There’s a moment on SZA’s Z—hiding in gossamer synth and Electro-pop crossover—where the dream takes a wrenching turn. “Gun fighting, fatality, boy / Hell fire, boy, I stay for eternity,” the Top Dawg rookie wails on the bridge of “HiiiJack.” Her 10-song EP plays out as a hazy, genderized story of unrequited love, one with constant shifts in vignettes and vantage points. But on a tonally upbeat “HiiiJack,” things become grimly cyclical, and SZA’s position as a victim trapped in a sequence of soured relationships and unmet expectations is suddenly much more defenseless. The next song, “Green Mile,” has her “heading to the massacre,” and starting the starkly darker second half of the tape with overwhelming futility.
That’s not to say Z is a challenging listen. Nostalgia and reminiscence are central themes, and rippling keys, tingling guitar and crashing percussion cast a syrupy, surreal backdrop perfect for those just trying to vibe out. SZA’s third EP in as many years is by far her most sonically enjoyable, and it’s only after Z runs its dreamlike course that you wake up and realize that it was more of a nightmare than you thought. It’s a subtle twist from an artist previously used as a more direct emotive accomplice on hooks for labelmates Isaiah Rashad and ScHoolboy Q.
There are the obvious efforts to make Z illusory, from the weeded production of Mac Miller, Toro y Moi and Emile Haynie to the bluntness of lines like, “Here in your backyard, building a fantasy / Fuck reality” on “Childs Play.” But what truly makes it seem like a dream is its blatant disregard for time. Stylistically, Z moves forward: “Julia” is a three-decade update of Fleetwood Mac, while the Kendrick Lamar-assisted “Babylon” is four head-bobbing minutes of futuristic R&B. But thematically, Z is always looking back, and what results is each track becoming suspension of nonlinear narrative. “Warm Winds” takes a “space ride” with Rashad, but the rearview mirrors turn to a duet that recalls an old flame; “Sweet November” flips Marvin Gaye’s “Mandota” and details a relationship with a man named Tommy that’s neither completely over nor renewed.
Z is strongest when SZA avoids usual Pop tropes. Too many songs are about being left brokenhearted, and don’t add much to what’s already been done—“Loving alone is what you make it / Stay for the storm if you can take it / But pray for a raincoat,” she sings on “Julia.” It’s not quite original enough for a label that has released some of the genre’s boldest music of the past few years. “Childs Play,” in contrast, is loaded with relatable quirks and tongue-in-cheek childhood references that shred any predictability, and one of Chance The Rapper’s nimblest non sequitur verses to date makes the single among Z’s most memorable moments. “Sweet November” is about getting fucked over, but this time SZA skirts self-pity for a two-verse conversation between her and her conscience about “flying high and fearless.” Things with Tommy sound bleak, but SZA’s smooth vocals ride Gaye’s guitar to a strange smoked-out empowerment.
Those vocals, impressively ranged throughout the project, point to SZA’s promise regardless of songwriting pitfalls. SZA remains airy and winding on all 10 cuts, qualities that are just as endearing on Z’s Electronic and Pop beats as they are on the more mellow tracks. Her Type-B tonality is an ideal match for Kendrick, Chance and Rashad, but the true best collaboration is her work with MixedByAli, TDE’s in-house engineer that maximizes SZA’s smoothness.
Z fails to expand its subject matter, but some dreams are memorable just for being aesthetically vivid, rather than having an involved plot. While there’s plenty of room for SZA to mature as a writer and a storyteller, she’s clearly a strong musician able to hold her own beyond TDE guest spots. That’s enough to keep us dreaming for a while.
dopee
deserved at least a 4
I like sza because she’s so different compared to the corny “r&b” singers out there. She’s soulfull sultry quirky and whimsical at the same Damn time. She can get the dillz fa sho sho.
free pr0n has done too much damage to the youth.
Stupid ass, clueless HipHopDx sending one of their out of touch Jew writers/drones to write a review. I really get the feeling that when you crack**s start listening to anything different, anything remotely unique, you start cringing in your chairs and get a case of the bubble guts. SZA isn’t one of these R&B whores looking to revive their career or start stripping on stages like all these other bitches do. She’s in a lane of her own and does the most trippy songs. In fact, I’d classify her as a neo soul artist, or something transcendent of that. This album deserves a 4.5/5 Steve Goldstein, please quit your day job and become an account like the rest of your people.
Not. That. Serious.
Chill the fuck out, man. The fact that you’re this worked up over someone’s opinion is ridiculous.
a man can state his opinion so don’t listen to these fuck bitches tellin you to chill out
I’m cool. Just find the review a little ridiculous, that’s all. SZA deserves more credit than this.
^ From a musical standpoint, the production starts to get slightly repetitive. SZA’s voice is silky smooth but she could do more with it too. My favorite SZA song is Ice Moon Revisited but that’s not even on the album. 3.5/5 is a good score.
For rizzle dawg, you b talking out your butthole like you be loving butt plugs. That shit be making me sit back, twisting my nipples thinking to my self like “this foo really b gay like that”
Shleckers.
I love her music i wish i could give her a 10
This is something amazing …. Rare
it’s good, it has some good songs .. but as a entire album? no
Cool
Eh, I think Z’s a perfect masterpiece. Maybe cause I can honestly relate to a lot of shit she’s singing about. Plus, she’s fucking fantastic, an original. Don’t really hear another artist out like her. The CEO of TDE knew the hell what he was doing when he signed her!
You really need to listen to other genres of music. It’s a great album but not original in any sense.
try (FKA) Twigs.
Is it pronounced like how we say RZA and GZA? Sorry not to in tune with her
Kendrick and Isaiah(he only had back up vocals on that track) are the only featured TDE artistes on the album,so what’s your point?
“Sizza”
Bit of a let-down, this record. There’s nothing on here as extraordinary as Ice Moon or Castles from S.
She’s much better when she’s not being obliged to have all these crappy TDE collabs.
Kendrick and Isaiah(he only had back up vocals on that track)are the only TDE featured artistes on the album,so what’s your point?
It’s been said before but “Babylon” was definitely better without Kendrick’s verse – It felt unnecessary and replaced SZA’s best verse.
Love her love the album.
I think this album is the shit.
this shit is cray, i wish i still abused drugs.
dope
kinda lame how she can’t come up with a original name
then go back listenin’ to YMCMB kid
the fuck?
How is her name not original? I mean it stands for something? So….?
you ever heard of GZA? RZA? If you’re saying she didn’t bite their names you’re crazy. Sure, she could of came up with some bullshit after the fact to make it seem like she didn’t, but come on. It’s one thing to bite rhymes, but to bite someones name? Pathetic.
Actually, she said her name derivees from the Supreme Alphabet of Supreme Mathematics. RZA GZA also got their names from da math #YouStoopid
3
MASTERMIND BEST ALBUM OF ALL TIME
MAYBACH MUSIC > TOP TRASH ENTERTAINMENT
Kill yourself you a piece of shit
ever heard of RZA or GZA or that their cousin ?
I’ma buy this tomorrow i’m interested to hear to this. She can sing.
I’m an uncool ancient white boy who thinks Z is incredibly good. So I guess that means the hip on this site should hate it. PH well, tear it up.
Umm, Mr. Goldstein. I’m no racist, in any shape or form. However, I question your credibility when it comes to understanding something as culturally nuanced as hip hop/rnb/soul as it relates to an african american audience. I do however think the middle of the album “Z” suffers a bit of a dip in quality, and end rises back to something deeply enjoyable.
Oh, and Chance may be a problem for Kendrick….We’ll see.