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Doves in the Wind

2017 promotional single by SZA featuring Kendrick Lamar From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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"Doves in the Wind" is a song by singer-songwriter SZA featuring rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on June 8, 2017, as a promotional single from SZA's debut studio album Ctrl (2017). "Doves in the Wind" is an ode to vaginas, with the word "pussy" mentioned over 25 times. Exploring themes of female empowerment, SZA encourages men to see their relationships with women past their sex appeal, so that they can form meaningful emotional bonds together. She points to Forrest Gump, a fictional character from a 1994 film who is described as prioritizing his romantic feelings over sexual attraction. Musically, "Doves in the Wind" is a boom bap song, which SZA has said showcases her more masculine side. It incorporates a slowed-down instrumental of "Turn Me Up Some" (2002) by Busta Rhymes, overlaid with synthesizer chords and crackling drums.

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A martial arts film–inspired music video for the song premiered on April 27, 2018. Directed by Nabil Elderkin, it stars Lamar as a reclusive martial arts master and SZA as his eager student. She meets him after trekking across a vast desert, and the two challenge each other to a duel. At the end, she acquires his skills and powers after multiple failed attempts. In reviews of Ctrl, critics praised "Doves in the Wind" for the harmonious chemistry between Lamar and SZA. In their view, Lamar did not dominate the song despite his tendency to do so in other features. Retrospective rankings of SZA and Lamar's collaborations placed "Doves in the Wind" within their top three; it was ranked second in HipHopDX's and third in Rap-Up's. Together, the duo have performed the song during SZA's Ctrl the Tour (2017–2018), Coachella 2018, and their co-headlining Grand National Tour (2025).

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Background

SZA began work on the project that would later become her debut studio album, Ctrl, in 2014.[1] Its release date was initially scheduled for late 2015.[2] Within the time period, SZA befriended multiple record producers who agreed to work on the project.[3][4] One of them was Cameron Osteen (Cam O'bi). During one of their casual conversations, O'bi decided to show SZA one of the tracks he had made for an upcoming album. She listened and grew attached to the song – originally titled "Take the Wheel" – and asked if she can buy it from him. He refused because it was his song; however, he agreed to start a work relationship with her, and became the producer for a track called "Doves in the Wind".[5]

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Music and production

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"Doves in the Wind" is a boom bap song. It samples the J Dilla–produced track "Turn Me Up Some" (2002) by Busta Rhymes, with the instrumental slowed down.[6] The sample is overlaid with loud and crackling drums,[6] which were inspired by those on "Everybody's Something" (2013) by Chance the Rapper.[7] The drums are also accompanied by synthesizer chords.[7] Apart from "Turn Me Up Some", "Doves in the Wind" samples Redman's ad libs on "Let's Get Dirty (I Can't Get in da Club)" (2001).[6][8] Overall, the song's production creates a soundscape that SZA has said embodies her more masculine side.[5]

"Doves in the Wind" was made around early 2015.[5][7] The sound SZA envisioned for the song was "something ugly, gutter, and dirty", which would allow her to work from the perspective of a man.[5] To start, O'bi chopped and screwed an old demo from 2013 intended for Vic Mensa, which contained a "Turn Me Up Some" sample.[5][7] When SZA liked what he did, he further worked on completing a new beat until she was ready to write her lyrics during a recording session. Labelmate Kendrick Lamar was in the same room where she was writing, listening to the beat.[5] After being impressed with O'bi's production and SZA's aggressive approach with her songwriting, Lamar wanted to be a feature on the song.[9]

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Lyrics

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"Doves in the Wind" is an ode to vaginas.[6][10] Throughout the entire song, the word "pussy" is mentioned over 25 times.[11] The opening line itself reads: "real niggas do not deserve pussy."[9]

Female empowerment is the song's overarching theme.[7] Bob Gendron of the Chicago Tribune described the premise as taking a vulgar term meant to insult female sexuality and transforming it into a source of liberation.[12] In the lyrics, SZA reinforces the belief that there should be more to a man's relationship with a woman than sex.[13] The first verse contains references to Forrest Gump, a character from a 1994 film, and describes him as someone who prioritizes romantic feelings over sexual attraction.[14] SZA sings that for men to achieve successful relationships with women, they should see women beyond just their bodies so they can truly get to know each other.[14][15] One lyric reads: "see right through walls, ain't talkin' about pussy."[13] In an interview with The Breakfast Club, SZA explained that the "walls" in question did not only refer to her body. She said that these included "mental [and] emotional walls", which she puts up so that her partner does not have to deal with her personal issues.[13] Insulting her sex-obsessed love interests, SZA sings that their penises are incapable of providing pleasure and are easily replaceable by dildos.[16][17]

