I did not expect to love this album as much as I do, but as a 26 year old, single, free-spirit.. This album was so appropriate and right on time.
The Openness. The Honesty.
The Unorthodox Tale of Womanhood.
SZA starts the album with Supermodel. Totally allowing herself to be vulnerable and also allowing every woman who digests every word to feel at ease. Because now we see, we're not alone. (And no, every woman doesn't sleep with their ex's homeboy -- but I can attest to the fact that SHIT HAPPENS.) She admits to sometimes needing the validation from a man and how we wish we didn't. How we compare ourselves to the next woman.. Why do you think we go snooping through your new ladies' social media accounts? We use that and try to figure out the man's "standard" and what we were lacking. We try to understand why men decide to do nigga shit. When most times, there's no excuse behind it at all. And yet, we blame ourselves for it all.
"Wish I was comfortable just with myself, but I need you. I need You"
We convince ourselves that we may need a person so much, we are willing to play second place.
This brings me to the heaviest debate: SZA makes hoe music.
"You're like 9 to 5, Im the weekend."
Y'all kill me. Half of you can't even tell me what a "Hoe" is and if you tried.. you'd probably be talking about your grandma in the same instance. But I wont go there today. As women, we can convince ourselves that sex equates to love. We'll even settle for a situation we know damn well its not what we want. We'll coach ourselves into thinking its "cool" or that we're not hurt, because the sex is so good and sex well... thats our "love". Women and men alike have issues. Men throw their bodies around for years and call it masculinity, when that's not even what makes a man. Women will sometimes make love to men that do not even like us to dismiss the root of the problem. Every woman is different so the issues we possess are never identical, but to call it being a "hoe" is pretty dim.
While in your twenties, it's okay to explore and figure yourself out. I only recommend one doesn't continue to make the same mistakes while expecting a different result - Thats just pure insanity. Now, find me a 20-something that has it all together. Male or Female. Don't worry, I'll wait.
"...Never going back, Never going back. No you cant make me"
Throughout the album she realizes the worth of a nigga vs a man. Sit and listen to Doves in the Wind and then listen to my favorite track, Pretty Little Birds. She's gently aggressive in the beginning and later comes to a place of understanding; The understanding of man, love, heartbreak, and Self. Its as if SZA embraces her reality instead of zooming in and emotionally attacking her flaws. Every woman is either going through this phase or has been there, done that.
The phase of self-realization is the beautiful growing pain that never ends. But through self- realization comes Evolution.
