SZA’s journey to stardom was influenced by her past as a competitive athlete, a stark contrast to her conservative upbringing as an orthodox Muslim. She reminisces about her childhood, where she donned overalls and baggy clothes to adhere to the modesty required by her religion, limiting her exposure to mainstream media. Despite these restrictions, SZA stumbled upon a mixtape at a friend’s bar mitzvah that introduced her to artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers, LFO, and Macy Gray, sparking her love for music beyond what her father listened to, which included Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, and Louis Armstrong.
Her musical horizons expanded further when she discovered an iPod at a gymnastics camp, despite its nonfunctional dial. The iPod played a variety of artists such as Common, Björk, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Mos Def, and Jay-Z, exposing her to a diverse range of music that resonated deeply with her. These experiences laid the foundation for SZA’s unique sound and the artist she would later become.