“Peak recognizes peak”: Fans react as SZA praises BLACKPINK’s Jennie’s ‘Seoul City’ calling it ‘hard af’

(Image via Instagram/@Sza/@jennierubyjane)
SZA and Jennie (Image via Instagram/@Sza/@jennierubyjane)

American R&B star SZA has shared her opinions concerning Jennie’s hit song Seoul City. The 35-year-old singer and songwriter praised the BLACKPINK star’s track, describing it as ‘hard af.’

@AboutMusicYT on X, formerly Twitter, shared the post with the caption:

“SZA talks about Seoul City by Jennie: 'This hard af.'”

Even PopBase's official X account shared this news. Some of the fan reactions to these posts are mentioned below.

@naevisualizer commented: “peak recognizes peak.”

Several netizens commended SZA’s music taste, describing it as immaculate.

@grandeunext commented: “SZA has immaculate taste as expected! We need the collab!”
@allthingabsurd tweeted: “An American R&B queen says JENNIE’s track is ‘hard af.’ That’s soft power doing push-ups. Embassies can relax—Spotify handled the diplomacy.”
@ShruGawade added: “When SZA drops praise, you know it’s fire. 'Seoul City' is getting the stamp of approval from the queen herself.”

Other netizens praised Jennie’s Seoul City and asked for a collaboration.

@ivyiris__ praised: "The fact that most people are just realizing the song is good is surprising to me. Jennie is being slept on.”
@RavuSpeaks wrote: "SZA showing love to JENNIE? That’s a crossover we love to see. Her Instagram shoutout, 'This hard af,' is short but loud. When two powerhouse artists from different corners of the music world connect like that, it says a lot. Looks like ‘Seoul City’ just got a major co-sign.”
@dylanggcrave added: “I speak for us all when I say that we need a collaboration with these QUEENS ASAP.”

More details on Jennie’s Seoul City

Seoul City is a track from Jennie’s debut studio album, Ruby. It was released on March 7, 2025. Upon release, speculations arose claiming the song was about BTS’s V, due to the timing of its release and sensual lyrics.

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According to the song’s description on Apple Music, Seoul City:

“Has a double meaning in the title, it’s also a ‘soul’ city for me, and we loved how ‘Seoul’ and ‘soul’ sounded the same way, pronnounciation wise, and we wanted to play with that. We were actually in the studio talking about where everyone’s paradise city would be, and my turn to say it, and I couldn’t think of anywhere else than my hometown, and it was Seoul city."

The description continued:

"It’s got that energy that I wanted to capture, like how every corner of Seoul feels alive with history and culture. I was inspired by the mix of traditional and modern vibes in the city and how it’s always involving but still rooted in its soul. I think it’s also got that feminine energy. I love how the vocals came out in this song, and it’s always a pleasure.”

Seoul City was written by Jennie, Myles Edward Harris, Braylin Philip Bowman, Xeryus Gittens, Michael Len Williams II, Badriia “Bibi” Bourelly, and Carly Gibert.


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Edited by Sarah Nazamuddin Harniswala