SZA has looked back on the release of ‘SOS’, recalling her label’s warning that the album was unlikely to beat Taylor Swift in the charts – which it ultimately went on to do.
The two singers both released commercially and critically successful albums towards the end of 2022, the former with ‘SOS’ and the latter with ‘Midnights’.
Both records battled for the top spot on the Billboard 200, with ‘SOS’ debuting at number one on the album’s chart and remaining there for ten weeks, while ‘Midnights’ — released two months earlier — sat close behind at number two.
In an interview with i-D published Friday (March 6), SZA reflected on the achievement that catapulted her to newfound popularity. “My label told me that it was likely that I wouldn’t beat Taylor Swift, and I should prepare for that,” she told the publication.
“I was laughing by week three,” she continued. “It was just like, ‘What is this? I never even imagined I could be on the radio.’”
SZA recalled that her label once told her it was unlikely she’d beat Taylor Swift during their 2023 chart battle.
“My label told me that it was likely that I wouldn’t beat Taylor Swift, and I should prepare for that. I was laughing by week three. It was just like, ‘What is this?… pic.twitter.com/237b0MLvzW
— SZA Stats (@szaonstats) March 6, 2026
At the time, SZA denied rumours was feuding with Swift after their respective fandoms speculated that the two artists could be clashing behind the scenes, but SZA was quick to clarify that wasn’t the case.
“Uhh I feel silly that I even have to say this but i see supporters arguing and I hate that,” SZA tweeted. “I don’t have beef w ANYONE especially not Taylor lmao I genuinely loved her album and the writing! Everyone’s jus tryna do their BEST as we all should.”
Swift later returned the love on social media. She shared a post celebrating ‘Midnights’ cut ‘Anti-Hero’ hitting its eighth week at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it her longest-leading single, surpassing the seven weeks ‘1989’ single ‘Blank Space’ spent on the top of the chart.
Taking to Instagram to mark the milestone, Swift shared a screenshot of Billboard‘s tweet about the achievement on her Stories. She concluded by writing: “Been listening to [SZA’s] album nonstop. Absolutely adore her music. So much love and respect for her!!”
SZA – whose ‘SOS’ track ‘Kill Bill’ was at that time Number Two on the Hot 100 – reposted the story adding: “Congratulations to Tay Tay! And thank you so much your album and writing is phenomenal… as always.”
Taylor Swift shows love to SZA and her album, ‘SOS’:
“Been listening to SZA’s album nonstop. Absolutely adore her music. So much love and respect for her!!💗” pic.twitter.com/BWeESIBTz0
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) January 17, 2023
SZA’s continual praise for Swift’s songwriting saw her hint at a potential collaboration last year. During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, she touched on a time the two had talked at the Grammy Awards, and said she’d love to write alongside her.
“It’s so interesting to me,” she explained. “Every time she walks up to me or approaches me, I’m just like, ‘All right, this is happening, because that’s fully Taylor Swift’. I think what I mentioned was that I would love to write with her and love to build some things together.”
“I love her storytelling. She was open to it,” the ‘Kill Bill’ artist added. “I think she’s awesome. She’s so bossed up.”
Reviewing ‘SOS’, NME awarded the album five stars and described it as “a comeback album well worth the wait”. It added: “The US star’s first album in five years – and her last ever, she says – is sprawling, superb and rarely puts a foot wrong.”
More recently, SZA shared an uplifting new track called ‘Save The Day’, which is set to feature in Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers, while Swift announced a Chris Lake EDM remix of ‘Opalite’, inspired by her fiancé, Travis Kelce.