You know that feeling when two artists just click? It's rare. Most "big" collaborations feel like they were brokered in a boardroom by lawyers who haven't listened to a radio since 2004. But Kendrick and SZA songs hit different. There is a specific kind of telepathy happening there. Maybe it’s the years they spent in the trenches together at Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). Maybe it's just that they are both "wizards," as SZA recently called Kendrick during an interview with Jimmy Kimmel.
Honestly, the timeline of their work is a wild ride. It started with "Babylon" back in 2014—a moody, distorted track where SZA was still finding her footing and Kendrick was fresh off the good kid, m.A.A.d city high. Fast forward to 2026, and they’ve basically taken over the world. They aren't just labelmates anymore; they’re the duo that redefined what a hip-hop and R&B crossover actually sounds like.
The Evolution of the Partnership
It wasn't always stadium tours and Oscar nominations.
Early on, their energy was much more experimental. Take "Untitled 04" from Kendrick’s untitled unmastered. project. It’s barely a song in the traditional sense. It’s a vibe. Their vocals are stacked in this heady, funk-inspired soup that felt more like a late-night studio jam than a radio hit. You could hear them testing each other.
Then came Ctrl.
If you haven't shouted the lyrics to "Doves in the Wind" in your car, are you even living? This track is basically an ode to the power of the feminine, and Kendrick's verse is a masterclass in staying on theme without trying to outshine the lead artist. He mentions "pussy" more than 25 times—not to be crude, but to dismantle the male obsession with it. It’s high-level subversion. SZA later mentioned that Kendrick was actually in the room while she was writing her verses, which explains why their chemistry feels so lived-in.
The "All The Stars" Shift
Everything changed in 2018. The Black Panther soundtrack was a cultural reset. "All The Stars" was everywhere. It went 2x Platinum in the US and bagged four Grammy nominations. Suddenly, they weren't just the cool TDE kids; they were global superstars.
While some critics called the song "conservative" compared to their earlier work, the public didn't care. The music video, directed by Nabil Elderkin, was a visual feast of Afrofuturism. It showed SZA as an allegory for life and Kendrick as a searcher for history. It was the moment their partnership broke into the mainstream for good.
The GNX Era and the 2024 Resurgence
For a few years, things went quiet. Kendrick left TDE to start pgLang. SZA became a titan with SOS. People wondered if they’d ever get back in the booth together.
Then came the end of 2024.
Kendrick dropped GNX and the internet nearly broke. Two of the best tracks on that album, "luther" and "gloria," feature SZA. "luther" is particularly special because it samples Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn, creating this sweeping, soulful atmosphere that debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It feels like a victory lap.
- "luther": A harmonious, sample-heavy masterpiece.
- "gloria": A mariachi-textured track about redemption and past mistakes.
- "30 for 30": Released on SZA’s LANA (the SOS reissue), where they go bar-for-bar.
"30 for 30" is where things get spicy. Released in early 2025, the song features SZA dropping her usual "halo" for some "boxing gloves." Kendrick uses his verse to send some not-so-subtle shots at his long-time rival, Drake. The title itself is a cheeky nod to Drake’s "30 for 30 Freestyle" from 2015. It’s petty. It’s brilliant. It’s exactly what fans wanted.
Why the Grand National Tour Matters Now
We are currently in the middle of the "Grand National Tour." It’s their first joint stadium run, and the reviews are insane. SZA described the rehearsals as "throwing paint at the wall."
If you’re lucky enough to have tickets, you’ve seen the production. SZA starts her set next to a Buick Grand National (the car that inspired Kendrick’s album title) covered in vines and leaves. It’s a callback to her "Saturn" aesthetic but mashed up with Kendrick's West Coast grit. They even performed "30 for 30" together for the first time in Minneapolis, and the crowd reaction was deafening.
Their Super Bowl LIX performance in New Orleans was another level. Even though "30 for 30" wasn't on the official setlist, the hype from the halftime show pushed the song back into the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
What to Listen For Next
There are constant rumors of a full-length joint album. SZA has teased it, saying she’d love to do it, but Kendrick is famously "solitary." He’s the "wizard" behind the curtain. Whether we get a full project or just more features, the impact of Kendrick and SZA songs on the last decade of music is undeniable. They’ve managed to keep their integrity while moving from the underground to the biggest stages on the planet.
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To really appreciate the depth of their collaboration, don't just stick to the hits. Go back and listen to the "untitled" tracks. Listen to how they use their voices as instruments to complement each other. It’s not just rap plus R&B; it’s a shared language.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Listen to the GNX album in full to hear how "luther" and "gloria" anchor the project's emotional core.
- Check the 2026 tour dates if you missed the first leg; secondary market tickets are expensive but the production value is a once-in-a-generation event.
- Watch the "All The Stars" video again, but look for the Egyptian and South African symbolism—it’s deeper than you remember.