SZA casually uploaded three unreleased tracks—"Nightbird," "I Hate U," and "Joni"—directly to a burner SoundCloud account. "I Hate U" Official Release
From "Good Days" to the Blueprint of SOS : How SZA Dominated 2021 sza sosrar 2021
A significant part of SZA's 2021 story involved reconnecting with her faith and mental well-being. The Insane True Story of SZA “Good Days” itself — released as a single
While SZA skipped the Tokyo Olympics ceremony, she headlined major festivals like and performed at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (“Good Days” in March 2021). “Good Days” itself — released as a single in late 2020 — carried through 2021 as a sleeper hit, eventually reaching No. 9 on the Hot 100. SOS received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising
However, while the album stalled, the leaks accelerated.
SOS received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising SZA's innovative production, lyrical depth, and vocal performance. The album earned SZA several awards and nominations, including a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Additionally, SOS was named one of the best albums of 2021 by publications like Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and Billboard.