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"BMF" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from Lana (2024), the reissue of her second studio album SOS (2022). It is a bossa nova song that interpolates "The Girl from Ipanema", a 1960s single composed by Brazilian musician Antônio Carlos Jobim. The lyrics contain an allusion to "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, both referencing the fictional location of South Detroit. "BMF" was originally going to feature American singer and rapper Lizzo.

The song was released to radio stations alongside "30 for 30" on January 7, 2025, as the second and third singles from Lana. It debuted at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching a new peak of number 29 the following week. "BMF" reached top 10 peaks in Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Background

SZA's second studio album, SOS, was released on December 9, 2022. Soon afterward, she made a post on Instagram in which she teased about a possible deluxe edition for the album. Speaking to Variety in August 2023, she revealed that the deluxe edition became a "whole 'nother" project, a reissue she named Lana. It would consist of post-SOS songs alongside some anticipated outtakes that did not appear on the album.

Around SOS's release, The Line of Best Fit reported that American rapper and singer Lizzo was to feature on a track from Lana. Known under the names "BMF" and "Boy from South Detroit", it was a fan-favorite outtake scrapped by SZA's manager, Punch. He, along with an album co-producer, had told her that the song was not impressive enough to include on the standard tracklist.

Music and lyrics

The released version of "BMF" is a solo track, with Lizzo nowhere in the credits. It is a bossa nova song that interpolates "The Girl from Ipanema" (1962), composed by Brazilian musician Antônio Carlos Jobim. Its Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto rendition is used for the song's hook: "The boy from South Detroit keep bossin' / And I can't keep my panties from dropping." The "south Detroit" lyric references the Journey song "Don't Stop Believin'", which contains the same line. Apart from South Detroit, SZA mentions the Slauson Avenue, a road in Los Angeles. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone writes that it may be a tribute to Nipsey Hussle, a rapper raised in the nearby Crenshaw neighborhood and shot dead at the same road.

Release

After the Variety interview, SZA performed "BMF" alongside two other SOS outtakes at a September 2023 concert in Brooklyn, New York. The song was released to contemporary hit radio stations on January 7, 2025, the same day "30 for 30" was released to rhythmic contemporary radio. The song is the fifth track on the album. In an article for Billboard, Mackenzie Cummings-Grady ranked "BMF" as the reissue's 11th-best track, explaining that it provides enough levity to balance the tracks with heavier themes.

The song debuted at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100, rising to number 29 on the next issue. In the Philippines, it debuted at number 75 and reached a new peak of number 9 the next week. The top 10 entry was due to its achieving viral popularity on social media. It was the only top 10 non-single song from Lana at the time. On the Canadian Hot 100, "BMF" was the highest-charting entry from the reissue, peaking at number 28. The song reached more top-40 peaks in Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Australia.

Credits

• Solána Rowe (SZA) – lead vocals, songwriting
• Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim – songwriting
• Da Cruz de Mello Moraes – songwriting
• Omer Fedi – songwriting, production
• Carter Lang – songwriting, production
• Blake Slatkin – songwriting, production
• Michael Uzowuru – additional production
• Tommy Turner – assistant engineering
• Jon Castelli – mixing
• Dale Becker – mastering
• Adam Burt – assistant mastering
• Noah McCorkle – assistant mastering

Charts

Release history

References

1. "On SOS, SZA Blows Expectations Out of the Water: Review". Consequence. December 9, 2022. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
2. Monroe, Jazz (December 17, 2024). "SZA Releasing New SOS Deluxe Album This Week, Enlists Ben Stiller for Teaser". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
3. Aswad, Jem (December 21, 2024). "The Long Road to 'Lana': Why SZA Took Two Years to Drop the 'SOS' Deluxe Album". Variety. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
4. "Lizzo will reportedly feature on deluxe version of SZA's SOS album". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
5. Hiatt, Brian; Conteh, Mankaprr (December 18, 2022). "SZA Speaks! Inside Her New Album and Much More". Rolling Stone Music Now (Podcast). Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
6. Inman, DeMicia (December 22, 2022). "SZA Explains Why Certain Fan-Favorite Songs Were Excluded From New Album, 'SOS'". VIBE.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
7. Wang, Steffanee (December 20, 2024). "See the Full Credits of SZA's SOS Deluxe: Lana". The Fader. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
8. ^ Sheffield, Rob (December 21, 2024). "SZA Is at Her Most Streamlined and Direct on 'Lana'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 22, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
9. DeVito, Lee. "SZA announces 'SOS' arena tour with Detroit stop". Detroit Metro Times. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
10. "SZA Says 'SOS' Deluxe Is Actually "A Whole Nother Album" Called 'Lana'". Stereogum. September 9, 2023. Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
11. ^ "Pop Mart: Hot New Releases". Hits. January 10, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
12. "Crossover: Your Radio Chart Previews". Hits. January 10, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
13. Aswad, Jem (December 20, 2024). "SZA Finally Releases Long-Delayed 'Lana' Album, Featuring Kendrick Lamar, Lil Yachty and Benny Blanco". Variety. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
14. Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (December 20, 2024). "SZA's 'SOS' Deluxe 'Lana': All 15 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
15. "Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Countdown for January 11, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
16. ^ "Week of January 11, 2025". Billboard Philippines. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
17. Saenz, Rome (January 8, 2025). "SZA's 'BMF' Reaches No. 9 on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100". Billboard Philippines. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
18. Decter, Rosie Long (January 7, 2025). "SZA's SOS Deluxe: Lana Returns Her to the Top of the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart". Billboard Canada. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
19. ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 2 (3 - 9 Jan 2025)". RIAS. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
20. ^ "SZA Chart History (Malaysia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
21. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. January 10, 2025. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
22. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 20, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
23. "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 20, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
24. "SZA Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
25. "SZA Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
26. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
27. "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of January 15, 2025". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 17, 2025.
28. "TOP 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 2 (3/1/2025-9/1/2025)". RIM. January 18, 2025. Retrieved January 18, 2025 – via Facebook.
29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
30. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
31. "SZA Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
32. "SZA Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
33. "SZA Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
34. Attanasi, Claudia (January 13, 2025). "BMF – SZA". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved January 13, 2025.
35. "Crossover: Your Radio Add Recaps". Hits. January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2025.

• SZA songs
• Songs written by SZA
• 2024 songs
• 2025 singles
• Top Dawg Entertainment singles
• RCA Records singles