SZA Speaks On Being First Female Act Signed To TDE

In a recent MTV interview with up coming female musician, SZA, she spoke on being the first female act signed to TDE. In case you don't know what TDE means or what it is- TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment) is the record label that signed Kendrick Lamar in 2003 when he was just 16 years old. Yes, Kendrick has been on the scene since then. And yes, he is still on the label, along side his friends/label mates, Ab-Soul, School Boy Q, and Jay Rock. Actually, Jay Rock was the first to have a buzz on TDE in the late 2000s, that was before TDE signed a joint deal with Interscope Records in 2012. The label was formed by Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith back in 1997.


Although she has always been around the team, she officially signed with the label last month (August, 2013). Below is what she had to say about her deal with TDE.

"To be the first female on TDE is more...it's really just more important to me to be a part of TDE, rather than the first female. They've worked with girls in the past, incredible [artists] like Alori [Joh] and Jhene [Aiko]. So for me, it's just honestly being a part of a collective, such as TDE. That's what's more insane to me. They don't treat me like the girl, in the best ways though. No one tries to baby me or walk over me 'cause I'm a girl. They just let me fight for what I believe in and let me be as creative as I want to be and just give me free reign. So I love that." 

"The thing that made it the right fit for me with TDE was definitely more of a personal, emotional decision, knowing [Top Dawg Ent. President] Punch, for like two years prior, of like non music-related...like no pressure...or running into them beforehand, just in the streets. They've always been kind to me. They've never been Hollywood, or funny. I don't know. It's really just the talent level. They aren't the kind of label that will give you a bottle of champagne and a car when you sign, but they'll give you all the studio time you could ever ask for and every producer you could ever dream of and all the support you could ever want and that's real."

It's good to see TDE building a brand, Kendrick Lamar deserves all the shine he is currently getting, and it will help the rest of the label get more recognition in the music scene. I haven't heard much from SZA, but it seems Top Dawg always signs very dope and creative artists, so I am expecting her to be a creative musician. And for the record, Kendrick is the only artist on the label with a part signing with Aftermath Records, the rest are strictly TDE/Interscope.