Album Review: SOS Deluxe “LANA” by SZA

Lama Najajrah, Journalist • March 18, 2025

Tune into this article to know more about SZA’s recent songs!! (Fair use photo from Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and RCA Records)

LANA is SZA’s latest album, which was released on December 20, 2024, through Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and RCA Records. It features guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar and Don Toliver. In the deluxe edition, we see SZA with heightened elements of indie and alternative rock, especially on the new songs. These tracks feel like a natural evolution of what SZA started with SOS, with added layers that showcase her growth as an artist. Her vocals continue to shine with more intimate moments.

This song is an emotionally charged track that captures a sense of liberation, vulnerability, and self-empowerment. The lyrics offer a sense of yearning and release, capturing that moment when someone realizes they’ve been hiding parts of themselves for too long and decides to step into the light.

Song: No More Hiding

The song “What Do I Do” delves into themes of self-doubt, emotional confusion, and the search for clarity. It reveals many different emotions and it also mentions how girls feel about the boy they like being with another girl. One of the lines in this song is, “What do I do? Bet she with you right now”.

Song: What Do I Do

This song is one of my favorite songs from this album and it features one of my favorite singers, Kendrick Lamar. The song expresses a feeling of self-doubt and uncertainty, but there’s also a sense of empowerment. Many of the fans liked this song and said this was one of the best songs on the album.

Song: 30 For 30(with kendrick Lamar)

This song was not one of my favorites. But, it explores the tension between desiring someone who may not fully value you in the same way. It also captures the emotional tension between longing for someone who may not fully appreciate or understand your worth with the vulnerability that comes with those feelings.

Song: Diamond Boy (DTM)

I LOVE LOVE THIS SONG. It shows so many emotions and it just takes you to another whole world. The track is brimming with confidence and swagger, as she declares her worth and stands firm in her self-assurance. It’s almost like a declaration of independence, where SZA asserts her own value and rejects being minimized by others.

Song: BMF

The song “Scorsese Baby Daddy” was also one of my favorites. It is an exploration of relationships, power dynamics, and emotional complexity. SZA sings about desire, questioning her role in relationships, and what it means to give or take emotionally. The use of humor and wit in her lyrics contrasts with the deeper, more serious emotions at play, making the track both relatable and intriguing. It is a reflection of love and attraction, and how those emotions often intersect with questions of identity and personal power.

Song: Scorsese Baby Daddy

In this song, SZA expresses a desire to be loved for who she truly is, rather than being seen through the lens of superficial judgments. The song explores the feelings of insecurity and the fear of not being enough for someone, but also the hope that there’s someone out there who will accept her as she is, without the need for change. I truly liked this song because it expresses many of our emotions and desires.

Song: Love Me 4 Me

This song is the calmest song in this album. It is truly one of the best songs on the album in my opinion for multiple reasons. “Chill Baby” focuses on taking things slow, allowing a relationship to evolve naturally without the pressure of rushing or trying to force an outcome. It’s also about easing into love or attraction without the stress of expectations. SZA expresses a need for calm and emotional ease, reflecting on the idea of letting things unfold in their own time.

Song: Chill Baby

“My Turn” is also a very good song where SZA reflects on the evolution of her own desires and boundaries, embracing the idea of taking control of her life and the direction in which her relationships are headed. The song reflects on the past but focuses on the present and future, emphasizing that it’s now her turn to take charge of what happens next in her emotional life. The theme of self-empowerment drives through the lyrics, with SZA acknowledging that she doesn’t need to settle for less than she deserves anymore. I liked this song a lot.

Song: My Turn

“Crybaby” is legit one of the best songs SZA has ever made. This song is one of my favorites and it is really calming and unique. The song is basically about emotional vulnerability, self-doubt, and the fear of being perceived as weak or too needy in a relationship. It also expresses the feeling of being dismissed or misunderstood for expressing emotions, especially in the context of love. I listen to this song on a daily, it is really really good.

Song: Crybaby

“Kitchen“ is about finding clarity in the simplest moments of life, often in a domestic setting like a kitchen, which serves as both a literal and metaphorical space for reflection. It definitely explores the view of personal growth and the small moments that shape relationships and self-awareness. I personally did not like it as much as the other ones but it is worth the try.

Song: Kitchen

This one is a very short track but it captures many emotions and feelings. It offers the listeners a peek into the artist’s mindset while maintaining the raw vulnerability SZA is known for. It shows the struggle for emotional control, and the desire to let go of negative influences. The title itself suggests a confrontational tone, SZA seems to be commanding something (or someone) to “get behind” her, indicating a need to move forward and leave behind emotional self-doubt. It is worth listening to!!

Song: Get Behind Me

I really like this song and I listen to it daily. I think this one might be the winner; taking 1st place on my list for many good reasons. The beat of the song, the lyrics, the meaning of the words, and the softness take you to another atmosphere. “Drive” reflects on the internal conflict between desiring love and connection while also grappling with the fear of getting hurt or being misunderstood. I think it also means to move forward or take control of one’s own emotional bath based on its name. If you like calm but catchy songs, this one is for you!!

Song: Drive

I actually can’t decide if this would take second or third place on my list but it is also one of the best songs on her new album, LANA. “Another Life” reflects on how different choices might have led to a different outcome in a relationship or in one’s personal life. SZA fights with feelings of regret contemplating how things might have unfolded if only she had taken a different path. I think each one of us might have thought of a different outcome if we chose a different path. Nevertheless, I love this song so much and I recommend listening to it.

Song: Another Life

In this song, SZA features Don Toliver. SZA expresses a sense of longing to be seen and understood on a deeper level, while also grappling with feelings of self-doubt and fear of rejection. The song expresses a soft, laid-back beat that creates a warm vibe. There is a certain sadness to the song as SZA reflects on the emotional risks involved in opening up and exposing one’s true self. “Okay, we fell out, but where I’ve been. See, I can’t go, no, no, no, no, no more.” This line is one of Don’s lines where he shows that he can’t get over what has happened to the relationship he was in. It is a very calming song and I enjoyed listening to it.

Song: Joni

This song was released after the LANA album but later on it became a fan favorite. The lyrics of this song convey a sense of longing and deep attraction, but also the emotional risks involved in allowing someone into your personal space. “Take You Down“ became a fan favorite, and SZA later shared text conversations with her manager about its exclusion.

Song: Take You Down

The song “Open Arms (Just SZA)” is a solo version of the song “Open Arms,” which originally featured Travis Scott in the original song. The themes of this song are unconditional love, trust, and the willingness to open oneself up in a relationship. In my opinion, I think both of the songs, the solo version and the one with Travis Scott, are really good.

Song: Open Arms(Only SZA)

In this song, SZA positions herself as someone who has evolved, desires, and a sense of self. The song’s themes revolve around independence, self-empowerment, and a refusal to compromise on her needs. Some fans have speculated that “PSA” was omitted from the standard track list because it sounded too much like an opening song. I think this song is mid, it’s not bad but it is also not spectacular.