SZA Expands Empire with Historic Kendrick Lamar Tour

SZA and Kendrick Lamar have announced their groundbreaking 2025 Grand National Tour, marking a new chapter in the R&B superstar’s career following unprecedented success with her album SOS. The stadium tour begins April 19 and solidifies SZA’s position as contemporary R&B’s most influential voice.

The collaboration comes after SZA’s SOS dominated charts for an unprecedented 10 non-consecutive weeks at number one, breaking records as the longest-running album by a Black artist to remain in Billboard 200’s top ten, surpassing Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

Trending World News Headlines:

Record-Breaking Success Fuels Expansion

SZA’s sophomore album SOS has achieved historic milestones since its December 2022 release. According to Wikipedia, the album became the first R&B album to spend its first seven consecutive weeks atop the charts since Whitney Houston’s Whitney in 1987.

The album’s deluxe edition, titled Lana, arrived December 20, 2024, featuring 15 additional tracks including singles “Saturn” and “Drive.” The reissue returned SOS to number one for an eleventh non-consecutive week in 2025, demonstrating extraordinary longevity.

At the 2024 Grammy Awards, SOS received nine nominations and won Best Progressive R&B Album, with the deluxe edition securing another Grammy for “Saturn” as Best R&B Song at the 2025 ceremony.

Evolution from SOS Tour to Stadium Dominance

The SOS Tour, which ran from February 2023 to May 2024, established SZA as a premier live performer. The arena tour featured elaborate nautical themes with stage settings including a fishing trawler, lighthouse, and seabed, referencing the album’s cover art.

Initial demand led to multiple expansions, growing from 17 original dates to include European and additional North American legs. The tour incorporated over 30 songs per show, blending SOS tracks with material from her debut Ctrl and covers of classics like Erykah Badu’s “Bag Lady.”

The production’s Broadway and Disney-inspired elements showcased SZA’s evolution from intimate venues to arena spectacles, preparing her for stadium performances.

Grand National Tour Details Emerge

The 2025 Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar represents SZA’s ascension to stadium status. Ticketmaster confirms dates beginning April 19 in Minneapolis, followed by major cities including Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and multiple nights at MetLife Stadium.

This marks SZA’s first stadium tour, building upon her and Lamar’s collaborative history including chart-topping singles “All the Stars” and the recently number-one hit “Luther.” The tour announcement coincides with both artists receiving multiple Grammy nominations for 2025.

Industry observers note the pairing capitalizes on both artists’ commercial peaks and their proven chemistry on collaborative tracks.

Cultural Impact Reshapes R&B Landscape

SZA’s influence extends beyond commercial success, fundamentally shifting perceptions of contemporary R&B. Grammy.com credits her with “flipping R&B on its head and shattering the tired trope that ‘R&B is dead'” through genre-blurring musicality and authentic vulnerability.

Her songwriting credentials include contributions to Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé’s “Feeling Myself” and Rihanna’s “Consideration,” establishing her as an industry force before her solo breakthrough. The unprecedented success of “Kill Bill” spending 21 weeks atop R&B charts demonstrates her crossover appeal.

Critics praise SZA’s ability to create what feels like “someone peeked in your diary during those times where you’re unabashedly crazy,” resonating with audiences seeking emotional authenticity.

Future Projects Signal Continued Dominance

While the Lana deluxe edition expanded SOS significantly, industry insiders suggest more developments ahead. SZA has hinted at treating Lana as potentially a separate project, demonstrating her prolific creative output during this period.

Her collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on the Grand National Tour positions both artists for continued chart dominance while expanding their respective fan bases. With SZA slated to present at the 2025 Grammy Awards alongside major stars, her trajectory suggests sustained influence across music’s highest platforms.

As the Grand National Tour approaches, SZA’s evolution from breakthrough artist to stadium headliner reflects contemporary R&B’s commercial resurgence and cultural significance.

Trending World News Headlines: