SOS by SZA | Album Review
reviewing the long awaited album from the TDE artist
It’s been way too long, right? Whether it be her label, TDE’s, fault, other artists not turning in their verses, or the desire to release on her own schedule, the follow up to CTRL is long overdue. The announcement of this album came a bit suddenly just a couple of weeks ago, so seeing it in a timely manner is refreshing to say the least. With over an hour runtime, and 23 tracks, there’s plenty to digest. Let’s dive in, no pun intended.
From the opening track, with production credits from Jay Versace (who is building an impressive resume I might add), the layers of sampling and interpolation stacks numerously. With the sample of “Until I Found My Lord” — also sampled by Drake in Champagne Poetry — complemented with the visceral rap selection that goes on to interpolate Beyonce’s “Listen”, “SOS” throws the listener head first into SZA’s first full work since 2016. The opener is filled with an addicting braggadocio riddled in the “SZAnese” we’ve become so accustomed to. Versace sees to bringing out this side of SZA that is largely undiscovered — this is furthered explored in “Smoking on my Ex Pack,” which rides a heavy bass line and excellent sampling with a surprisingly unprecedented rapping SZA. I almost thought Jay-Z or Drake was about to hop on the beat.
