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I Hate U (SZA song)

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"I Hate U"
An iPhone screenshot of a text conversation with SZA, whose avatar is a greyscale portrait of her taking a selfie by the mirror. Sent at 8:06 a.m., the sole message, which comes from SZA, reads "I hate u."
Single by SZA
from the album SOS
ReleasedDecember 3, 2021
GenreElectro-R&B
Length2:54
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
SZA singles chronology
"Kiss Me More"
(2021) 		"I Hate U"
(2021) 		"No Love"
(2022)
Lyric video
"I Hate U" on YouTube

"I Hate U" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the second single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It was released on digital streaming platforms on December 3, 2021, after being uploaded on SoundCloud on August 22. "I Hate U" is an electro-R&B song with a "crunching", light instrumental, containing a relaxed, "ethereal" chorus, and hip hop-influenced verses.[1] A break-up song, it finds SZA detailing what went wrong in a past relationship, expressing resentment towards an ex-partner but acknowledging that she still misses them.

"I Hate U" entered at number seven on the United States's Billboard Hot 100, where it became SZA's fifth top-10 entry. It also peaked within the top 40 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The song received certifications from Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US.

Background

[edit]

In 2017, SZA released her commercially successful and well-acclaimed debut studio album, Ctrl. Critics throughout the years have credited it as being innovative within the R&B genre, and for establishing her as a major figure in contemporary pop and R&B music.[a] SZA spoke in Ctrl variously about romance, desire, and self-esteem, often in a vulnerable tone, as well as the many ways in which emotions like jealousy and intense desire can greatly destroy them.[7][8]

Facing issues with her label over the delay of her next album's release, SZA posted on Twitter in May 2020 to tell fans she was considering a "music dump".[9][10] Hosted on SoundCloud, it would consist of several unreleased material she had created from the past six years.[11] Three months later, on August 22, she uploaded three songs on the platform, under the guise of an anonymous SoundCloud account.[12][13] After revealing the account was hers, she announced that her astrologist encouraged her to release the songs.[14] The three songs were titled "Joni", "I Hate You", and "Nightbird"; on digital streaming platforms, the second is written as "I Hate U".[15]

Composition and reception

[edit]

"I Hate U" has a lo-fi production.[16] Vulture's Justin Curto labeled "I Hate U" a "groovy breakup song, anchored by SZA's lyrical directness",[17] while Hayden Davies of Pilerats found it a "subtle and seemingly 90s-indebted take on SZA's sound, with a crunching production swaying amongst SZA's vocal".[18] HotNewHipHop's Alexander Cole gave the song a "Very Hottttt" rating, complimenting the "dark production that complements the singer's voice perfectly", and noted, "throughout the track, she sings about a recent breakup and how she wishes things had played out differently".[19] Ciaran Brennan of Hot Press said the song, along with "Joni" and "Nightbird", "showcases SZA's musical diversity", with the singer "switching up between passionate, emotional vocals and relaxed verses".[20] Okayplayer's Robyn Mowat noted how the song "is filled with reflections on love, heartache and her headspace regarding a love gone wrong".[21] NorthJersey.com's Jack McLoone deemed the track signature SZA, despite finding "her vocals on the chorus are more ethereal, while in the verses she skews closer to traditional R&B delivery with some clear hip hop influences.[22] Naledi Ushe of PopSugar called it "a banger for all the heartbroken (past and present) people of the world".[23] Comparing the song to Prince's "Eye Hate U" (1995), Jezebel writers said "a relaxed tempo and veritable yacht-rock keyboard underscore lovelorn 'fuck yous' and the overarching idea of hating someone because you love them so much". They noted however, that "despite the song's title, it is not a kiss-off but a call back, praising the "nimble" hook.[24] Billboard's Jason Lipshutz commended the song for showcasing "the vocal power that's made her such a captivating figure in mainstream pop and R&B".[25] Similarly, HipHopDX's David Aaron Blake said, over the "wailing" synth and "lush" instrumental, is SZA's "uncontainable and booming voice".[26]

Release

[edit]

Upon the release of "I Hate U on SoundCloud, the song received a warm response from online fans and went viral on the video-sharing application TikTok. SZA decided to give it an official release, stating: "Honestly, this started out as an exercise. I just wanted somewhere to dump my thoughts without pressure. Y'all made it a thing and I'm not mad LMAO. Ask and you shall receive".[27] After the song reached number one on US Apple Music, SZA revealed that "I Hate U" became an official single, posting on social media: "One thing about y'all: y'all gon' make it a single even if it ain't! I love you! Thank you! [28][29] She also deemed the SoundCloud release an "experiment".[27]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Following its official release, "I Hate U" debuted at number one on the United States's Spotify and Apple Music charts;[30] it broke the record for the most streamed R&B song by a female artist on Apple Music in its first week.[31] The song opened and peaked[32] at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100; its first-week figures included 26.7 million streams, 4,600 downloads, and 485,000 airplay audiences. The song marked SZA's fifth top-10 entry on the chart and her second to debut in the top 10 after "Kiss Me More", with Doja Cat. On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, "I Hate U" was her first number-one song. Meanwhile on Hot R&B Songs, it became SZA's second chart topper following "The Weekend" in 2018.[33]

