It has been 14 months since SZA's released her debut studio album, Ctrl, and as time goes on, it continues to pick up recognition as one of the best projects to emerge over the last couple years.
Along the way, the album has been putting up huge numbers. Rocking her new green hair, SZA made a visit to the RCA Records offices and found out that she has now racked up over 2.3 billion streams. "I love my family," she wrote on Instagram. "I love you all for pressing play at any time. Thank you for this journey."
A lot has changed for SZA over the last year. Before dropping Ctrl, she sat down with Complex and explained that she was frustrated with life as a singer and thought about quitting music. "I’ll probably just do something different, something visual, probably film," SZA said at the time. "I’m really frustrated, and I’m kind of over it. I have a lot of anxiety and there’s a lot going on in my life."
When Ctrl dropped on Jun 9, 2017, the project made an immediate splash as it debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and has since been certified platinum. In late 2017, she was nominated for five Grammy awards, including Best New Artist.
During an interview with Pitchfork in 2017, SZA spoke about the success and admitted she's still getting used to it. "I feel like people are sick of me saying I’m surprised," she said. "They’re like, 'Bitch, shut up,' and I’m just like, 'I can’t because I’m literally still shook.’ I can pretend to be not shook if it would make y’all less angry with me."
Eight months into 2018, it's still real. SZA is a star and people are still streaming the hell out of Ctrl. Do your part and contribute a few more streams below.
