Ctrl cover art

  Studio Album · No. 2

Ctrl Songwriting Credits by SZA

2017 Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records 14 tracks 49 min

Produced by Scum, Carter Lang, ThankGod4Cody, Cam O'bi, Békon, Frank Dukes, Michael Uzowuru, Tyler, the Creator

Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records Alternative R&BNeo SoulR&BSoul
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 14 of 14 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 14 / 14 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether SZA carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
14 trackswritten by SZA 0 tracksoutside writers
SZA's roles on this album

Share of the 14 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

14
Tracks
31
Lyricists
10
Producers
3 million
US Copies Sold
2017
Released

Awards & Recognition 3

Best Urban Contemporary Album (2018, Nominated)
Best New Artist (2018, Nominated)
Best R&B Performance (The Weekend) (2018, Nominated)
Data Insight

Ctrl was SZA's debut studio album for Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA, and she co-wrote every track as Solana Rowe, building the record around candid, conversational songwriting about desire, insecurity, and self-control. Carter Lang, ThankGod4Cody, Cam O'bi, and Tyler, the Creator are among the producers who shape its warm, guitar-and-synth alternative R&B sound. Featured guests Travis Scott on 'Love Galore,' Kendrick Lamar on 'Doves in the Wind,' and Isaiah Rashad on 'Pretty Little Birds' appear without overshadowing SZA's first-person narration. The album's frank, self-authored vulnerability became its signature and drew five Grammy nominations.

SZA's debut studio album on Top Dawg Entertainment/RCA Records, released June 9, 2017. A deeply personal collection of confessional R&B, produced primarily by Scum (Tyran Donaldson), Carter Lang, and ThankGod4Cody (Cody Fayne), who also receive co-writing credits on most tracks. SZA is the sole consistent lyricist across all 14 standard-edition tracks. "Anything" samples Donna Summer's "Spring Affair"; "The Weekend" samples Justin Timberlake's "Rock Your Body." The deluxe edition adds 7 further tracks including co-writes with Drake and a track produced by Tyler, the Creator.

Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Supermodel
SZATyran DonaldsonTerrence HendersonGreg Landfair Jr. Solána RoweTyran DonaldsonTerrence HendersonGreg Landfair Jr. Scum SZA (Vocals)
2
Love Galore #32
SZATravis ScottCody FayneCarter LangTyran DonaldsonTerrence Henderson Solána RoweTravis ScottCody FayneCarter LangTyran DonaldsonTerrence Henderson ThankGod4CodyCarter LangScum SZA (Vocals)Travis Scott (Featured Vocals)
3
Doves in the Wind
SZAKendrick LamarCam O'biReggie NobleJohn BowmanDana StinsonTrevor SmithJames Yancey Solána RoweKendrick LamarCam O'biReggie NobleJohn BowmanDana StinsonTrevor SmithJames Yancey Cam O'bi SZA (Vocals)Kendrick Lamar (Featured Vocals)
4
Drew Barrymore
SZACarter LangTyran DonaldsonTerrence HendersonMacie Stewart Solána RoweCarter LangTyran DonaldsonTerrence HendersonMacie Stewart Carter LangScum SZA (Vocals)
5
Prom
SZATyran DonaldsonCarter Lang Solána RoweTyran DonaldsonCarter Lang ScumCarter Lang SZA (Vocals)
6
The Weekend #29
SZACody FayneJustin TimberlakeTimbalandNathaniel Hills Solána RoweCody FayneJustin TimberlakeTimbalandNathaniel Hills ThankGod4Cody SZA (Vocals)
7
Go Gina
SZATyran DonaldsonCarter LangFrank Dukes Solána RoweTyran DonaldsonCarter LangFrank Dukes ScumCarter LangFrank Dukes SZA (Vocals)
8
Garden (Say It like Dat)
SZADaniel TannenbaumCraig Balmoris Solána RoweDaniel TannenbaumCraig Balmoris BékonCraig BalmorisThe Donuts SZA (Vocals)
9
Broken Clocks #82
SZACody FayneFrank DukesThomas Paxton-BeesleyAshton Simmonds Solána RoweCody FayneFrank DukesThomas Paxton-BeesleyAshton Simmonds ThankGod4CodyFrank Dukes SZA (Vocals)
10
Anything
SZATyran DonaldsonCarter LangDonna SummerGiorgio MoroderPete BellottePeter Wilkins Solána RoweTyran DonaldsonCarter LangDonna SummerGiorgio MoroderPete BellottePeter Wilkins ScumCarter Lang SZA (Vocals)
11
Wavy (Interlude)
SZAJames FauntleroyCody FayneLukasz Plas Solána RoweJames FauntleroyCody FayneLukasz Plas ThankGod4CodyProphit SZA (Vocals)James Fauntleroy (Featured Vocals)
12
Normal Girl
SZACarter LangTyran DonaldsonTerrence Henderson Solána RoweCarter LangTyran DonaldsonTerrence Henderson Carter LangScum SZA (Vocals)
13
Pretty Little Birds
SZAIsaiah RashadTyran DonaldsonCarter LangJosef Leimberg Solána RoweIsaiah RashadTyran DonaldsonCarter LangJosef Leimberg ScumCarter LangJosef Leimberg SZA (Vocals)Isaiah Rashad (Featured Vocals)
14
20 Something
SZACarter LangTyran Donaldson Solána RoweCarter LangTyran Donaldson Carter LangScum SZA (Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 37 contributors

