SZA, real name Solána Imani Rowe, first gained recognition with her self-released extended plays, i.e., 2012’s See.SZA.Run and 2013’s S. The success of the EPs helped the songwriter-singer become the first female artist to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment.

Fans are celebrating the win as a collective victory. Social media has exploded with posts praising SZA for breaking barriers and carrying R&B to new heights. Memes and tweets compare her achievement to marathon runners, calling “Snooze” the “song that simply refuses to quit.” One viral comment summed it up: “Taylor has her Eras, Miley has her Flowers, but SZA has Snooze—and it’s in a league of its own.”

Part of what makes this record so remarkable is how organically it happened. Unlike songs that dominate charts due to massive marketing campaigns or gimmicky rollouts, “Snooze” found its audience slowly, steadily, and authentically. The track wasn’t designed as a flashy single—it was simply great music that connected with people on a deep level. That connection grew stronger over time, creating the kind of word-of-mouth success that marketing dollars can’t buy.

The record also cements SZA’s status as not just an R&B star, but a global cultural force. With SOS, she already proved her ability to compete with mainstream heavyweights. But with “Snooze,” she has stepped into a new echelon, one where her artistry is both critically revered and commercially unstoppable. She now stands shoulder to shoulder with Swift, Cyrus, Beyoncé, and Rihanna—not just as a participant in the pop conversation, but as a leader rewriting the rules.

Her debut solo album, Ctrl, which was released in 2017, was a critical and commercial success, earning the artist four Grammy Award nominations.
SZA featured Beef fame Young Mazino in her music video Snooze
SZA collaborated with Kendrick Lamar for All the Stars, which was the lead single to the soundtrack album of MCU’s 2018 Black Panther. The song appeared in the end credits of the movie and became one of the most loved songs at the time. SZA & Doja Cat’s Kiss Me More was yet another hit for the artist as it not only became the longest-running all-female top 10 hit in Hot 100 history, but also won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. SZA has once again broken a record with her 2022-released song.

SZA’s Snooze breaks another record before leaving the Billboard Hot 100 chart

SZA released her second studio album, SOS, in December 2022, and her single Snooze steadily climbed the charts. According to the American Song Writer, the song landed on the Billboard chart after the release of the LP, but it did not reach its peak until October 2023. She later released an acoustic version of the song featuring Justin Bieber.
SZA and Justin Bieber in Snooze music video
The music video for Snooze features Justin Bieber, Young Mazino, Woody McClain, and Benny Blanco. SZA’s Kill Bill was the first song from her second studio album to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and managed to break the record for most weeks at No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart.

But Snooze also swiftly made its way to the top, and now, after 70 weeks of charting on the Billboard Hot 100, the song is finally off the charts. It was reported by an X account (@ThePopTingz) that Snooze was the first solo track by a female artist with the most weeks spent on the chart.

SZA’s record with Snooze might just be one of those rare records that artists Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus’ music couldn’t even break. Fans were quick to express how they were assured that the song would be back on the charts in two weeks. One of the users mentioned, “And it’ll be back next week.” They praised the artist and her music, and hoped that her song will soon re-enter the charts. 

A user commented that Snooze is going to re-enter the hot list next week, as a range of users agreed. That will also mean that the song becomes the longest-running solo sung by a woman on a chart.

Snooze was not supposed to be released by SZA initially

In an interview with Apple Music, Leon Thomas, who is the writer of the song, shared that he was working on the track for Babyface. He mentioned that the song was meant for Babyface’s comeback album, Girls Night Out, which was released in 2022. He also shared, in an interview with Revolt,

“SZA’s Snooze wasn’t even originally for her album. It was a collaboration she was doing for Babyface’s new album, Girls Night Out. We were essentially just getting creative and having Babyface walk in and out of the room and lay parts. We did the beat that same day, and she recorded the song the same day.”

SZA’s Snooze has finally left the Billboard Hot 100 Chart after 70 weeks
Thomas continued that he respects SZA very much and it was so gracious to work with her. He mentioned that building the whole thing from scratch was just beautiful as there was no ego and all they were doing was to make something cool. 

