In case you missed it, SZA is gracing the cover of Rolling Stone‘s current issue. In a sit-down interview with journalist Mankaprr Conteh, the “Kill Bill” singer opened up about her special connection to the people who listen to her music.
The 33-year-old St. Louis native explained to Rolling Stone that her supporters mean the world to her while also crediting them for her many accolades, including her and Doja Cat‘s 2022 Grammy for their “Kiss Me More” collaboration in the best pop duo/group performance category.
“I’m never off the clock for my fans, because I love that sh*t. They’re my family, and they’re my people,” SZA told Conteh. “I know what it’s like to feel small or like somebody doesn’t care, because that’s who I was my whole life. In middle school, elementary school, I wasn’t popular.”
She went on to explain how her goal is to make her fans feel seen and heard, saying “hella fans have spent the night with me and been to my house many times.”
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SZA added that she’s never been betrayed by her fanbase, which she slowly began amassing through her first singles and EPs before signing to Top Dawg Entertainment a decade ago. In 2017, she released her debut studio album, CTRL, which garnered the hits “Love Galore” with Travis Scott and “The Weekend” with Calvin Harris. She also earned five Grammy nominations, including best new artist and best urban contemporary album.
Now a world-renowned artist, SZA continues to dominate music charts any time she releases new music. Following her sophomore LP, SOS, back in December, she became the first female artist in nearly seven years to spend the most weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart, reported Billboard.
She recently joined forces with five-time Grammy-winning rapper Drake for the first time on their “Slime You Out” single, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“We signed up to make music, and share our art. Some of us didn’t even sign up to make grand millions. I didn’t think I would get rich making music,” she said in the same cover story interview with Rolling Stone. “But I did want to be cool and get my shit off and be like, ‘Look, my ideas were as cool as I thought they were in my head.’ I failed out of college and, like, I can’t keep a job, but I am a smart, creative person, and have a purpose and function.”
