I Hate U (SZA song)

"I Hate U" is a song by American singer SZA. It was originally released along with two other songs on SZA's SoundCloud account in August 2021, before receiving a release on major platforms on December 3, 2021, after garnering popularity on the video-sharing app, TikTok. A break-up song, it finds SZA detailing what went wrong in a past relationship, expressing resentment towards her ex, but acknowledging that she still misses them. "I Hate U" is an electronic R&B song with a "crunching", dark instrumental, containing a relaxed, "ethereal" chorus, and hip hop-influenced verses.

"I Hate U"
Song by SZA
PublishedAugust 22, 2021 (SoundCloud)
ReleasedDecember 3, 2021
GenreElectro-R&B[1]
Length2:54
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Solána Rowe
  • Robert Bisel
  • Cody Fayne
  • Carter Lang
  • Dylan Patrice
Producer(s)
  • Robert Bisel
  • ThankGod4Cody
  • Carter Lang
  • Dylan Patrice
Audio video
"I Hate U" on YouTube
Lyric video
"I Hate U" on YouTube

Upon its release it simultaneously debuted at number one on the United States Spotify and Apple Music streaming songs chart;[2] and broke the record for the most streamed R&B song by a female artist on Apple Music in its first week.[3] The song debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming SZA's second solo song to debut in the top ten, while also debuting at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart;[4] it also reached the top 40 in Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

Background

The song was originally released exclusively on SZA's (anonymous) SoundCloud on August 22, 2021, along with two other tracks, "Joni" and "Nightbird".[5] She revealed that her astrologist encouraged her to release the songs.[6] After "I Hate U" went viral on TikTok and received a warm response from fans, SZA decided to give it an official release, stating: "Honestly this started out as an exercise. I just wanted somewhere to dump my thoughts w out pressure..y'all made it a thing and I'm not mad lmao. ask and u shall receive".[7] However, after the song reached number one on US Apple Music, SZA revealed that the song is an official single, posting on social media: "One thing ab challll yall gon make it a single even if it aint !' I love you ! Thank you ![8][9] She also deemed the SoundCloud release an "experiment".[7]

Composition and reception

Vulture's Justin Curto labeled "I Hate U" a "groovy breakup song, anchored by SZA's lyrical directness",[10] while Hayden Daviss of Pilerats found it a "subtle and seemingly 90s-indebted take on SZA's sound, with a crunching production swaying amongst SZA's vocal".[11] HotNewHipHop's Alexander Cole gave the song a "Very Hottttt" rating, complimenting the "dark production that complements the singer's voice perfectly", and noted, "throughout the track, she sings about a recent breakup and how she wishes things had played out differently".[12] Ciaran Brennan of Hot Press said the song, along with "Joni" and "Nightbird", "showcases SZA's musical diversity", with the singer "switching up between passionate, emotional vocals and relaxed verses".[13] Okayplayer's Robyn Mowat noted how the song "is filled with reflections on love, heartache and her headspace regarding a love gone wrong".[14] NorthJersey.com's Jack McLoone deemed the track signature SZA, despite finding "her vocals on the chorus are more ethereal, while in the verses she skews closer to traditional R&B delivery with some clear hip hop influences.[15] Naledi Ushe of PopSugar called it "a banger for all the heartbroken (past and present) people of the world".[16] Comparing the song to Prince's "Eye Hate U" (1995), Jezebel writers said "a relaxed tempo and veritable yacht-rock keyboard underscore lovelorn 'fuck yous' and the overarching idea of hating someone because you love them so much". They noted however, that "despite the song's title, it is not a kiss-off but a call back, praising the "nimble" hook.[17] Billboard's Jason Lipshutz commended the song for showcasing "the vocal power that's made her such a captivating figure in mainstream pop and R&B".[18] Similarly, HipHopDX's David Aaron Blake said, over the "wailing" synth and "lush" instrumental, is SZA's "uncontainable and booming voice".[19]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted via YouTube.[20]

  • Solána Rowe – composer, lyricist
  • Robert Bisel – producer, composer, lyricist
  • Carter Lang – composer, lyricist, producer
  • Cody Fayne (ThankGod4Cody) – producer, composer, lyricist
  • Dylan Patrice – composer, lyricist, producer

Charts
Chart performance for "I Hate U"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[21] 19
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[22] 14
Global 200 (Billboard)[23] 11
Ireland (IRMA)[24] 27
Netherlands (Single Tip)[25] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] 9
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 2
UK Singles (OCC)[28] 38
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 7
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[30] 1

References
  1. Kaplan, Ilana (December 3, 2021). "SZA Officially Drops 'I Hate You' as New Single". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  2. "SZA's "I Hate U" Tops Apple Music & Spotify Daily Charts". Rap Basement. December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  3. Singleton, Micah (December 15, 2021). "SZA's 'I Hate U' Breaks Apple Music R&B Streaming Record". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  4. Trust, Gary (December 13, 2021). "Adele's 'Easy on Me' Adds 7th Week Atop Hot 100, SZA's 'I Hate U' Debuts at No. 7". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  5. Hussey, Allison (December 3, 2021). "SZA Officially Releases New Single "I Hate U"". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  6. D'Souza, Shaad (August 22, 2021). "SZA drops new songs "Nightbird", "I Hate You" and "Joni"". The Fader. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  7. Cowen, Trace William (December 3, 2021). "SZA's "I Hate U" Gets an Official Release After Going Viral on TikTok". Complex. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  8. "One thing ab challll yall gon make it a single even if it aint !' I love you ! Thank you ! ..." December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021 – via Instagram.
  9. @SZA (December 3, 2021). "One thing ab y'all .y'all gon take a song that wasn't a single and make it a single !! THANK YOU !!!!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
  10. Curto, Justin (December 3, 2021). "If You Wondered If SZA Was Going to Release 'I Hate U,' She Did". Vulture. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  11. Davies, Hayden. "Listen to three surprise new songs from SZA: Nightbird, I Hate You and Joni". Pilerats. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  12. Cole, Alexander (August 22, 2021). "SZA Unleashes Yet Another Song On SoundCloud In "I Hate You"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  13. Brennan, Ciaran (August 23, 2021). "SZA releases 3 new songs from anonymous Soundcloud account". Hot Press. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  14. Mowat, Robyn (December 3, 2021). "SZA Commences Sad Girl Season With New Single "I Hate U"". Okayplayer. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  15. McLoone, Jack (December 3, 2021). "New SZA single 'I Hate U' released after TikTok success". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  16. Ushe, Naledi (December 3, 2021). "SZA, I Love You For Officially Releasing "I Hate U"". PopSugar. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  17. Juzwiak, Rich; Reese, Ashley (December 3, 2021). "SZA's Love Pours Out in "I Hate U"". Jezebel. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  18. Lipshutz, Jason (December 3, 2021). "First Stream: New Music From Ariana Grande & Kid Cudi, Juice Wrld & Justin Bieber and More". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  19. Blake, David Aaron (December 3, 2021). "New Music Friday - New Singles From Brent Faiyaz, SZA, Blxst, Mary J. Blige + More". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  20. "SZA - I Hate U (Audio) - YouTube". December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021 – via YouTube.
  21. "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  22. "SZA Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  23. "SZA Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  24. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  25. "Single Tip". Dutch Charts. December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  26. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  27. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 49". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  29. "SZA Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  30. "SZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
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