SZA Wondered If Drake Was Sabotaging Her During Making Of ‘Slime You Out’

SZA, the acclaimed R&B artist, has opened up about a moment of doubt during the creation of her collaboration with Drake on the track “Slime You Out.” In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the “Kill Bill” singer admitted that her insecurities briefly led her to question if the Canadian rapper was intentionally undermining her contributions to the song.

A Clash Over Vocals

During the production of “Slime You Out,” SZA sent Drake an initial demo recording of her vocals. She intended for this to be a rough draft and later provided a more polished version for the final release. To her surprise, Drake opted to use the demo version in the finished track.

“I just handed in the first draft to Drake, and he’s putting it on his album,” SZA shared. “I’m scared because I handed in second vocals and he didn’t use that. And now I’m like, ‘Are you trying to sabotage me?’ I know that’s not true. I literally know that’s not true, but that’s how bad I feel about my first draft. When things come from an effortless space, I almost can’t enjoy it.”

Her comments highlight a vulnerability that even highly successful artists experience when their work is shared in a form they don’t consider fully refined.

SZA and Drake’s History

“Slime You Out” marks the first official collaboration between SZA and Drake, but their connection dates back over a decade. Drake first revealed their past relationship in 2020 on his verse in 21 Savage and Metro Boomin’s track “Mr. Right Now.”

“Yeah, said she wanna fuck to some SZA, wait/ Cause I used to date SZA back in ’08/ If you cool with it, baby, she can still play,” Drake rapped.

This revelation sparked widespread speculation on social media, particularly around the timeline. Questions arose about whether SZA could have been underage at the time.

SZA Clarifies the Timeline

In response, SZA took to Twitter to address the concerns. She confirmed that their brief relationship occurred in 2009, not 2008, and emphasized that it was entirely innocent.

“So it was actually 2009 lol,” she tweeted. “In this case, a year of poetic rap license mattered. Lol, I think he just innocently rhymed ’08 with ‘wait.’ Anybody who really knows me and was around during this time can confirm.. it’s all love, all peace.”

She further clarified, “I just didn’t want anybody thinking anything underage or creepy was happening. Completely innocent. Lifetimes ago.”

The Reaction to Their Collaboration

“Slime You Out” drew significant attention online, including critiques from figures like Charlamagne Tha God, who roasted the track. Despite the chatter, the collaboration marked a significant moment for fans of both artists, blending SZA’s emotive style with Drake’s introspective lyricism.

Moving Past Doubts

SZA’s candid admission about her insecurities during the collaboration sheds light on the pressures artists face, even when working alongside industry giants like Drake. Her ability to be vulnerable and honest with her audience continues to endear her to fans, further solidifying her reputation as one of R&B’s most relatable and talented stars.