SZA's Soul Train Awards Triumph — A Sign of Wins to Come

SZA’s reign at the top continued as she dominated at the recently concluded 2023 Soul Train Awards. During the event, which was hosted by Keke Palmer, the R&B singer bagged a total of four awards – the most for any of the artists in attendance.

SZA’s mega-hit “Snooze” helped her win The Ashford & Simpson Song Writer’s Award and the Song of the Year. Furthermore, her long-awaited second album, “SOS,” got her the Album of the Year. To round things off, the chart-topping singer also bagged the Best R&B/Soul Female Artist award.

The singer’s success at the Soul Train Awards comes at the back of her multiple nominations for the Grammys. SZA has received a whopping nine nominations in the upcoming Grammy ceremony in 2024.

The wins demonstrate the singer’s growing influence in the world of R&B. Here’s a quick rundown of how the “Kill Bill” singer is impacting the genre.

Since coming onto the scene, SZA has wowed her audience and fellow artists with her signature mix of R&B and Pop. The “Good Days” singer is known for releasing highly successful solo and collaborative efforts. However, 2023 saw her earn the chart-topping respect she has always deserved.

Her hit, “Kill Bill,” earned SZA her first number-one spot on the Hot 100 Chart. The song had spent months in second place, having been outperformed by other popular hits. When it seemed like her time at the top spot was coming to an end, SZA got a new lease on life, courtesy of her new collaboration with Drake, “Slime You Out,” – which is part of the rapper's upcoming album.

The hit helped the singer bag her second chart-topping hit on the Hot 100 Chart and her first debut No. 1 – only reserved for the most popular of songs.

SZA’s success on the charts has continued with “Snooze” – another track off her highly successful “SOS” album – slowly making its way to the top, peaking at the second spot. The track is also the only one that spent the entire year on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The singer’s second album, “SOS” – which was released late in 2022 – helped her scale new highs. After debuting at the top of the Billboard 200 Chart, it went on to spend ten non-consecutive weeks at No. 1. This was the longest stint at the top by any woman since 1991’s record set by Mariah Carey’s self-titled debut project.

SZA has been setting trends and influencing new and upcoming artists with her unique sound. Her album, “SOS,” broke boundaries by sampling a variety of genres, including rap, pop-punk, grunge, and even gospel.

“She’s pop, alternative, R&B,” noted the head of R&B at Spotify, Alaysia Sierra. She continued by stating, “She doesn’t want to be put in a box, but she can’t deny her foundation.” Speaking to Billboard about her versatility, SZA stated, “You have to allow people to get to know different parts of it.”