SZA

Barack Obama Shared His Favorite Songs Of 2022 With Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, And More Surprise Picks

by
Barack Obama
Getty Image

Barack Obama has shared his highly-anticipated year-end lists for 2022, including one for the songs he loved the most. While Obama has some obvious picks, as artists like Maggie Rogers (included for “That’s Where I Am”) and SZA (included for “Shirt”) have made the list in previous years, he also did some artist discovery this year it seems.

He included Ethel Cain’s “American Teenager” and Rosalía’s “Saoko,” from her album, Motomami. Obama also loved releases by Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Lizzo while spotlighting rising artists like Sudan Archives, Omar Apollo, Ayra Starr, Rema, Plains, Zach Bryan, and more.

“I always enjoy sharing my end of year music playlist with all of you — and this year we heard a lot of great songs,” he captioned. “Here are some of my favorites. Are there any songs or artists I should check out?”

Some of the artists who were included on Obama’s favorites of 2022 have also started responding. “did not have a former president including my anti-war, anti-patriotism fake pop song on his year end list on my 2022 bingo,” Cain posted on Twitter.

As for the public’s reactions to Obama’s playlist, social media users have been disappointed by the lack of Drake and Taylor Swift, as well as suggesting he checks out Goose, Arctic Monkeys, and other 2022 albums before December ends.

Some of the artists mentioned are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

SZA Is So Amused By How Popular Her Silly ‘SNL’ Song ‘Big Boys’ Has Become On TikTok

by

Not infrequently, Saturday Night Live comes out with a new song for a sketch. They aren’t really meant to be chart-topping hits, but just passable, relatively enjoyable bits of music that are mostly intended to be joke vehicles. A few weeks ago, though, SNL shared a sketch called “Big Boys,” which featured musical guest SZA singing a hook that’s catchier than most SNL tunes.

That and the funny premise of the song (big-bodied men are more desirable as romantic partners when it’s cold out) have vaulted the song to some notable success on TikTok: Pop Crave notes the song has been used as a sound in well over half a million TikTok videos. SZA has taken note of this and is delighted by the song’s reception, tweeting yesterday, “[The] way y’all blew up a spoof song from snl is KILLING ME [crying emojis].”

She also recently told Entertainment Weekly of the song, “That was [made in] 15 minutes at the end of a rehearsal. I just went in there and they were like, ‘This is our ‘Big Boys’ song. Would you be down to do this hook?’ And I was like, ‘Yes.’ I did it with my engineer, and he helped out with the song. It was cool.”

Revisit “Big Boys” above.

SZA’s Perhaps-Unexpected Pick For ‘GOAT’ Is ‘The Realest B*tch Alive’ For Multiple Reasons

by
sza new album
Getty Image

The first lady of Top Dawg Entertainment is having a stellar year. After earning her first No. 1 album on the Billboard charts, singer SZA avoided the sophomore jinx. Earning praises from rap superstar Drake, SOS was a new creative exploration that eventually paid off for the New Jersey native.

The five-year break didn’t deter fans from jumping into the 23-track project. In fact, the hiatus grew their love for the songwriter even fonder. Despite SZA not having the chance to collaborate with Bad Bunny, Frank Ocean, and Billie Eilish, the features that did make the cut, including fan-favorite Phoebe Bridgers, there’s still one artist “PSA” singer might love to join forces with.

Although the singer has publicly declared her love for “About Damn Time” time singer Lizzo on numerous occasions, her musical “GOAT” (greatest of all time) is someone outside the boundaries of genres. During an interview with EW, SZA revealed her GOAT is actually, Björk.

When asked about an interpolation of Björk’s “Hidden Place” appearing in her song “Forgiveless,” SZA replied, “I’ve always loved Björk. She’s the GOAT to me. From the way she was beating up reporters to the way she emotes in her music, she’s just the realest b*tch alive.”

The interviewer, Owen Myers, goes on to ask how SZA discovered Björk’s music, to which she answered, ” [An] iPod I found had a bunch of music, and her music was on there. But I had already been listening to it because we did dances to it in high school. I was part of a company called Special Dance, and we did a dance to ‘Jóga.’”

SZA is undoubtedly a woman of eclectic taste.

SZA Said She Would Love To Do More Acting Projects In Addition To Her Upcoming Eddie Huang Action Movie

by
SZA Accra 2022
Getty Image

SZA has been giving fans lots of cinematic visuals lately. Fans got a kick out of her “Big Boy” skit on Saturday Night Live, and her Lakeith Stanfield-assisted visual for “Shirt” has also received much praise.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, she expressed the desire to participate in other cinematic projects and even teased some of the visuals she has on the way.

