SZA had a breakout year in 2017 with Ctrl, her landmark debut album that referenced a buffet of genres and attributed to R&B’s progressive escalation. She covered sensitive themes that reflected her experience as a young Black woman finding her way through life and love of some form.
Had SZA been in control, as the album title suggests, she might have released a different album that arrived on June 9, 2017, via Top Dawg Entertainment/RCA Records. The sound of the crumpled-up and discarded notebook paper heard at the beginning of Ctrl‘s opener “Supermodel” was indicative of how SZA felt about the tracklist process.
SZA was narrowing down a good number of songs to on Ctrl — anywhere between 150 and 200 songs, as mentioned in a Guardian interview from July 2017.
Her label eventually had the hard drive containing Ctrl taken away from her in a desperate effort not further to delay its release. “I just kept f*cking everything up. I just kept moving shit around,” she shared in the same interview.
And as luck would have it, Ctrl had a bountiful supply of support from eager listeners, fans and critics alike. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart.
By the end of 2017, Ctrl proved to be a pivotal moment for SZA. She inevitably attracted the Recording Academy, earning five nominations during the 2018 Grammy season, including Best New Artist.
SZA left empty-handed that night. But over the next few years, Ctrl would affirm her dominance as a leader of the new class of pop stars.
By July 2020, all 14 tracks on the album garnered certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album was also certified 2x multi-platinum, exceeding more than two million equivalent copies in sales.
As of today, “Love Galore” featuring Travis Scott is the highest-certified song from Ctrl, achieving sales of more than five million equivalent units sold (5x multi-platinum). The top position goes for its music video views as well. It has surpassed the 104 million mark since its release five years ago.
In celebration of Ctrl’s fifth anniversary, SZA expanded the Grammy-nominated album with seven unreleased tracks. Rated R&B joins in on its remembrance of the earth-shaking debut by ranking all seven of its music videos from that era. (Ranked from the lowest to greatest)
7. “Drew Barrymore”
Directed by: Dave Meyers
How cool is it to have a song titled after a beloved actress and cast them in the actual visual? And, of course, it also helps to have friends who are just as spontaneous as you are.
6. “The Weekend”
Directed by: Solange Knowles
Many were disappointed with the visual representation of the presumable fan favorite. But there is something beautifully conceptual about this simplistic visual, even if we can’t put our finger on it.
5. “Garden (Say It Like Dat)”
Directed by: Karena Evans
Donald Glover played SZA’s companion in an intimate visual that suits the song’s name. SZA is her most unworried in solo scenes like the ones near the water. She even gets a matriarchal cameo from her grandmother.
4. “Broken Clocks”
Directed by: SZA and Dave Free of The Little Homies
When the young camper screams “get up” at the start of the carefree video, it immediately puts me in the mind of the alarm in the a.m. when it is time to start adulting. In the words of Cher: “If I could turn back time.”
3. “Supermodel”
Directed by: Nabil Elderkin
Any place can be a runaway. Just ask SZA, who structs in a black bikini bottom and crop top on an unpaved pathway for young girls to admire. She also gives a male menace a lesson in bullet dance when you laugh at the expense of others.
2. “Doves In The Wind” featuring Kendrick Lamar
Directed by: Nabil Elderkin
SZA is a worthy adversary for master Kendrick Lamar in this martial arts-inspired film. She almost left defeated, but like a vintage fight game on Playstation, she nailed the perfect finisher move. Take that.
1. “Love Galore” featuring Travis Scott
Directed by: Nabil Elderkin
The crime tape likely surrounded the premise of SZA’s residence following a taboo sex tease between her and Travis Scott that went terribly wrong. Here’s a double entendre: the butterflies were nice while they lasted.
Revisit SZA’s Ctrl (Deluxe) album below.