In a recent trip to London, SZA stopped in with BBC radio’s DJ Semtex, SZA and perked up everyone’s ears when she told a story of how Jay-Z responded to her success when they first met.
The conversation started when SZA was asked about Jay-Z’s new album and SZA said she hadn’t yet listened to it intently, but what she did hear was brilliant. She went on to tell a story of how Jay responded to her when they first met. “From what I met of him, he’s the first person to tell me that he though I was a fluke to my face, and I laughed and said, ‘So did I,’ and I still kinda feel that way.” When asked when Jay made the comment, SZA wasn’t sure, and guessed one to three years ago.
“I don’t know and he’s just like, ‘You know you’re good, you’re pretty good, you’re really good. And I was like, ‘thanks,’ and he was like, ‘I thought you were a fluke,’ and I was like, ‘Me too,’ and he was like ‘ha ha,’ and we just giggled and that was that.”
When Semtex suggested Jay may have been joking, SZA responded, “No, I absolutely think he meant it. And that’s okay. Because I think I am every other day. I think we all do. I think we wonder if we’re supposed to be here. If we’re doing the right thing. If we even want to be here. At least I do. All the time. I’d figure out, I question how I got into this mess, all the time. And then I question do I want to say in this mess all the time. And then I question, hey, do I love this mess? Or like, is there any other mess I’d rather be in? And then it’s like, nah, I guess I’ll keep this mess and pursue where the rest of this goes.
SZA also discussed being on TDE and says she’s treated as though she’s a rapper, but wasn’t sure what they meant, adding that everything she’s experience this year feels new. “If I’m being completely honest, I’ve never had this much attention before,” said SZA. “I’ve never had this much expectation on me before. I’ve never had this much pressure before. And to go from someone that never left the house and kinda just only did what she wanted to do with who she wanted to do it with all the time, this is painful.”
Ironically, Beyonce recently posted an Instagram style video whose backing track was SZA’s.