“I would love to act more,” she said. “I’d love to learn another craft and get to lose myself in another way creatively. I’m in an Eddie Huang movie that is coming out, with Chloe Cherry from Euphoria and a couple of other people. I don’t know if the whole cast is announced, so I’ma keep quiet. It’s an action comedy: An assassin is trying to kill me, but we fall in love instead. It should be pretty silly.”

Film seems to be a recurring motif across SZA’s latest album, SOS. On a particular track called “Kill Bill,” in which she fantasizes about killing her ex, she takes inspiration from the Quentin Tarantino film of the same name. Elsewhere in the interview, she revealed that the song’s upcoming music video will be loosely inspired by the movie, Kill Bill.

“But that’s all I can say,” SZA said.

Drake Revealed What He’s Listening To At The Moment And SZA’s ‘Incredible’ Sophomore Album ‘SOS’ Made The List

by
Drake 2022 Lil Baby & Friends Birthday Celebration Concert
Getty Image

It seems like the five-year wait has paid off for singer SZA. Rave reviews for her sophomore album, SOS, continue to pour in from fans (we really like it, too). Ditching the “sad girl music” label she had been bestowed. On the now-No. 1 album, SZA explores relationships with a fresh new perspective as a songwriter.

In a recent interview with the online casino Stake, rap superstar Drake shared admiration for the 23-track body of work. However, as the “Rich Flex” rapper peered through the live chat, he noticed one question continued to pop up. “I know one of the questions was ‘what have I been listening to,” said Drake.

The rapper then proceeded to list off a few artists, including Lilah and Baby Drill, before disclosing, “And I’ve been listening to the new SZA, listening [to SOS], [it’s] incredible.”

This should come as no surprise that Drake is a fan of alternative R&B, as he constantly refers to himself as a “certified lover boy.” But, given Drake and SZA’s history, some fans were taken back by his response. But fear not: after their brief fling ended in 2009, the former lovers remained cordial.

Recently, the singer shared that even though Drake “has a Regina George quality to him,” they are in good standing.

“We’re cool. And we’ve always been cool,” said SZA, “It’s never been weird. It didn’t come completely out of the blue when he let me know. I didn’t know it was a song with 21 [Savage] or anything like that. But anytime he’s ever mentioned me, it’s always been positive. He’s never said anything negative about me. I’m grateful for that. I think highly of him… He’s King Drake.”

SOS is out now via Top Dawg Entertainment. Get it here.

SZA Debuts 20 Songs on Billboard Hot 100, “Kill Bill” Hits No. 3

by
SZA's 'S.O.S.' Album to Feature Ol' Dirty Bastard, Travis Scott & More

SZA and her new SOS album are a force. SZA has 20 songs from the album debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (dated Dec. 24), including two in the top 10. The album debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, giving her her first No. 1 and her first week atop the Billboard Artist 100.

According to Luminate, SOS debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 318,000 equivalent album units sold. After only the first week of Beyonce’s Renaissance (332,000, Aug. 13), this is the seventh-highest one-week total of the year and the second-highest among R&B albums.

SZA makes her third Billboard 200 appearance, following her debut LP, Ctrl, which peaked at No. 3 in 2017, and EP Z, which peaked at No. 39 in 2014.

In the top 10 is “Kill Bill” at No. 3 and “Nobody Gets Me” at No. 10.

Fans may want to catch SZA on her next tour. The songstress revealed once she wraps up work for S.O.S., she will take a lengthy break.

Speaking in a cover story with Consequence, SZA reveals that she is looking to take a break after the S.O.S. run is over. “I’m gonna disappear, definitely, for as long as I can,” SZA stated. “I need to shoot as many videos as I can, so I can disappear for longer.”

SZA has hit a monumental stage. On Tuesday (July. 13), the TDE songstress announced her first arena tour, carrying the same name as her new album, S.O.S.

Grammy-nominated best new artist Omar Apollo will support the S.O.S. North American Arena tour.

Tickets are on sale at szasos.com.

Also, SZA gave an update on speaking to Drake.

The post SZA Debuts 20 Songs on Billboard Hot 100, “Kill Bill” Hits No. 3 appeared first on The Source.

Drake Calls SZA’s New ‘SOS’ Album ‘Incredible’

by
Drake Takes Down Another Record of The Beatles with "Staying Alive" feature

Drake has long been a fan of SZA. During a live stream for Stake, Drake highlights how much he loves SZA’s album, calling it incredible.

