In a moment that redefines legacy and cements her as a generational icon, SZA’s blockbuster album SOS has officially broken one of the longest-standing records in music history. With its 38th nonconsecutive week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, dated June 7th, SOS dethrones Michael Jackson’s Thriller—the previous record-holder with 37 weeks between 1983 and 1984.
SZA Makes History
Released in December 2022, SOS hasn’t just dominated—it’s refused to step aside. Nearly two-and-a-half years later, the album remains glued to the Top 10, a feat few projects in the history of modern music can claim. With over 129 weeks on the chart and 47,000 equivalent album units earned in the most recent tracking week (according to Luminate), SOS is not simply performing well—it’s evolving into a cultural mainstay.
And yet, this isn’t just about numbers. SOS is the triumphant return of an artist whose 2017 debut Ctrl redefined vulnerability and storytelling in R&B. When SOS arrived, it didn’t just live up to the hype—it surpassed it with emotionally complex songwriting, genre-blurring production, and viral standouts like “Kill Bill,” which ruled the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for a then-record 21 weeks, and “Snooze,” which hovered at No. 2 for 13 weeks.
SZA Redefines R&B and Is Maintaining Momentum
The momentum continued with the LANA deluxe edition in December 2024—adding fan-favorite tracks like “Saturn” and “30 for 30”—breathing fresh life into an album that refused to fade. In the streaming age, where long track lists and constant engagement fuel chart endurance, SZA has proven that she can balance critical acclaim, commercial viability, and emotional resonance without compromise.
To contextualize this record is to understand its magnitude. Thriller stood untouched at the summit for four decades, outlasting waves of musical shifts and technological revolutions. For SZA—a Black woman writing fearlessly about love, loneliness, identity, and inner conflict—to now sit atop this chart signals a new era in the genre’s legacy. She’s not just breaking records—she’s redefining what R&B superstardom looks like in the 2020s.
Most Weeks at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart:
Meanwhile, SOS continues to shine on other charts: 112 weeks at No. 1 on Top R&B Albums, the longest reign since the list’s 2013 inception, and a No. 2 spot on this week’s Billboard 200 after 12 nonconsecutive weeks at the top.
- 38 – SOS, SZA (2022–25)
- 37 – Thriller, Michael Jackson (1983–84)
- 29 – Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ’Em, M.C. Hammer (1990)
- 26 – Just Like the First Time, Freddie Jackson (1986–87)
- 23 – Can’t Slow Down, Lionel Richie (1983–84)
- 20 – Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, Pop Smoke (2020–21)
- …and more
SZA’s victory is a culmination of creativity, endurance, and unshakable fan connection. With MC16 teasers popping up from another legendary artist, and SOS refusing to slow down, the question is no longer “can she top this?” It’s “how high can she go?” For now, stay tuned and keep streaming!
