The internet practically short-circuited in 2020 when a single lyric from a Metro Boomin track sent fans spiraling into a deep dive of celebrity dating history. We all know Drake likes to name-drop his former flames—it's basically his brand—but nobody saw the SZA mention coming. People were genuinely shocked.
Was she really his ex? How did they even meet back then?
The short answer is yes. They definitely dated. But the story is a lot more nuanced than a simple "yes" or "no" because the timeline Drake gave in his music wasn't exactly what happened in real life. When you’re dealing with two of the biggest names in music, the truth usually lies somewhere between a catchy rhyme and a late-night tweet.
Is SZA Drake's ex? The 2009 truth
The bombshell dropped during Drake’s verse on the song "Mr. Right Now." He rapped: "Yeah, said she wanna f— to some SZA, wait / 'Cause I used to date SZA back in '08."
Social media went into a total frenzy.
At first, fans were doing the math and getting worried. If they dated in 2008, was SZA even 18 yet? SZA, being someone who values her privacy but also knows how to set the record straight, jumped on X (then Twitter) to fix the narrative. She confirmed the relationship happened but moved the clock forward by a year.
It wasn't 2008. It was 2009.
She explained that Drake probably just used "08" because it rhymed with "wait." She called it "poetic rap license." In 2009, she was 18 and he was around 22 or 23. This took the "creepy" factor out of the equation entirely. She was very clear that nothing underage was going on.
Honestly, it makes sense. Rappers aren't always great historians when a beat is hitting just right.
Why she called the relationship "childish"
Fast forward to 2023, and SZA finally gave us a bit more tea during a Rolling Stone interview. She didn't paint it as some tragic, star-crossed romance. Instead, she described it as "childish" and "youth vibes."
It wasn't "hot and heavy." It was just two young people hanging out before they became the global icons we know today.
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Think about it. In 2009, Drake was just blowing up with So Far Gone. SZA hadn't even released her debut EP yet. They were just kids in the industry trying to figure things out. SZA has always been a bit of a late bloomer in terms of her public persona, and she often talks about how she was "codependent" and "shy" back in those days.
She even compared Drake to Regina George from Mean Girls.
Wait, what?
Yeah, she told Audacy that Drake has that "popular kid" energy. You know the type. Everyone is obsessed with what they're doing, and even when they’re being a bit dramatic, it’s still entertaining. She seems to have a lot of respect for him, but she also views that era of her life as a completely different lifetime.
Collaborations and the current vibe
You might think dating an ex would make working together awkward. Not for these two. In 2023, they finally teamed up for "Slime You Out." It was their first official musical collaboration, and it went straight to number one.
The cover art—a photo of Halle Berry getting slimed at the Kids' Choice Awards—was its own drama, but the song itself showed that any romantic tension from 2009 was long gone. They followed it up with "Rich Baby Daddy," proving they’ve figured out a solid professional rhythm.
The Kendrick Lamar factor
By 2024 and early 2025, things got a little messy again, but not because of their past dating life. SZA found herself caught in the crossfire of the massive Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud.
Drake name-dropped her in his diss track "Push Ups," saying she was one of the few artists (along with Travis Scott and 21 Savage) actually "wiping out" Kendrick in the charts. SZA’s reaction? She posted a meme of NeNe Leakes asking, "Now why am I in this?"
She eventually performed at Kendrick's Super Bowl halftime show in 2025 and collaborated with him on his album GNX. It’s a classic case of industry politics being way more complicated than an old fling from fifteen years ago.
The takeaway on their history
So, when people ask is sza drake's ex, they're talking about a very brief moment in time that happened before most of us even knew who SZA was. It wasn't a long-term engagement or a messy breakup that inspired a whole album—well, at least not that we know of.
Here is what we can actually take away from their history:
- They dated for a short period in 2009.
- Both have confirmed it was "all love" and "completely innocent."
- They’ve transitioned into successful collaborators who can still top the charts together.
- SZA isn't afraid to correct Drake's memory when he gets the dates wrong for a rhyme.
If you’re looking for more details, keep an eye on SZA's upcoming project Lana. She often hides little nuggets of her real-life experiences in her lyrics, though she's much more likely to write about her long-term ex-fiancé than a "childish" fling from 2009. For now, the "Drake and SZA" chapter is mostly a fun piece of trivia for the fans.
Check out SZA's latest features on Kendrick Lamar's GNX to see how she's navigating the current rap landscape, or revisit "Slime You Out" to hear how she and Drake sound together as adults.