SZA’s “SOS” hits diamond eligibility
SZA continues to add to her impressive list of career accomplishments, as her sophomore studio album, SOS, has reportedly surpassed 10 million units in the United States. The milestone puts the Grammy-winning singer’s blockbuster project in Diamond eligibility territory, further highlighting its incredible commercial success since its December 2022 release.
Over the past several years, SOS has established itself as one of the most successful R&B albums of its generation. The project delivered a combination of R&B, pop, hip-hop, and alternative influences while showcasing SZA’s songwriting, vocal versatility, and ability to connect with listeners through deeply personal records.
Surpassing 10 million units would make SOS eligible for Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). However, eligibility and official certification are two different things. The RIAA must formally recognize the milestone before the album can officially carry the Diamond designation.
Nevertheless, reaching this level of commercial success is another major accomplishment for SZA, who has continued to establish herself as one of music’s biggest stars.
SZA’s SOS became a career-defining album
Originally released on December 9, 2022, SOS arrived with 23 tracks and immediately became a major moment for SZA. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with approximately 318,000 equivalent album units during its first week. It also generated more than 404 million on-demand streams in the United States during its opening week.
The project marked SZA’s first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 and represented a major step forward following the success of her 2017 debut album, Ctrl.
SZA delivered an impressive collection of records that explored relationships, heartbreak, confidence, personal struggles, and self-discovery. Her ability to move between different sounds while maintaining her signature approach to R&B helped make the album appealing to a wide audience.
Some of its biggest records included “Kill Bill,” “Snooze,” “Nobody Gets Me,” “Shirt,” “Blind,” “Low,” and “I Hate U.” Each song contributed to the project’s success while giving fans different reasons to revisit the album.
“Kill Bill” became one of the biggest singles of SZA’s career. The record eventually reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking her first chart-topper on the prestigious singles chart. Its memorable storytelling and catchy production helped make it a major streaming and radio success.
“Snooze” also became a standout record from SOS. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and continued generating impressive streaming numbers long after the album’s initial release. Its popularity also earned SZA a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song at the 2024 ceremony.
The success of those singles demonstrated how SOS could produce multiple major hits while maintaining its identity as a cohesive album.
SOS Deluxe expanded the album’s success
SZA continued giving fans reasons to revisit SOS with the release of SOS Deluxe: LANA in December 2024.
The expanded edition added 15 additional songs, providing another opportunity for listeners to experience new material from the singer. It included records such as “Saturn,” “BMF,” “Scorsese Baby Daddy,” “Kitchen,” and “30 for 30” featuring Kendrick Lamar.
The deluxe release also demonstrated SZA’s ability to maintain commercial momentum without immediately following the original album with an entirely new studio project.
In January 2025, SOS returned to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The album earned approximately 178,000 equivalent album units during that tracking week, marking its 11th nonconsecutive week atop the chart.
That accomplishment was particularly impressive because the original album had already been available for more than two years. Its return to the top demonstrated that SZA continued attracting listeners while introducing additional music through the expanded edition.
The album also achieved a major milestone on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart, reaching 100 weeks at No. 1 in January 2025. That achievement further established its place among the most successful R&B releases in recent memory.
SZA’s success began with Ctrl
Although SOS has become the biggest commercial album of SZA’s career, her success did not happen overnight.
The singer first established herself as an exciting voice in contemporary R&B through her early releases and collaborations. Her 2014 EP, Z, helped introduce more listeners to her unique sound and artistic approach.
However, everything changed with the arrival of Ctrl in June 2017.
The 14-track project featured memorable records such as “Love Galore” featuring Travis Scott, “The Weekend,” “Drew Barrymore,” “Broken Clocks,” and “Supermodel.”
Ctrl received widespread critical acclaim and earned multiple Grammy nominations. It also helped establish SZA as one of the most recognizable voices in modern R&B.
The album’s honest songwriting and relatable themes resonated with listeners, particularly through its exploration of relationships, insecurity, and navigating adulthood.
SZA eventually took those qualities to another level with SOS. Rather than abandoning the sound that helped establish her career, she expanded her musical direction and delivered a much larger collection of songs.
Her growth between the two albums has been particularly impressive, with SOS demonstrating her ability to reach an even wider audience without losing the personal approach that made fans connect with her music.
SZA continues expanding her career beyond music
SZA’s accomplishments have also extended beyond album sales and streaming records.
The singer has become a major presence at award shows, earning recognition from the Grammys, Billboard, and other entertainment organizations. Her work on SOS further strengthened her position among the most celebrated artists in contemporary R&B.
She has also continued building her relationship with Kendrick Lamar. The two previously collaborated on “All the Stars” for the Black Panther soundtrack, which became a major global hit and earned multiple award nominations.
Their musical chemistry continued with “30 for 30” on SOS Deluxe: LANA, giving fans another collaboration between two of the biggest names in modern hip-hop and R&B.
In 2025, SZA also expanded her entertainment career by starring alongside Keke Palmer in the comedy film One of Them Days. The movie became a theatrical success and introduced her to audiences who might not have previously followed her music.
Additionally, SZA continued making moves in fashion through her creative partnership with Vans. Her involvement with the brand demonstrated another side of her artistic interests outside the recording studio.
These accomplishments have helped establish SZA as more than just a successful recording artist. She has become a recognizable figure across music, entertainment, and fashion.
Another major milestone for SZA
The reported 10 million-unit achievement for SOS would be another incredible moment in SZA’s career.
Diamond certification remains one of the most significant commercial accomplishments in the music industry. The RIAA’s Diamond threshold is 10 million certified units in the United States, with qualifying album sales and streaming activity contributing toward the total.
While the reported figure puts SOS in Diamond eligibility territory, fans will still have to await official RIAA recognition before celebrating the album as Diamond-certified.
Regardless, the project’s longevity speaks for itself. Nearly four years after its original release, SOS continues generating major commercial results and remains an important part of SZA’s catalog.
From earning her first Billboard 200 No. 1 album to producing multiple Billboard Hot 100 hits, receiving Grammy recognition, and expanding its success through LANA, the project has delivered an incredible run.
SZA has also continued growing as an artist, proving that her influence extends well beyond any individual single or album cycle.
With SOS reportedly reaching the 10 million-unit mark, the singer is potentially approaching another historic certification milestone. It is yet another reminder of how far she has come since the release of Ctrl and why she remains one of R&B’s most successful artists.
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