SOS : SZA

 

   SOS is SZA's second studio album, released December 9, 2022, via Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records, as a follow-up to the American singer-songwriter's debut effort Ctrl (2017). The album's features guest appearances from Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. 

     SZA scored her first number-one charting album with SOS when it debuted atop the US Billboard 200 list ((dated Dec. 24, 2022), thus earning the biggest streaming week ever at the time by an R&B album. Having earned 318,000 units the first week, SOS marked the fifth largest debut of 2022, and therefore outperforming Ctrl which had debuted at No.3 in July 2017. In the week of its debut, SOS replaced Metro Boomin's  Heroes & Villains (2022). The same week, the other only debut in the top-10 tier was A Boogie Wit da Hoodie's Me Vs. Myself (No.6 debut). SOS stayed atop the course for a second consecutive week, while ending the year at the helm. Into the year 2023, the album would stay in the lead for yet another five consecutive weeks (Jan 7 to Feb 4), and later return for a three-week run between Feb 18 - Mar 4, bringing its total entire run to 10 non-consecutive weeks, with 8 weeks in 2023, the second most for any artist in the year. It also earned the title of being the year's longest running album by a female artist. Its run was interrupted the week of Feb 11 with the No.1 debut of  The Name Chapter: Temptation by Tomorrow X Together. SOS became the first R&B album by a female to lead the Billboard 200 for its first seven weeks in a consecutive run since Whitney (1987) - Whitney Houston. The album peaked at No.1 on the ARIA Albums chart, No.1 in Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, as well as US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard). SOS peaked at No.2 in Ireland and the UK, while hitting No.10 in Scotland and Finland. Billboard has ranked the album at No.3 on the year-end chart of 2023 both in the US and Canada, while marking the best album of the year on the equivalent US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard). 

The album was supported by six singles : 

   "Good Days" - released  December 25, 2020, as the first single and would later reach its No.9 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, earning SZA her first in the tier as a lead artist and 3rd overall. It also reached No.7 on the ARIA chart, No.12 on the Canadian Hot 100, No.7 on the Global 200 (Billboard), No.8 in Ireland, No.13 in the UK, No.3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard), and No.16 on the US Rhythmic (Billboard). At the end of 2021, Billboard ranked the song at No. 52, No.36 in Australia and No.90 in the UK. At the 2022 Grammy Awards, the single was nominated for Best R&B Song, however lost to "Leave the Door Open" (Silk Sonic). Good Days has been certified 5x Platinum in the US and Platinum in the UK. 

"I Hate U", the second single was released December 3, 2021, an Electro-R&B track, entering at No.7 on the Hot 100, marking the singer's fifth top-ten effort thereon, following her feature on Doja Cat's "Kiss Me More". The track reached No.19 in Australia, No.12 in Canada, No.27 in Ireland and No.38 on the UK Singles list. All the while it peaked atop the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard), US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard) and US Rhythmic (Billboard) charts. It would later be ranked at No.50 on the Billboard year-end list for 2022. It has been certified 2x Platinum in the US and Silver in the UK. 

"Shirt" was released October 28, 2022, and it debuted and peaked at No.11 on the Hot 100,  No.17 in the UK and No.4 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs . Billboard ranked it at No.51 on the year-end list of 2023. It has been ranked 2x Platinum in the US by the RIAA. Shirt won Best R&B at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. 

"Nobody Gets Me" was released on January 6, 2023, as the 4th single. It would go on to peak at No.10 on the Hot 100, and peaking at No.2 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard). Elsewhere the song reached No.16 on the ARIA chart, No.10 on the Canadian Hot 100, No.12 on the Global 200 (Billboard), #12 in Ireland, and #27 in the UK. Billboard would rank it at No.77 at the 2023 year-end list in the US and No.71 in Canada. 

"Kill Bill" - released January 10, 2023, the biggest track off the album, topped the US Billboard Hot 100, earning SZA her very first chart-topper on the record chart. It also became her first number-one on the equivalent Billboard Global 200 chart. Topping the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, it became the longest reigning song thereon with 21 weeks strong. A remix version was released features rapper Doja Cat. Kill Bill went to number one in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines and Singapore, while peaking at No.3 in Canada, No.5 in Greece, No.3 in Ireland, No.5 in Sweden, and No.3 in the UK, while topping the UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC), and US Rhythmic (Billboard) charts. At the end of 2023, Billboard ranked the song at No.3 on the Hot 100 list, No.6 in Canada, No.3 on the Global 200 list, and No.1 on the equivalent Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Kill Bill won Video of the Year at the 2023 BET Awards, was nominated in five categories at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (none was won), won Top R&B Song at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. For the 2024 Grammy Awards, the song has been nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year as well as Best R&B Performance. In addition, it has been certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA in the US and Platinum in the UK. 

"Snooze", the sixth single off the record set, out on April 25, 2023, went on to peak at No.2 on the Hot 100 chart, marking the singer's 8th top-ten effort and fifth entry from SOS to peak within the top-ten of the list. An acoustic version would later be released with a feature from Justin Bieber. Snooze was nominated for Best R&B at the 2024 Grammy Awards. In the UK, the song peaked at No.18, while hitting No.1 on both the US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and US Rhythmic (Billboard). 

At the 2024 Grammys, the album has received nominations for both Album of the Year and Best Progressive R&B Album. 

Track-Listing :

1. "SOS"

2. "Kill Bill"

3. "Seek & Destroy"

4. "Low" (peaking at No.17 on the Hot 100, the song has been nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards) 

5. "Love Language"

6. "Blind" (No.12 on the Hot 100 chart and No.17 in Canada)

7. "Used" (featuring Don Toliver)

8. "Snooze"

9. "Notice Me"

10. "Gone Girl"

11. "Smoking on My Ex Pack" (No.52 on the Hot 100, No.61 in Canada)

12. "Ghost in the Machine" (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) (No.40 on the Hot 100)

13. "F2F" (No.55 on the Hot 100)

14. "Nobody Gets Me"

15. "Conceited"

16. "Special"

17. "Too Late"

18. "Far"

19. "Shirt"

20. "Open Arms" (featuring Travis Scott) (No.54 on the Hot 100)

21. "I Hate U"

22. "Good Days"

23. "Forgiveless" (featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard)

24. "PSA"

25. "Open Arms" (solo version)

Producers : Aire Atlantica, Alessandro Buccellati, Babyface, Beat Butcha, benny blanco, Blake Slatkin, BLK Beats, Carter Lang, Dahi, Danny McKinnon, Ely Rise, Emile Haynie, Freaky Rob, Jay Versace, Jeff Bhasker, John Hill, John Key, Los Hendrix, Michael Uzowuru, Nascent, The Neptunes, Omer Fedi, The Rascals, Rob Bisel, Rodney Jerkins, Sammy Witte, Scum, Shellback, Sir Dylan, Still Woozy, Teo Halm, ThankGod4Cody, Will Miller, Yakob & Yuli