In 2015, SZA was an up-and-coming artist yet to make her mark when Top Dawg Entertainment, the independent label she called home, provided nine-time Grammy winner Rihanna with "Consideration" - a song that would become one of Rihanna's favorites.
"I cared so much. I was so frustrated, and I felt like, "I'll never have anything this cool again. I'll never make anything this cool again," she revealed in an interview with Variety.
The "Chandelier" singer added, "It was like the centerpiece to my [debut studio album Ctrl] at the time. And for her, it was just like part of her album [Anti]. And I was like, 'Please no!' I had just shot a video for it, and, like, I was about to drop it, like, in a couple of days."
At the time, SZA, whose real name is Solána Imani Rowe, felt "desperate" as she worked in a strip club and questioned whether she'd have enough funds for food.
She even had to borrow studio time and was constantly compared to other artists who did not represent her reality.
The Jersey girl understood she wasn't in control of the situation, but the 35-year-old Bajan pop star kept some of her vocals on the track and provided her with a "featuring" credit. Despite all these challenges, SZA persevered.
In 2016, during The Brit Awards in London, Rihanna had a very special surprise for the audience - she invited SZA to join her onstage at the O2 Arena, singing "Consideration."
However, the "Snooze" singer was nearly hidden from view as she sang in the background and out of sight.
"I'm so glad that that happened and didn't cost me anything. If anything, I just, like, gained a bunch from it. And I thank God that I made cool music outside of that. I don't know why I just really thought my creativity would, like, stop and, like, this was the pinnacle of what I could make. If she has it, then I'll just never be anything."
Meanwhile, SZA is slated to appear at Z100 New York and iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball in Madison Square Garden in Manhattan on December 8th with Olivia Rodrigo, OneRepublic, and Doechii, among many others -- a show that has already sold out.
The incredibly talented songwriter, who has already been recognized with an Oscar nomination, now stands to take home nine awards at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
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