SZA Checks Another Milestone Off Her List by Earning First No. 1 on R&B Songs Chart

This marks the first No. 1 on the Hot R&B Songs chart by a female singer since Rihanna's "Needed Me" in 2016.

December 30, 2017

SZA — Image via Getty/Tim Mosenfelder
Getty

SZA had an incredible year in 2017 and the accolades are continuing to roll in.

Her debut studio album CTRL is a popular top 3 pick on many end of the year lists alongside her Top Dawg Entertainment label-mate Kendrick Lamar. The critically-acclaimed album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and led to five Grammy nominations for the 28-year-old singer.

Now, SZA has another achievement to add to her growing list of 2017 milestones: her first No. 1 single on the Billboard's Hot R&B Songs chart. Rising from last week's No. 3 position, "The Weekend" unseated Khalid's "Young Dumb & Broke" for the top spot.

This marks the first No. 1 on the Hot R&B Songs chart by a female singer since Rihanna's "Needed Me" owned the top position in October 2016, according to Billboard.

The surge to the top may have been helped in part due to a boost from SZA's performance of the song on Saturday Night Live on December 9, plus a recently-released video directed by Solange.

Blown away by her success this year, SZA shared a long note on Instagram last month about how far she's come. She explained, "I remember pretending to be vegan cause that’s all I could afford lol (chips avocado n salad mix). I remember sleeping on everyone’s couch cause I missed the train AGAIN (thank yall for having me lol ). Sold my beloved 500$ grillz for 50 bucks at the gold shop for train fair (I was SICK lol)." You can read the full note below.