It’s been 3 years since SZA made headlines for disagreeing with fans that she is the modern-day “Queen of R&B,” but the ongoing stats of her blockbuster sophomore album – ‘SOS‘ – has certainly put her in conversation with the genre’s royalty.

In addition to seeing the LP’s stay atop the Billboard 200 tie multiple records of powerhouse vocalists Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, the Hot 100 triumphs of the set’s singles ‘Snooze’ and ‘Kill Bill’ have also kept the competition at bay to historic measure (as we reported here).

Those aren’t the only charts feeling the presence of the dominating diva (born Solana Rowe). Look inside to see what milestone she met this week.

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If there are two acts defying the odds and waving the flag for R&B in an oppositional musical climate, they’re definitely Chris Brown and SZA.

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As far as modern-day R&B goes, the monstrous run of SZA‘s long-awaited sophomore album – 2022’s ‘SOS‘ – is damn near unprecedented. Even more notable are the number of longstanding records she’s broken along the way with the project and its accompanying era.

Beyond opening at #1 on the Billboard 200 with the largest streaming week ever for an R&B effort, the ‘CTRL‘ follow-up would go on to control the chart for a whopping 10 weeks – making it longest-running #1 female studio album by a Black woman since Mariah Carey‘s 1990 debut and Whitney Houston‘s 1987 eponymous project ruled over the tally for a respective 11 weeks.

And while that accomplishment was gargantuan, it wasn’t be the last time SZA (born Solana Rowe) would see her name beside Whitney’s for a historic feat.

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Before this week only one album by a Black woman could boast a 300-week stay on the Billboard 200: Rihanna‘s 2016-released ‘Anti.’

However, thanks to the ongoing success of SZA‘s 2017 debut album, ‘CTRL,’ that exclusive club just gained a new member.

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Fun fact: only 82 acts in the history of recorded music can boast the honor of having earned 20 or more Gold-certified records from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) over their careers.

A tally undoubtedly boosted by the inclusion of streaming in the certification criteria, it’s still one that’s eluded Black female performers on mass as they represent less than 10% of the hitmakers in the exclusive club.

Recently, R&B diva SZA – thanks to the ongoing success of hits found aboard her long-awaited sophomore album ‘SOS‘ – the score increased for the ladies.

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SZA‘s ‘SOS‘ has the competition calling out just that thanks to its domination of the Billboard 200.

Starved music lovers who needed a “new album fix” from the R&B diva were fed December 9 when she dropped the project (which comes as the long-awaited follow-up to her 2017 debut LP ‘Ctrl’).

In addition to opening at #1 on the Billboard 200 with one of the year’s best first-week sales, the effort’s streams helped 20 of its 23 tracks land on the Hot 100 – a feat that sees her join Taylor Swift as the only female acts to boast such feat.

Of those 20 entries, the album’s housed tracks ‘Nobody Gets Me‘ (#10) and ‘Kill Bill‘ (#3) premiered in the top 10, bringing the era’s Hot 100 top 10 count to four following the previous peaks of  ‘I Hate U’ (#7) and ‘Good Days’ (#9). It’s worth noting ‘Bill’ serves as the first solo top 5 hit of SZA’s career.

The four top 10 hits also come as a historic high note for the songbird.  See how inside.

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It’s been over five years since SZA topped R&B charts with her critically acclaimed debut album ‘CTRL,’ but as music lovers impatiently await its recently completed follow-up they’re clinging tight to her hits of past to tide them over.

Proof of this comes via a slew of new sales certifications announced by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

More inside:

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Last summer, ‘Shut Up’ rapper Trick Daddy was told to follow his own advice by legions of Beyonce fans (affectionately called the #Beyhive) following controversial comments he made about the diva’s singing ability.

“Beyoncé don’t write music and barely can sing her motherf*ckin’ self,” he said during a now-infamous Clubhouse chat (as we reported here).

Only making matters worse over the weeks that followed, Trick (born Maurice Young) incited further controversy over his statement by attempting to clarify the difference between ‘singing’ and ‘sangin.’

“To me a real singer is a Stephanie Mills, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, or Adele. To me, a singer is somebody who can go to church and give you the word. ‘Singing’ and ‘sangin are two different things,” he shared.

And though the flames from that firestorm of backlash had cooled, Young – thanks to quizzing from DJs at ‘The Breakfast Club’ a year later (April 14) – reignited them by doubling down on his polarizing stance.

Hear it from his lips inside:

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The BET Awards is back and set to blaze on Sunday, June 25.

As always, all eyes are on who’ll be up for nominations at Black entertainment’s biggest calendar night.

Well, wonder no more. For, the nominees’ list has been revealed.

After unprecedented success, Drake leads with seven nominations.

The likes of Beyonce, Lizzo, 21 Savage, and GloRilla all make their presence felt with multiple nominations apiece.

What are you waiting for? The full list of nominations awaits below…

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Just as Ice Spice‘s previously highest-charting hit, ‘Boy’s a Liar’ (with PinkPantheress) readies its exit from the Hot 100’s top 10, the rising rapstress replaced it thanks to help from Nicki Minaj.

Look inside to see the numbers that powered their duet, ‘Princess Diana (Remix),’ to being crowned this week’s top debut on the hit list.

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As Alicia Keys is one of the best-selling R&B artists of the century, seeing her name attached to jaw-dropping sales reports is nothing new.

And although she’s already cemented the position, Monday (September 19) saw the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reiterate the standing due to the continued streaming and digital download love shown to some of her timeless hits like ‘My Boo’ (with Usher), ‘You Don’t Know My Name,’ and ‘No One.’

Look inside for more.

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With over 125,000 votes cast, the time has finally arrived for the winners of the That Grape Juice End of Year Awards 2017 to be announced!

While some acts maintained a major lead, upon the penultimate cut-off point, the final list brought with it many last minute surprises.

Check out the full list of winners below. Prepare yourselves for what awaits…and sound off!

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