Top Dawg Entertainment delivered on their 2016 release schedule with albums from Kendrick Lamar, Isaiah Rashad, Ab-Soul and ScHoolboy Q, but the delayed release of a full-length from SZA left the artist frustrated with her label. Thankfully, her relationship with the label is perfectly fine, and her follow-up to 2014's Z has been announced.
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night (January 12), the vocalist announced her new disc would be called CTRL. In conjunction with the TV appearance, SZA also delivered the record's first single. Titled "Drew Barrymore," she described the track to Complex as "brown grunge" in a conversation last year.
Last October, SZA tweeted at TDE president Terrence "Punch" Henderson, "I actually quit. @iamstillpunch can release my album if he ever feels like it. Y'all be blessed." Henderson soon shared a photo of Batman villain the Joker with a simple "lol" shortly after.
A month later, she clarified that she hadn't severed ties with the label at all in conversation with Complex. "Me and [label president Terrence 'Punch' Henderson] never get along — that's every day," she told the publication. "They call me one of the homies. We're all different, and that was hard to understand [at first] because they're tough-love people and hard to read, but I dig it now. I don't have any issues with my label. My label has been nothing but supportive of everything I've wanted to do."
The interview also indicated that CTRL is darker than SZA's previous projects, thematically dealing with control and honesty in writing about her family life, her conservative upbringing, relationships and self-esteem. The vocalist also said she had worked with the likes of James Fauntleroy, Thundercat, Tyler, the Creator, Boots, Rick Rubin, Frank Ocean, and labelmate Kendrick Lamar.
While we wait for further info on CTRL, take a listen to "Drew Barrymore" in the Apple Music player below.
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night (January 12), the vocalist announced her new disc would be called CTRL. In conjunction with the TV appearance, SZA also delivered the record's first single. Titled "Drew Barrymore," she described the track to Complex as "brown grunge" in a conversation last year.
Last October, SZA tweeted at TDE president Terrence "Punch" Henderson, "I actually quit. @iamstillpunch can release my album if he ever feels like it. Y'all be blessed." Henderson soon shared a photo of Batman villain the Joker with a simple "lol" shortly after.
A month later, she clarified that she hadn't severed ties with the label at all in conversation with Complex. "Me and [label president Terrence 'Punch' Henderson] never get along — that's every day," she told the publication. "They call me one of the homies. We're all different, and that was hard to understand [at first] because they're tough-love people and hard to read, but I dig it now. I don't have any issues with my label. My label has been nothing but supportive of everything I've wanted to do."
The interview also indicated that CTRL is darker than SZA's previous projects, thematically dealing with control and honesty in writing about her family life, her conservative upbringing, relationships and self-esteem. The vocalist also said she had worked with the likes of James Fauntleroy, Thundercat, Tyler, the Creator, Boots, Rick Rubin, Frank Ocean, and labelmate Kendrick Lamar.
While we wait for further info on CTRL, take a listen to "Drew Barrymore" in the Apple Music player below.