For his verse, Lamar criticizes men who become so overwhelmed by a desire for sex that they are willing to kill or die for it.[11] He chastises them for having the boldness to pursue women sexually, even though they have nothing meaningful to provide in the relationship.[18] According to NPR's Brandi Fullwood and Paste's Nastia Voynovskaya, Lamar's critiques of sex obsession are, to a lesser extent, also aimed at some women.[19][20]

Release and reception

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"Doves in the Wind" was released via SoundCloud on June 8, 2017 – hours before Ctrl – as a promotional single from the album.[21] In the US, it peaked at numbers 12 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart,[22] 2 on Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs,[23] and 13 on Hot R&B Songs.[24] It also peaked at number 6 on New Zealand Heatseekers.[25] The song has been certified platinum in Canada (by Music Canada)[26] and the US (by the Recording Industry Association of America).[27]

In reviews of Ctrl, various critics praised the balanced chemistry between SZA and Lamar. Vibe's Clarissa Brooks and The Irish Times's Jim Carroll wrote that even though Lamar had a tendency to "dominate" his features, he gave SZA the necessary space for them to leave an equal amount of impact.[28][29] Tara Joshi of The Observer had similar thoughts, saying: "The presence of big names like [...] Lamar is exciting, but ultimately they're just complementing SZA's moment".[30] Other points of praise include Lamar's verse itself, which The AV Club's Clayton Purdom said was one of his best "post-Damn" (April 2017).[31] Voynovskaya and Uproxx's Brandon Caldwell found humor in the bluntness of some lyrics, such as "highkey, your dick is weak, buddy".[8][19] Voynovskaya likened the amusement she felt to the thrill of being in a "slumber party with your best girlfriends".[19]

Throughout the years, Lamar became known as SZA's most prolific collaborator.[32][33][34] Many listicles have therefore been published ranking the songs they had made together. "Doves in the Wind" was ranked as their second-best collaboration by HipHopDX's;[6] Rap-Up placed it at number three.[11] Malcolm Trapp, for the latter, wrote that it was one of Ctrl's stronger songs and that part of its appeal was the extreme profanity. He said: "It's not exactly [...] radio-ready, which probably makes it even more of a guilty pleasure."[11] "Doves in the Wind" also ranked third on Collider's list, compiled by Alex Gonzalez.[18] He praised it as a Ctrl standout due to its theme of female empowerment, aggressive songwriting, and "top-tier storytelling".[18]

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Music video

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A music video for "Doves in the Wind", directed by Nabil Elderkin, premiered on April 27, 2018.[35] It features several tropes and stereotypes characteristic of vintage martial arts films.[36] An Uproxx article by Derrick Rossignol described the video as a "kung fu parody", citing the use of "poorly overdubbed dialogue [and] cheesy sound effects".[37] A journalist at Ebony wrote the video may be influenced by the 2000 wuxia film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.[38]

Lamar, in his alter ego Kung Fu Kenny, plays a reclusive martial arts teacher who has the power to levitate.[39] SZA plays a woman who seeks to become his protégé, and treks a vast desert on horseback to arrive at his home.[35] Lamar then tries to shoot at her with darts from a blowgun to impede her.[40] She avoids getting shot and ascends the mountain where he lives. Lamar greets her while sitting cross-legged mid-air, as he sips from a cup of tea.[41] They agree to drink tea together and have a conversation, which is dubbed with martial arts film–style dialogue.[42]

Once they finish, Lamar challenges SZA to a duel.[36] She undergoes a test of skill,[43] winning a fight against a few ninjas.[39] When she finally has to fight Lamar for their first duels, the two exchange several punches and kicks. However, she fails to outmatch Lamar's skills and defeat him.[44][45] He tells her that she fights well, though her style is "no match" for his.[43] SZA continues to train with him in hopes of proving her skill.[38] After further training, she finally bests Lamar in combat.[35] Having learned his talents and his magical powers, she leaves him by levitating away from his mountain.[46]

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Live performances

SZA performed "Doves in the Wind" during her international Ctrl the Tour (2017–2018). For the September 26, 2017, show in Los Angeles, she brought Lamar as a surprise guest to duet the song.[47] The following year, the two performed "Doves in the Wind" again for SZA's set at Coachella 2018.[48] The song was also included on the set list of the 2025 Grand National Tour, which the two headlined together.[49] The concerts were divided into nine acts, two of which involved a shared set where Lamar and SZA duetted their collaborations.[50] The set lists for the SOS Tour (2023–2024) also included "Doves in the Wind", although SZA performed it on her own.[12][51]

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Accolades

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Credits

Adapted from the liner notes of Ctrl:[53]

Recording and management

  • Recorded at No Excuses (Santa Monica)
  • Kendrick Lamar's vocals recorded at No Excuses
  • Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Los Angeles)

Personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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References

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