The artist took to her X account to express her gratitude for the success of the song, admitting that it was not her favorite when she made her album. She added that she was late but wanted to thank everyone for making it a success.

SZA is going to be the second Black woman to receive the Hal David Starlight Award at the 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards. According to Hip Hop DX, the ceremony is going to be held on June 13, 2024 in New York. Alicia Key was the first Black woman to receive the award in 2005.

SZA has just pulled off the unthinkable. Her soulful hit “Snooze” has not only cemented its place as one of the most beloved tracks of the decade, but it has also set a Billboard Hot 100 world record that even megastars like Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus may never touch. What was once considered a sleeper ballad on her acclaimed album SOS has now rewritten music history, leaving industry giants scrambling to catch up.

For months, “Snooze” has captivated audiences with its raw vulnerability, haunting production, and SZA’s once-in-a-generation vocals. It was never marketed as the obvious “big hit” on her album, yet its staying power has defied every prediction. Fans streamed it relentlessly, radio embraced it, and its emotional resonance made it a fixture in pop culture. Now, after dominating the Hot 100 for an unprecedented stretch, “Snooze” has shattered records in a way that feels almost surreal.

According to Billboard, “Snooze” has officially become the longest-charting R&B song by a female artist in Hot 100 history. Week after week, when other songs came and went, SZA’s masterpiece refused to budge, climbing back up the charts when new momentum from TikTok, live performances, and fan-made edits reignited its fire. This kind of chart resilience is nearly unheard of in today’s fast-paced streaming era, where most hits burn bright for a few weeks before fading.

To put this into perspective, even Taylor Swift, with her army of devoted fans and history-making Eras Tour, hasn’t had a single song achieve this specific feat in the R&B category. Miley Cyrus, who recently smashed records with “Flowers,” also fell short of this particular milestone. While both artists remain titans in their lanes, SZA has carved out a unique throne—proving that R&B can not only thrive in today’s landscape but also dominate in a way that rivals the biggest pop anthems.

The significance of this record extends far beyond SZA herself. For years, critics have questioned whether pure R&B could compete against pop juggernauts and hip-hop powerhouses on the Hot 100. SZA has answered that question with a resounding yes. “Snooze” didn’t just survive in a pop-saturated world; it thrived, reminding the industry that authentic, emotional music can have just as much—if not more—impact as trend-driven hits.

Music critics are already debating what this means for the future of the charts. Could SZA’s triumph inspire labels to invest more heavily in R&B artists? Will streaming platforms recalibrate how they spotlight songs that build momentum gradually, instead of only chasing viral moments? Whatever the ripple effects, one thing is certain: “Snooze” has reset expectations for what an R&B single can achieve in the modern era.

Industry insiders say this is only the beginning for SZA. With her fanbase growing by the day and her live performances drawing rave reviews, she’s poised to dominate for years to come. Rumors of new collaborations and potential Grammy wins are already swirling, and the success of “Snooze” gives her the kind of leverage most artists dream of. In a music landscape where consistency is rare, SZA has proven she can deliver both artistry and commercial dominance.

For Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, the comparison is inevitable. Both remain generational icons with their own record-breaking achievements, but SZA has carved out a lane where even they might struggle to compete. It’s not a rivalry—it’s a reminder that music history is big enough for multiple queens. Still, the fact that “Snooze” set a record that may never be broken by two of the biggest names in the business only underscores how monumental SZA’s accomplishment truly is.

In the end, “Snooze” wasn’t just another chart hit. It became a cultural moment, a slow-burning anthem that refused to fade, and a symbol of R&B’s undeniable power. For SZA, it is the ultimate validation of her artistry. For fans, it’s proof that sometimes the songs that feel the most personal, the most vulnerable, and the most honest are the ones that stand the test of time. And for the music industry, it’s a wake-up call: never underestimate the staying power of a song that truly connects.