Kendrick Lamar Lauds SZA’s Bold Artistry as ‘The Most Disruptive Yet Beautiful Compositions’ of the Generation
Kendrick Lamar, the revered Compton rapper, has never been shy about celebrating the artistry of his peers, but when it comes to his former labelmate SZA, his admiration runs deep. The New Jersey-born songstress graced the cover of British Vogue for its December 2024 issue, where Lamar shared glowing insights about his longtime collaborator, whom he first met in the early 2010s.
“There was always a question about something,” Kendrick recalled, reminiscing about the early days of knowing SZA. “[Today] I recognize a more expressive SZA. The shy shit is completely out the window – to a degree, at least. She has the answers to some of the things she was curious about and is willing to tell it all in the most disruptive yet beautiful compositions this generation has ever heard.”
This statement from Kendrick, who has worked with SZA on hits like “All The Stars,” speaks to the evolution of an artist who has grown beyond her initial hesitations to become one of the most compelling voices in contemporary music. With chart-topping albums and sold-out tours, SZA’s journey from the soft-spoken artist of her debut to the confident force seen today is undeniable.
A Mutual Admiration
Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s professional relationship is rooted in mutual respect and a shared creative spirit. In a recent crossover moment in October, SZA interviewed Kendrick for his Harper’s Bazaar cover story, where he opened up about deeply personal topics, including the last time he shed tears.
“I would say the last time I cried was probably on Mr. Morale [& The Big Steppers] on the ‘Mother I Sober’ record. That shit was deep for me,” Lamar shared candidly. The song, raw and vulnerable, reveals Kendrick’s trauma related to witnessing the impact of sexual abuse on his mother and the guilt he carried for his own missteps in his relationship with fiancée Whitney Alford.
“Mother cried, put they hands on her, it was family ties,” he raps, encapsulating the weight of childhood memories and the profound emotional impact they carried into his adult life.
The Power of Vulnerability
This wasn’t the first time Kendrick discussed emotional moments. He reflected on the first time he allowed himself to cry in public, which was during a 2011 performance with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. It was a defining moment, marked by Dre passing him the symbolic torch of West Coast hip-hop.
“The first time I allowed it to happen is documented, actually, onstage [in 2011] when Dre and Snoop and the whole West Coast was out,” Kendrick recounted. “They was like, ‘This is the torch that we were handing off.’ Dre passed me the torch, and a burst of energy just came out and I had to let it flow.”
He continued, reflecting on how that moment of vulnerability, with tears captured and shared widely on the internet, has come to hold special significance. “Now I look back and I love that moment. I love that that happened. Because it showed me in real time expressing myself and seeing all the work that I put forth actually come to life in that moment.”
SZA’s Unwavering Growth
SZA’s own career has been marked by powerful storytelling, captivating soundscapes, and the kind of unfiltered honesty that resonates with audiences worldwide. Her willingness to lay bare her experiences and emotions mirrors Kendrick’s ethos of transparency in art, creating an artistic synergy between the two. As they continue to push the boundaries of their respective crafts, both artists exemplify the importance of growth, expression, and the courage to be unapologetically real.
With Kendrick praising her compositions as the most profound and groundbreaking of their generation, SZA’s place as a voice of her time is sealed, supported by the admiration of one of hip-hop’s greatest modern poets. Their creative bond and mutual celebration serve as a testament to the transformative power of vulnerability and the relentless pursuit of self-expression in music.