In late–March 2022, "I Hate U" reached number one on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay; it marked SZA's first chart topper and the first female artist to top the chart since Megan Thee Stallion with "Savage" in 2020. A few weeks earlier, "I Hate U" became SZA's first solo song and her second overall to top the Rhythmic chart after "Kiss Me More" in 2021.[34][35] On other Billboard airplay charts, the song peaked at number 33 on Mainstream Top 40[36] and number 15 on the all-genre Radio Songs.[37] On February 6, 2023, it was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[38]

Elsewhere, "I Hate U" debuted and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Global 200.[39] On national charts, "I Hate U" peaked within the top 40 of New Zealand (8),[40] South Africa (8),[41] Canada (14),[42] Australia (16),[43] Ireland (27),[44] the United Kingdom (38),[45] and further reached Portugal (49)[46] and Lithuania (63).[47] It has received certfications from Australia (platinum),[48] Canada (double platinum),[49] and the UK (silver).[50]

Visualizer

[edit]

A visualizer for "I Hate U" was released on January 7, 2022. The visualizer, directed by Jack Begert, centers around a man (played by actor Lakeith Stanfield) in a heated argument on the phone. After the fiery phone call, he finds himself alone walking along the beach trying to light a cigarette and failing to do so. He then receives a text from SZA that reads "i hate u", prompting him to hurl his phone in the ocean.[51]

Live performances

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SZA included "I Hate U" during her headlining set at Glastonbury 2024, held on June 30.[52]

Accolades

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List of awards and nominations received by "I Hate U"
Year Award Category Result Ref.
2022 American Music Awards Favorite R&B Song Nominated [53]
2022 Soul Train Music Awards The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award Nominated [54]
2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards R&B Song of the Year Won [55]
2023 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards Most Performed Songs of the Year Won [56]

Credits

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Adapted from the liner notes of SOS[57]

Recording and management

  • Engineered at Westlake Studio A (Los Angeles, California)
  • Mixed at Ponzu Studios (Los Angeles)
  • Mastered at Becker Mastering (Pasadena, California)

Personnel

  • Solána Rowe (SZA) – songwriting
  • Rob Bisel – songwriting, production, engineering, mixing
  • Carter Lang – songwriting, production
  • Cody Fayne (ThankGod4Cody) – songwriting, production
  • Dylan Patrice – songwriting, production
  • Hector Castro – engineering
  • Robert N. Johnson – assistant engineering
  • Dale Becker – mastering
  • Katie Harvey – assistant mastering
  • Noah McCorkle – assistant mastering

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "I Hate U"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[48] Platinum 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[68] Platinum 40,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[49] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[38] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various December 3, 2021
[69]
United States January 11, 2022 Urban contemporary radio RCA [70]
March 15, 2022 Urban adult contemporary radio [71]

