Steve Lacy and SZA unveil “is it cool?” a confessional duet from Lacy’s July 17 album *Oh yeah?*, blending R&B vulnerability with indie sensibilities. The track, released via RCA Records, marks a career pivot for the 28-year-old Grammy winner, who collaborates with Erykah Badu and Cecile Believe on the project.
The collaboration between Lacy and SZA, two of contemporary music’s top voices, arrives at a pivotal moment. Their partnership underscores a shift in A&R strategies.
The Bottom Line
- Lacy’s *Oh yeah?* follows a four-year period during which the artist found himself feeling more at home abroad than in his own surroundings, positioning it as his most personal project to date.
- SZA’s vocal contribution mirrors the track’s themes of emotional exhaustion.
- Lacy will support *Oh yeah?* with a run of Asian dates beginning Aug. 13 in Tokyo, including headlining appearances at Summer Sonic in Japan and Lalala Festival in Manila and Jakarta.
Produced largely by Lacy, “is it cool?” emerged from a period of self-reflection. The artist described the album as his most personal project to date.
SZA’s verse—”Being vulnerable is exhausting, babe / Can we get naked instead of talking, babe?“—reflects the duo’s shared aesthetic of raw, self-aware lyricism.
| Artist | Status |
|---|---|
| Steve Lacy | Two entries in Spotify’s Billions Club |
| SZA | Top voice in contemporary music |
Lacy’s upcoming Asian tour, including headlining slots at Summer Sonic and Lalala Festival, will be his first shows since early 2024.
The collaboration with SZA also signals a move for RCA Records. Lacy has already won two Grammys.
As the music industry grapples with platform monopolies and declining physical sales, projects like *Oh yeah?* offer a blueprint for sustainable artist development. Lacy’s decision to self-produce much of the album highlights a growing trend.
For fans, the album represents more than a musical evolution—it’s a cultural touchstone. With its unflinching exploration of intimacy and self-sabotage, *Oh yeah?* taps into a collective longing for authenticity. As SZA’s verse suggests, sometimes the hardest conversations
