Well, it seems all the trouble that once surrounded SZA’s recently-released album was worth it. After announcing she’d “quit” music last year following the delay of the LP, and then sharing an incorrect release date, Ctrl was finally delivered earlier this month on June 9. And, it turns out, the reward was worth the effort.
Not only did REVOLT dub it one of the Best Albums of 2017, so far, but her fans seem to have agreed and Billboard has recognized as much.
Ctrl shot to No.3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart after moving 60,000 units; 25,000 of which were in traditional album sales. SZA trails only behind Katy Perry, who sits at No.1 with Witness—after earning 180,000 equivalent album units upon releasing the same day—and her own labelmate Kendrick Lamar, who remains at No.2 with DAMN.
SZA’s mixtape Z peaked at No.39 on the same chart back in 2014.
Watch SZA on The Breakfast Club.