SZA - I Hate U

It’s sort of trippy. Tempo-wise, it’s a slow R&B song with 80’s synths and steady drums. The beat is simple, almost calming. It feels nostalgic like we’re in her memory. Then she takes us for a spin in the verses. SZA’s flow contradicts the song’s overall slow pace with fast bars. She sings with a rapper’s cadence, switching up the flow every so often to emphasize her conflict.

On the surface, she sounds like she’s chill, super nonchalant, cool, with her usual calm demeanor but when you listen to the chorus, you can hear the pain in the higher harmony. There’s heartbreak hidden behind "And if you wondered if I hate you (fuck you).”

As lyrics do, they tell a story. She’s torn. She misses someone who makes her feel like shit, but their absence hurts even more. There’s a tinge of wanting revenge, but it’s not that bitter. It’s hurting. It’s missing what isn’t there anymore. It’s honest.

Take a listen here if you haven’t already.