When SZA released her blockbuster album SOS in late 2022, even she was startled by its meteoric rise. The R&B powerhouse recently revealed that her own management team had initially cautioned her to lower her expectations regarding the Billboard 200, suggesting that Taylor Swift’s historical chart dominance would be an impossible hurdle to clear.
In a deep-dive interview with i-D published on March 6, SZA looked back on the whirlwind success of her sophomore effort. “My label told me it was highly improbable that I’d outperform Taylor Swift, and that I should brace myself for that,” she recounted. However, the skepticism didn’t last long. “I was laughing by week three.”
The Grammy-winning artist, a cornerstone of the Top Dawg Entertainment roster, admitted that the transition to mainstream superstardom felt surreal. “I never even conceptualized myself being a radio artist,” she confessed.
Contrary to the label’s predictions, SOS secured a No. 1 debut on the charts in December 2022, effectively keeping Swift’s Midnights—which had been released two months prior—at the No. 2 spot. SZA’s project maintained its iron grip on the summit for 10 consecutive weeks. Its longevity proved remarkable, as it surged back to No. 1 for an additional three-week stint in 2024.
During the height of the chart competition, SZA was proactive in shutting down rumors of a rivalry. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she addressed the online friction between fanbases. “I feel silly even having to clarify this, but I hate seeing supporters arguing,” she wrote at the time. “I have no beef with anyone, especially not Taylor. I genuinely adored her album and her songwriting!”
Her admiration for the pop titan hasn’t waned. In a 2025 appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, SZA expressed a desire to join forces with Swift. “Every time she approaches me, I’m just like, ‘Okay, this is real life, because that’s literally Taylor Swift,’” she noted. “I would love to co-write with her. I’m a huge fan of her storytelling.”
Any doubts about SZA’s commercial viability have long since evaporated. By December 2024, she solidified her status as a chart titan alongside Kendrick Lamar with their hit collaboration “Luther,” which reigned supreme at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks.
“I feel like anything is achievable now,” SZA told i-D. “I’m navigating adulthood pretty intensely right now, and I think I’m holding my own. I feel like I’ll be just fine when it’s all said and done.”
Check out SZA’s full feature on the cover of i-D below.
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