I Hate U

Album

SOS

Label

Top Dawg Entertainment

Genre

Contemporary R&B

Composer(s)

Solána RoweRober;;t BiselCody Fayne;Carter Lang;Dylan Patrice

Entered Chart

Dec 18, 2021

Peak Date

Dec 18, 2021

Released

December 3, 2021

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Top Dawg Entertainment

B-Side

n/a

This song finds SZA caught in a toxic relationship with an unworthy lover. It's a classic can't live with him, can't live without him scenario in which the singer is caught in an emotional tug-of-war. Though worn out by the way he treats her, SZA still misses her man when he's away and can't shake him off. SZA originally posted "I Hate U" as an experiment alongside "Nightbird" and "Joni" on her secret Soundcloud account in August 2021. After a snippet went viral on TikTok, SZA officially released the full song on December 3, 2021. "Honestly this started out as an exercise," she said, "I just wanted somewhere to dump my thoughts without out pressure." SZA wrote the song with its four producers. They are: ThankGod4Cody, who co-produced four tracks on SZA's CTRL album, including her singles "Broken Clocks," "Love Galore," and "The Weekend." Chicago multi-instrumentalist Carter Lang. He co-produced eight CTRL tracks and her "Good Days" single. Los Angeles-based producer Rob Bisel. He previously worked with SZA on her "Hit Different" single. Dylan "Sir Dylan" Wiggins, who also has writing credits on tracks by Solange ("Mad") and Calvin Harris ("Over Now"). Upon its release, "I Hate U" debuted at #1 on the US Apple Music streaming songs chart, breaking the record for the most-streamed R&B song by a female artist on Apple Music in its first week. It also topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming SZA's first #1 on that tally. The Jack Begert-directed video centers on a man (played by Atlanta's Lakeith Stanfield) in a heated argument with SZA on the phone. Afterwards, he gets a text from SZA that reads "i hate u," prompting him to hurl his phone in the ocean. The song earned SZA her first #1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. The singer's previous best ranking on the chart was the #3 that "Good Days" reached.

I be so sick of you niggas, y'all contradicting
I be so bored with myself, can you come and fuck me?
I feel so ordinary, 'cept when you around me
Treat me like corduroy, wear me out
Arguments, you air me out
Trippin' 'bout your whereabouts
I can't keep no conflict with you
Boy, can we just rub it out?
I don't want no static with you, you know you my plug
And I can't shake this habit, no

I've been up, baby
Heavy reminiscin'
Heavy on the missin' you
Wish it was different than what it was (oh yeah)
I've been up, baby
Lost in the lie of us
Lost, ain't no findin' us
I've been up, baby

And if you wondered if I hate you (I do)
Shitty of you to make me feel just like this
What I would do to make you feel just like this
And if you wondered if I hate you (fuck you)
Shitty of you to make me feel just like this
What I would do to make you feel just like this

Used to be too solid 'til you scrambled me
Used to be your rider, you mishandle me
Used to be nonviolent 'til you ambushed me
Now I'm out here wildin' with you
Now I'm out here, silent treatment, that mean no permission (no)
Missionary gettin' borin', can you switch positions? (Yeah)
Hard to save your soul, you don't ever listen, no (no)

I've been up, baby
Heavy reminiscin'
Heavy on the missin' you
Wish it was different than what it was (oh yeah)
I've been up, baby
Lost in the lie of us
Lost, ain't no findin' us
I've been up, baby

And if you wondered if I hate you (I do)
Shitty of you to make me feel just like this
What I would do to make you feel just like this
And if you wondered if I hate you (fuck you)
Shitty of you to make me feel just like this
What I would do to make you feel just like this