Nearly a year and a half after its release, SZA’s blockbuster album SOS has returned to the top of the charts, notching its 13th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The genre-blurring R&B opus climbed back to the summit this week, a feat that solidifies SOS as one of the decade’s most dominant albums. This milestone marks the longest-running No. 1 album by a female artist in the 2020s, and underscores SZA’s immense staying power. Industry watchers note that SOS is also the first R&B album in nearly 40 years to spend its first seven weeks at No. 1 — a distinction last achieved by Whitney Houston in 1987. In an era when new releases arrive every week, SZA’s continued chart reign speaks to the album’s deep connection with listeners and its sustained streaming strength from hits like “Kill Bill” and “Snooze.”
On social media, the TDE songstress thanked supporters for “riding for this album” long after its debut, calling the album’s resurgence “unreal.” Fans are buzzing about the news, proudly noting how SOS “defied the odds” and outlasted numerous newer albums. Many are hailing SZA as an R&B icon in the making, given the crossover success and critical acclaim SOS has amassed. The album’s return to No. 1 comes fresh off SZA’s sold-out tour and a recent deluxe edition tease, proving that her moment is far from over. With 13 weeks atop the charts and counting, SOS has firmly etched its place in modern music history — and SZA’s soulful takeover shows no signs of slowing down.