Notes

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  1. ^ Cited to The Line of Best Fit,[2] NME,[3] The Daily Telegraph,[4] The New Yorker,[5] and Consequence[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (December 3, 2021). "SZA Officially Drops 'I Hate You' as New Single". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  2. ^ Taylor, Ims (December 9, 2022). "SZA Hits the Heights on the Dense but Masterful SOS". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  3. ^ Williams, Sophie (February 23, 2023). "How SZA Inspired a Generation of R&B Storytellers: 'She's a Radical Light'". NME. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  4. ^ McCormick, Neil; Haider, Arwa; Johnston, Kathleen (December 9, 2022). "Sam Ryder Is No One-Hit Wonder, SZA Channels Princess Diana – The Week's Best Albums". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  5. ^ Pearce, Sheldon (June 16, 2022). "The Sideways Wisdom of SZA's Ctrl". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  6. ^ Siregar, Cady (December 9, 2022). "On SOS, SZA Once Again Blows Expectations out of the Water". Consequence. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  7. ^ Savage, Mark (December 22, 2017). "The Top 10 Albums of 2017". BBC. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  8. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (June 14, 2017). "What to Listen to Now: SZA, Bleachers, Secret Sisters and More". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  9. ^ Curto, Justin (August 20, 2020). "SZA Calls Out 'Hostile' Record Label for Holding Up New Music". Vulture. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  10. ^ Kiefer, Halle (May 25, 2020). "SZA Crowdsources A New Project: All of Her Previously Unreleased Songs". Vulture. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  11. ^ Lamarre, Carl (May 26, 2020). "SZA Hints at Dropping a Collection of Unreleased Songs in a 'Music Dump'". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Bloom, Madison (August 22, 2021). "SZA Shares 3 New Songs". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  13. ^ Kaye, Ben (August 23, 2021). "SZA Shares Three New Songs, 'Joni', 'I Hate You', and 'Nightbird'". Consequence. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  14. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (August 22, 2021). "SZA drops new songs "Nightbird", "I Hate You" and "Joni"". The Fader. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  15. ^ Hussey, Allison (December 3, 2021). "SZA Officially Releases New Single "I Hate U"". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  16. ^ Caramanica, Jon (March 5, 2023). "On Her Biggest Tour Yet, SZA Makes Small Feelings Huge". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  17. ^ Curto, Justin (December 3, 2021). "If You Wondered If SZA Was Going to Release 'I Hate U,' She Did". Vulture. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  18. ^ Davies, Hayden. "Listen to three surprise new songs from SZA: Nightbird, I Hate You and Joni". Pilerats. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  19. ^ Cole, Alexander (August 22, 2021). "SZA Unleashes Yet Another Song On SoundCloud In "I Hate You"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  20. ^ Brennan, Ciaran (August 23, 2021). "SZA releases 3 new songs from anonymous Soundcloud account". Hot Press. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  21. ^ Mowat, Robyn (December 3, 2021). "SZA Commences Sad Girl Season With New Single "I Hate U"". Okayplayer. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  22. ^ McLoone, Jack (December 3, 2021). "New SZA single 'I Hate U' released after TikTok success". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  23. ^ Ushe, Naledi (December 3, 2021). "SZA, I Love You For Officially Releasing "I Hate U"". PopSugar. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  24. ^ Juzwiak, Rich; Reese, Ashley (December 3, 2021). "SZA's Love Pours Out in "I Hate U"". Jezebel. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  25. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (December 3, 2021). "First Stream: New Music From Ariana Grande & Kid Cudi, Juice Wrld & Justin Bieber and More". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  26. ^ Blake, David Aaron (December 3, 2021). "New Music Friday - New Singles From Brent Faiyaz, SZA, Blxst, Mary J. Blige + More". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  27. ^ a b Cowen, Trace William (December 3, 2021). "SZA's "I Hate U" Gets an Official Release After Going Viral on TikTok". Complex. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  28. ^ "One thing ab challll yall gon make it a single even if it aint !' I love you ! Thank you !" ..." December 3, 2021. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021 – via Instagram.
  29. ^ @SZA (December 3, 2021). "One thing ab y'all .y'all gon take a song that wasn't a single and make it a single !! THANK YOU !!!!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
  30. ^ "SZA's "I Hate U" Tops Apple Music & Spotify Daily Charts". Rap Basement. December 6, 2021. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  31. ^ Singleton, Micah (December 15, 2021). "SZA's 'I Hate U' Breaks Apple Music R&B Streaming Record". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  32. ^ a b "SZA Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  33. ^ Trust, Gary (December 13, 2021). "Adele's 'Easy on Me' Adds 7th Week Atop Hot 100, SZA's 'I Hate U' Debuts at No. 7". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  34. ^ Anderson, Trevor (March 31, 2022). "SZA Achieves First No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay With 'I Hate U'". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  35. ^ Anderson, Trevor (March 17, 2022). "SZA Leads RCA Records to Historic Top Four Takeover on Rhythmic Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  36. ^ a b "SZA Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  37. ^ "SZA Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  38. ^ a b "American single certifications – SZA – I Hate U". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  39. ^ a b "SZA Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  40. ^ a b "SZA – I Hate U.". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  41. ^ a b "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100: Week 49". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  42. ^ a b "SZA Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  43. ^ a b "SZA – I Hate U.". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  44. ^ a b "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  45. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  46. ^ a b "SZA – I Hate U.". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  47. ^ a b "2021 50-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  48. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  49. ^ a b "Canadian single certifications – SZA – I Hate U". Music Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  50. ^ a b "British single certifications – SZA – I Hate U". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  51. ^ Watch the video for SZA's 'I Hate U', starring Lakeith Stanfield - NME (accessed January 23, 2022)
  52. ^ Savage, Mark (July 1, 2024). "SZA's Striking Set Failed to Set Glastonbury Alight". BBC News. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  53. ^ Irvin, Jack (November 20, 2022). "American Music Awards 2022 — See the Complete Winners List!". People. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  54. ^ Grein, Paul (November 27, 2022). "Beyoncé Wins Big at 2022 Soul Train Awards: Full Winners List". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  55. ^ Atkinson, Katie (March 28, 2023). "Here Are the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards Winners: Full List". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  56. ^ "BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards 2023". Broadcast Music, Inc. Archived from the original on October 23, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  57. ^ SZA (2023). SOS (vinyl liner notes). Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. 19658-77921-1.
  58. ^ "IFPI Charts". ifpi.gr. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  59. ^ "Single Tip". Dutch Charts. December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  60. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 49". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  61. ^ "SZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  62. ^ "SZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  63. ^ "SZA Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  64. ^ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  65. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  66. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  67. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  68. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – SZA – I Hate You" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  69. ^ "I Hate U - Single by SZA on Apple Music". December 3, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Apple Music.
  70. ^ "Urban/R&B Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  71. ^ "Urban/R&B Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
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