“I know one of the questions was ‘what have I been listening to?’… I’ve been listening to the new SZA, incredible” Drake said.

Recently, SZA recently spoke glowingly of Drake as well.

SZA pulled up on Big Tigger for Audacy Check In and spoke about her new album S.O.S. and also her current relationship with Drake.

SZA recently appeared on Saturday Night Live with Keke Palmer, an episode with a Drake PSA Skit.

SZA would state the moment was a bit strange but overall she enjoyed it.

“I was like, ‘did they know?’ – but they didn’t ask me to be in it. Nobody said anything…. I feel like Drake has a Regina George quality to him where it’s just kind of like, ‘Have you, or anyone you know been personally victimized?’ He’s like a cool kid, you know. When you’re the popular kid in school, it’s entertaining. It’s entertaining, but you sometimes are taking losses in the midst of that entertainment. The honesty, I respect that. But I definitely laughed real hard…I cackled.”

– SZA

On her current relationship with The Boy, SZA states they are cool “and we’ve always been cool.”

“It’s never been weird. It didn’t come completely out of the blue when he let me know. I didn’t know it was a song with 21 (Savage) or anything like that. But anytime he’s ever mentioned me, it’s always been positive. He’s never said anything negative about me. I’m grateful for that. I think highly of him…He’s King Drake.”

– SZA

The post Drake Calls SZA’s New ‘SOS’ Album ‘Incredible’ appeared first on The Source.

SZA Clarified Which Relationships Her Albums Are About Because The Internet Is Annoying

by
SZA
Getty Image

No wonder why SZA waited so long to put out her new album — she deals with a lot of bullsh*t. She recently had to point out how many songs on S.O.S. aren’t sad so people would stop writing off the LP as “sad girl music.” Now, she’s explaining herself again because haters are criticizing the content of her lyrics.

On Twitter, the singer wrote, “Sos is me singing about relationships from 6 years ago . Ctrl was about relationships from high school n college . Reflection is a part of growth . Reflection is good .”

It’s unfortunately not a surprise that her ruminating on past relationships is receiving unwarranted criticism; female musicians are constantly attacked for writing about relationships, something men rarely or never have to deal with. Many (men) have accused her of being “toxic,” when really they should just be grateful that SZA was so vulnerable and transparent with the world on this record.

The good news is that S.O.S. is getting a loving reception from those who are actually her fans, despite her previous worry that they would hate it. “I never thought in a million years that people would like it,” she said on a recent podcast. “My dad’s visiting right now, with my mom. Everybody came down to make sure I didn’t lose my mind if the album went bad once it came out. And now we’re just hanging out, ’cause it didn’t go badly!”

Drake Calls SZA’s ‘SOS’ “Incredible,” Says “Her Loss” Took 4 Months To Create

by

SZA’s sophomore effort continues to be the talk of the town and even Drake can’t help but praise the record. After years of fans pleading in her comment sections, SZA dropped off SOS. It was a labor of love that took some time for the world to receive, and now that it’s here, the Top Dawg Entertainment artist’s growth is audible. Her fusion of several genres is done in a way only SZA can deliver. As SOS sits comfortably at No. 1 on the charts, a clip from Drake’s recent interview commanded attention.

Drizzy has been making moves—and money—with Stake, the crypto casino and sports betting platform. In an interview with Stake, Drake called SZA’s SOS “incredible” amid chatter that he was supposed to make an appearance on the record.

Read More: SZA Intended Frank Ocean, Drake & More To Be On “SOS”: Report

SZA recently said in an interview that she reached out to several of her peers, but sadly, they didn’t respond to her requests. She added she wasn’t upset about it because she’d done the same to many of them in the past.

Elsewhere in Drake’s discussion with Stake, he spoke about the length of time it takes for him to create an album. Apparently, his joint project with 21 Savage, Her Loss, took four months to complete.

“Yeah, that was quick. It’s quick. Like, I’ve obviously had albums that take a year,” said Drake. “I’ve had albums that take two years. And then, I have an album, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. I think we made that in like, six weeks. Eight weeks. What a Time to Be Alive, another album that we made fast.”

Read More: SZA Compares Drake To Regina George As “SOS” First-Week Sales Projections Surface

It has been a busy year for Aubrey Graham as he’s released not one but two projects. His surprise Honestly, Nevermind album received mixed reviews from fans as Drake tapped into dance and house music. Nevertheless, it was yet another chart-topping hit for the OVO icon.