‘You Are a F***ing Thief’: SZA Blasts People Who Leak Her Music Online

SZA, the R&B star and Variety's Hitmaker of the Year, has vented her anger and frustration over the unauthorized leaks of her music. She tweeted on Saturday, January 6, 2024:

> LEAKING MY MUSIC IS STEALING. THIS IS MY JOB. THIS IS MY LIFE AND MY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. YOU ARE A FUCKING THIEF AND I PROMISE TO PUT MAXIMUM ENERGY INTO HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW. I AM TIRED.

Her tweet ignited a heated discussion among her fans and the music industry. Some of her supporters empathized with her situation and criticized the leakers, while others argued that she should release more music and not keep them waiting.

SZA has been suffering from music leaks for several years, especially after the success of her debut album CTRL in 2017. In 2018, a collection of unreleased songs titled Comethru was uploaded online without her permission, prompting her label Top Dawg Entertainment to issue a statement that the songs were "stolen" and "not meant for the public" . In 2023, another batch of leaked songs appeared on the internet, including a version of "Calling My Phone" by Lil Tjay and 6lack that featured her vocals .

SZA has previously expressed her displeasure and disappointment over the leaks, saying that they "ruin" her songs and make her feel "embarrassed" by the unfinished versions . She also said that the leaks affect her creative process and prevent her from releasing music on her own terms .

SZA's latest tweet indicates that she is ready to take legal action against the leakers, who she considers as "thieves" and "bullies". She also implied that the leaks are a form of disrespect to her as an artist and a person, as she stated that her music is her "job", her "life" and her "intellectual property".

SZA is not the only artist who has faced the problem of music leaks. Other prominent musicians such as Drake, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, and Beyoncé have also dealt with unauthorized releases of their songs, sometimes by hackers, insiders, or even fans. The issue of music leaks raises questions about the ethics, legality, and impact of such practices on the artists and the music industry.

SZA is currently nominated for nine Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for her hit single "Kill Bill" . She is also expected to release a deluxe edition of her second album SOS, titled Lana, sometime in 2024 .