Drake and SZA‘s first ever collaboration, “Slime You Out,” became a hit for both musicians following its release, debuting at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100. While the track earned the musicians another highlight on the chart, SZA revealed she was initially unhappy with the rapper for using her first take of the song, going as far to say in her Tuesday (Oct. 31) interview with WSJ. Magazine that it felt as if he was trying to “sabotage” her.
SZA noted that the feeling of sabotage wasn’t exclusive to just Drake. “If you accept my first draft, I won’t trust you,” she told the outlet.
The Grammy winner added, “I just handed in the first draft to Drake, and he’s putting it on his album. 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.”
Following the release of “Slime You Out,” the track was embroiled in somewhat of a controversy, after Drake used a photo of actress Halle Berry getting slimed at the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for the cover art. Berry shared an Instagram post that read “Sometimes you have to be the bigger guy … even if you’re a woman!” She later revealed that Drake “didn’t get my permission. That’s not cool I thought better of him !”
In response to a separate comment, she added, “hence my post today. When people you admire disappoint you you have to be the bigger person and move on !”
Read SZA’s interview in full here.