SZA, the rising star in the R&B and Hip-Hop scene, achieves another milestone, superseding the legendary Aretha Franklin's record that stood unbroken for over half a century in the chart's annals.
On the heels of her single "Kill Bill" setting a new record as the longest reigning No. 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for a female artist, SZA now claims a similar victory on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Her album 'SOS' emerges as the longest-running No. 1 album by a solo female artist in the chart's 58-year history.
'SOS' marks its 18th week as No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart dated May 13, thus surpassing the record it equaled last week with Aretha Franklin's 'Aretha Now.' This record-breaking album by Franklin, featuring timeless hits like "Think" and her rendition of "I Say a Little Prayer," held the top spot for 17 weeks in 1968. Remarkably, Franklin established this record three times over. Her 1967 breakthrough album 'I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You,' was the first by a woman to achieve 14 weeks at No. 1.
Despite a 5% drop from the previous week, 'SOS' still garnered 56,000 equivalent album units in the week ending May 4, according to Luminate. This puts it 20,000 units ahead of its nearest rival, 'Jackman' by Jack Harlow.
With 'SOS' surpassing 'Aretha Now,' let's review the albums by solo women that have spent the most weeks at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums since the list's inception in January 1965.
In addition to these albums, it's worth mentioning that 'Diana Ross and The Supremes Greatest Hits' by the all-women group held the top spot for 12 weeks, starting on Oct. 14, 1967. Similarly, 'Promise' by Sade, led by the female vocalist Sade Adu, maintained its No. 1 position for 11 weeks from Feb. 1, 1986. And the all-women-performed soundtrack to the film 'Waiting to Exhale,' featuring songs by Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Brandy and others, secured 10 weeks at No. 1, beginning on Dec. 16, 1995.
In terms of overall performance, 'SOS' ties for the ninth position for most weeks at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It matches the 18-week stints of 'The Temptations Sing Smokey' by The Temptations and 'Bad' by Michael Jackson.
The 'SOS' era has indeed been a fruitful period for SZA's career. With the ongoing success of "Kill Bill" and other hits like "Snooze" entering the top 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, SZA's 'SOS' continues to break barriers and create chart history.
