SZA’s eagerly awaited new song, “Shirt,” has finally been released, and with it, a Dave Meyers-directed music video featuring both Lakeith Stanfield and SZA. 

SZA previously collaborated with Stanfield on the music video for the song “I Hate You,” which was released. The video features crazy sequences of SZA and Stanfield acting as accomplices in crime during gunfights in which they engage until SZA is injured and Stanfield drives off to guarantee his escape. 

SZA then seems to follow Stanfield and ends up getting arrested. According to rumors, Quentin Tarantino’s movies served as an influence for the video. The song itself has a steady bottom and a pleasant R&B vibe.

The new song and its accompanying music video were scheduled to be published on October 14; however, SZA postponed the release and explained to fans onstage during her headlining performance at Austin City Limits that:

“It didn’t come out because I looked at the video, and I was stressed at one small thing in the video. But I fixed that, and it’s turned in and about to come out.” 

Part of the excitement stemmed from suspicions that the song could have leaked on Spotify, which prompted SZA to tweet a snippet from the song’s video to reassure doubting fans that the music was scheduled to be formally released.

SZA just released another music video for the song “Persuasive,” which she collaborated on with Doechii, and now she’s released “Shirt.” On June 17, 2022, SZA will perform at Pharrell Williams’ “Something In The Water” event.