SZA’s ‘SOS’ Achieves Record 38 Weeks at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart
SZA created history with her album, SOS, breaking the record on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart by holding the No. 1 spot for 38 weeks. This achievement surpassed Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the previous record-holder. New data from Luminate, as reported by Billboard, revealed that the album sold 47,000 units in the United States from May 23 to 29, showing a slight 2% increase that has kept SOS going strong since its release in December 2022, maintaining a position in the top ranks for 129 weeks.
The music landscape has evolved significantly since Thriller’s 37-week record in 1983. Today, Billboard chart rankings consider streams alongside physical copies sold in stores, leading to longer stays on the charts as fans consistently stream songs. Two tracks from SOS, “Kill Bill” and “Snooze,” notably contributed to its success. “Kill Bill” dominated the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts for 21 consecutive weeks, while “Snooze” held steady in the second position for 13 weeks. Additionally, a collaboration between SZA and Kendrick Lamar, the song “Luther,” currently occupies the top spot on the chart.
SZA expanded SOS with an updated version called LANA, released on streaming platforms in December, featuring new tracks like “Saturn” and “30 for 30.” The album’s performance speaks for itself as SOS now holds the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, surpassing Thriller’s record in 1983-1984. The next albums in line for the longest reign at the top spot include M.C. Hammer’s Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em, which spent 29 weeks at number one in 1990, and Freddie Jackson’s Just Like the First Time, with 26 weeks at the top in 1986-1987.
Billboard revolutionized the music industry in 2017 by incorporating streaming data into chart rankings, resulting in albums with more songs and longer chart stays due to continuous streaming. SZA’s second album, SOS, continues to achieve remarkable success, dominating the Billboard Top R&B Albums list for 112 weeks and even reaching the second position on the prestigious Billboard 200 chart after holding the top spot for three months.