S.O.S. is lastly right here. Five and half years after Ctrl — throughout which SZA voiced frustration with her label Top Dawg — and days after saying the discharge date on SNL, the R&B star has launched her sophomore album. It boasts visitor spots from Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, and Lizzo (who has an uncredited characteristic on “F2F”). Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “The Stomp” and Björk’s “Hidden Place” are each sampled on “Forgiveless.”
S.O.S. could have had extra options if all the requested collaborators managed to get their elements in on time. Appearing on Hot97’s Nessa On Air this week, SZA stated she understood why these verses by no means arrived, as she’s struggled to make deadlines herself. “For a lot of these people, I didn’t turn in my verse – so I can’t be too mad,” she stated. “But also, on the same token, it’s like, ‘Damn this sucks, I really needed you. I wish you showed up for me.’ But I’m sure they felt the same way for me.”
Of Bridgers’ contribution, she stated, “I’m grateful Phoebe showed up for me, I didn’t think she would come to the studio in person. She did, which is crazy. We laughed, it’s just hilarious.”
Among the credited writers on S.O.S. are Jay Versace, Ant Clemons, the Neptunes, DJ Dahi, Babyface, Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Shellback, and Rodney Jerkins.
Last weekend on SNL, SZA carried out “Shirt” and “Blind” and appeared within the digital brief “Big Boys.”
A music video for “Nobody Gets Me” drops on Friday and a deluxe S.O.S. seems within the playing cards too.
Listen beneath.
S.O.S. is out now on TDE/RCA.