SR
Solána Rowe
Writer
On this album14 written
S
SZA
Writer · Vocals
On this album14 written
TD
Tyran Donaldson
Writer
On this album9 written
CL
Carter Lang
Writer · Producer
On this album8 written
CF
Cody Fayne
Writer
On this album4 written
TH
Terrence Henderson
Writer
On this album4 written
FD
Frank Dukes
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
CO
Cam O'bi
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
CB
Craig Balmoris
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
JL
Josef Leimberg
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
AS
Ashton Simmonds
Writer
On this album1 written
DS
Dana Stinson
Writer
On this album1 written

More from SZA

2014 100%
Z
Top Dawg Entertainment
10 tracksProd. Mac Miller
2022 100%
SOS
Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
23 tracksProd. Rob Bisel

Frequently Asked Questions Ctrl

Did SZA write Ctrl herself?
Yes, SZA co-wrote every song on Ctrl, credited under her legal name Solana Rowe, working alongside her producers and collaborators. The album is built on her candid, first-person songwriting about relationships and self-doubt. Her authorship is central to the record's confessional tone.
Who wrote The Weekend by SZA?
'The Weekend' was co-written by SZA (Solana Rowe) with its producers. The song peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance.
Who produced Ctrl by SZA?
Ctrl features production from Carter Lang, ThankGod4Cody, Cam O'bi, Tyler, the Creator, and others. The collaborators give the album its warm, guitar-and-synth alternative R&B sound. It was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records in 2017.
Who is featured on Love Galore by SZA?
'Love Galore' features Travis Scott. The single peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the Grammy Awards.
What guest artists appear on Ctrl by SZA?
Ctrl includes guest appearances from Travis Scott on 'Love Galore,' Kendrick Lamar on 'Doves in the Wind,' and Isaiah Rashad on 'Pretty Little Birds.' The features support rather than dominate SZA's vocals.
How many Grammy nominations did Ctrl by SZA receive?
Ctrl received five Grammy nominations at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018, including Best New Artist for SZA and Best Urban Contemporary Album. It did not win any of them.
Is Ctrl by SZA certified platinum?
Yes, Ctrl was certified triple platinum by the RIAA in 2022 for over three million combined sales and album-equivalent units in the United States.
Data note: Standard 14-track edition used. The deluxe edition adds 7 tracks (tracks 15-21), including "2AM" (co-written with Aubrey Graham/Drake), "Jodie" (produced by Tyler Okonma/Tyler, the Creator), and others.

Sources

Wikipedia: Ctrl (SZA album) Wikipedia: Broken Clocks MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Ctrl by SZA