Fast-forward to 2022, and SZA released "SOS," an album that not only built upon the foundations of "Ctrl" but also pushed the boundaries of her sound. With "SOS," SZA demonstrated a newfound confidence and eclecticism, incorporating a wider range of influences and styles into her music.

"Smoking on my Ex Pack" and the title track "SOS" let SZA flex her sharp rap cadences.

Here’s the secret most casual listeners miss. When you add the RAR tracks into the SOS flow, the album transforms from a tragedy into an odyssey.

[ Ctrl (2017) ] [ SOS (2022) ] --------------------------- --------------------------- • Insecure & Confessional • Aggressive & Vindictive • Grounded Alt-R&B Beats • Multi-Genre Fluidity • Themes of Low Self-Worth • Radical Self-Acceptance 📊 Unmatched Commercial and Critical Milestone

The ongoing debate over , centers on a choice between cohesive, raw vulnerability and ambitious, genre-defying musical evolution . When SZA released SOS in late 2022, she faced the impossible task of following up Ctrl (2017), a record that defined a generation of modern R&B. Fans instantly began searching for answers to the question: is SZA SOS actually better?