The internet has a funny way of seeing two people with world-class chemistry and assuming they must be sleeping together. We've seen it with Gaga and Bradley Cooper, and honestly, we’re seeing it again right now. If you've spent any time on TikTok or X lately, you’ve probably seen the "shipping" edits. The grainy footage from the Grand National Tour. The slow-motion clips of them performing "All The Stars" while hovering over a stadium crowd. It looks like a movie. It feels like a romance. But is Kendrick and SZA dating, or are we just projecting our own need for a hip-hop fairy tale?
Let’s be real. Their energy is electric. When Kendrick Lamar and SZA share a stage, there is a level of comfort that most married couples don't even have. They finish each other's sentences musically. They’ve been doing this for over a decade, back when they were both just hungry artists at Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE).
But here is the cold, hard truth that might bum out the shippers: they aren't a couple.
The Reality Behind the Rumors: Is Kendrick and SZA Dating?
To understand why people keep asking if Kendrick and SZA are dating, you have to look at their 2025-2026 run. It has been massive. After the release of Kendrick’s album GNX and SZA’s LANA, the two embarked on the Grand National Tour, which basically became the biggest cultural event of the year.
Night after night, they performed tracks like "luther" and "gloria." If you haven't heard "gloria" yet, it’s essentially a five-minute masterclass in artistic intimacy. SZA plays the role of a lover—or at least a very close confidante—arguing and reflecting with Kendrick over a mariachi-style beat. It’s raw. It feels private. That’s the "problem" with being a great performer; you’re too good at making people believe the fiction.
But outside of the recording booth, their lives are very different.
Kendrick’s "Loyal to the Soil" Life
Kendrick Lamar isn't exactly a bachelor. He’s been with his fiancée, Whitney Alford, since they were teenagers at Centennial High School. That is "Day One" energy that you just don't throw away for a tour fling. Despite the rumors Drake tried to stir up during their 2024-2025 beef, Kendrick has doubled down on his family life.
Whitney wasn't just a ghost in his life recently; she was literally crip-walking in the "Not Like Us" video and appeared on the cover of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Just a few days ago, fans spotted Whitney backstage at the final leg of the tour. They have two kids, Uzi and Enoch. Kendrick has described Whitney as his "best friend" and the only person who can truly call him out on his BS. That doesn't sound like a man looking for a new relationship.
SZA’s "Notoriously Private" Dating History
SZA, or Solána Rowe, is a bit more of a wildcard, but she’s never been linked to Kendrick in a romantic way by anyone with actual receipts. She actually dated Kendrick’s rival, Drake, back in 2009—a "childish fling," as she called it.
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Lately, the rumor mill has moved on from Kendrick anyway. There’s been a lot of chatter about her and Shaboozey after some suspicious Instagram activity and mutual follows, but SZA has a habit of being "friend-goals" with everyone she works with. She’s close with Kehlani, she’s close with Travis Scott, and she’s definitely close with Kendrick. But "close" in the music industry usually means they’ve survived the same industry pressure cookers together.
Why the "Chemistry" Messes With Our Heads
Musically, they are soulmates. There’s no other way to put it.
Think back to "Babylon" in 2014. Then "Doves in the Wind." Then the Oscar-nominated "All The Stars." By the time they reached 2025's "30 for 30," they had developed a shorthand. When they perform live, Kendrick often loses that stoic, "Boogeyman" persona and actually smiles. SZA brings out a lighter side of him.
According to music critics like Joey Guerra, SZA "softens his edges." That’s what we’re seeing. We are seeing two masters of their craft who trust each other implicitly.
- Musical Synergy: They’ve collaborated on at least 8 major tracks.
- Shared History: Both were the "crown jewels" of TDE for years.
- The "LANA" Effect: SZA’s recent deluxe tracks featured Kendrick so heavily it felt like a joint project.
The Verdict
So, no. Kendrick and SZA are not dating. They are effectively siblings in arms. They’ve seen each other go from local LA and St. Louis artists to global icons.
If you’re looking for a scandal, you won’t find it here. What you will find is a rare, platonic partnership that has defined the sound of the 2020s. Kendrick is still very much a family man, and SZA is still very much doing her own thing, likely laughing at the TikTok edits just as much as we are.
What you should do next:
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Instead of hunting for dating rumors, you should check out the Grand National Tour live recordings if you can find them. Specifically, look for the tour version of "Love." SZA takes over the Zacari vocals, and it’s arguably better than the original. Also, keep an ear out for the rumored collaborative EP—SZA has hinted she’s been trying to get "Kenny to budge" on a full joint project for 2026. That is the only "relationship" update we’re likely to get, and honestly, it’s the only one that matters.