The story of SZA’s “I Hate U” going from a fan favorite SoundCloud release to a global smash adds a new chapter, as the single secures the hitmaker her first No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. “Hate” rises from the runner-up rank to crown the list dated April 2 after a 2% boost to 19 million in audience in the tracking week ending March 27, according to Luminate, formerly MRC Data.
“I Hate U” replaces Kodak Black’s “Super Gremlin” at the summit, with the latter falling to No. 2 after three weeks in charge. Notably, the new champ also makes SZA the first woman to lead the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay list in a lead role in nearly two years, since Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage,” featuring Beyoncé, ruled for three weeks beginning May 23, 2020. (Between “Savage” and “I Hate U,” Tems appeared on a featured role on Wizkid’s “Essence,” a 27-week leader.)
“I Hate U” was initially released on Soundcloud in August 2021 as what SZA called, “a random thought.” The tune was later removed and given an official release across all digital and streaming platforms in December 2021 through Top Dawg/RCA Records, which sparked its success on Billboard’s charts. After its first tracking week, the single debuted at No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and No. 7 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.
Having previously debuted at No. 1 on both the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs and R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart upon the official release, the new radio crown completes the triple play of leading all three genre breakout charts that feed into the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ranking. “I Hate U” is the first song to lead all three lists since DaBaby’s “Rockstar,” featuring Roddy Ricch, managed the feat in the summer of 2020.
While “I Hate U” gives SZA her first leader on R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, she had reached the top 10 on three previous occasions. Her debut chart entry, “Love Galore,” featuring Travis Scott, climbed to No. 5 in October 2017, follow-up release “The Weekend” rose to No. 6 the next month and “Hit Different,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, peaked at No. 7 in December 2020.
Elsewhere, “I Hate U” repeats at No. 2 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart, though it had already reached No. 1 two weeks ago. The two formats fuel its push to a new peak of No. 16 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart, despite a 2% dip to 29.4 million in audience in the week ending March 25, according to Luminate.
