It became her first number-one single and one of the best-selling songs of 2023.
Who wrote 'Snooze'?
'Snooze' (2022) was co-written by SZA with Babyface, Leon Thomas, and others. It won the Grammy for Best R&B Song and became one of the longest-charting hits from SOS.
Who does SZA write with?
Her closest collaborators are the producers Carter Lang, Rob Bisel, and ThankGod4Cody (Cody Fayne), who co-write and co-produce most of her music, especially on Ctrl and SOS.
Was SZA the first woman signed to TDE?
Yes. She joined Top Dawg Entertainment in 2013, becoming the label's first female artist, alongside rappers like Kendrick Lamar.
How many albums has SZA released?
This catalogue covers her main releases: the Z EP (2014) and her studio albums Ctrl (2017) and SOS (2022).
How many Grammys has SZA won?
Seven Grammy Awards, and she has been one of the most-nominated artists of recent years.
What is SZA's biggest album?
SOS (2022) is her biggest, spending over ten weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 and producing hits like 'Kill Bill' and 'Snooze.'
Did SZA write her own lyrics?
Yes. Her lyrics are her own, drawn from her personal life, which is central to her appeal. Her collaborators are mainly the producers who shape the music around her writing.
What genre is SZA?
She is an R&B artist, often called alternative R&B, blending soul and hip-hop with indie and pop textures and a loose, conversational vocal style.

Sources

Wikipedia: SZA