Nicki Minaj and SZA, two well-known musicians, are having a public spat that has gotten worse on social media. The music industry is watching. What started as vague statements has swiftly turned into serious charges, including record companies, politicians, and passionate fan communities. This page goes into detail on the events, accusations, and larger effects of this ongoing celebrity feud.

The Start of the Nicki Minaj SZA Feud

Nicki Minaj and SZA's recent fight started on Tuesday, July 15, when Minaj went on X (previously Twitter) to vent her anger at Terrence "Punch" Henderson, the president of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). Punch was in charge of SZA until late 2024, when she signed with TDE. Minaj said Punch was "bullying" her after she said no to his business offer more than once. She said she had "receipts" to back up her claims, but she didn't give any specifics right away.

A few minutes after Minaj's first tweets, SZA sent out a tweet that seemed to address the issue. SZA tweeted at 3:20 PM on July 15, "Mercury retrograde... don't take the bait lol silly goose." SZA later said that her tweet wasn't aimed at anyone in particular and that she had "just got off stage talkin bout retrograde." However, Minaj took it as a direct insult.

Nicki Minaj's First Complaints About Punch

It looks like Minaj's charges against Punch are based on a conflict that has been going on for a while, maybe since 2020. She said that Punch was running a "smear campaign" against her because she had turned him down. This history shows that there is more hatred between them than just the recent social media fight, but Minaj has not shared many details about their previous confrontations.

Nicki's Take on SZA's Tweet About "Mercury Retrograde"

Minaj's response to SZA's post was quick and harsh. She referenced SZA's message and then attacked her personally, ordering her to "draw your freckles back on" and branding her a "liar." Minaj also said that SZA sounded "like a fkng dead dog." This debate swiftly turned what seemed like an insult to a management into a direct fight between the two performers.

The main players and accusations are TDE, Punch, and MackWop.

When MackWop, a DJ who works with TDE artists, got involved, the fight took on a whole new level of seriousness. MackWop said something during a livestream that Minaj thought was a direct threat.

A Look at MackWop's "Blender" Comment

MackWop said, "Hey, Nicki, calm down before you get put in a blender like your friend did." Minaj was worried by this comment and swiftly published a clip of the webcast on X.

Minaj's answer was quick and public:

@NICKIMINAJ: Is this a danger? @FBI I want this guy to be looked into right away. He knows other people who have been involved in highly dubious business and is now threatening damage and admitting to a crime against someone else. Which boy got put in a blender?

Some people thought MackWop's comment might have something to do with the ongoing dispute between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, who is also on Minaj's Young Money Entertainment label. However, Minaj took the threat seriously.

The "Threat" Controversy: The FBI, CIA, and Anna Paulina Luna are all involved.

Minaj got the FBI and even a U.S. congresswoman involved because she was worried about what MackWop said.

Anna Paulina Luna's Public Support for Nicki Minaj

Minaj asked Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna directly, and she publicly said she would back him.

@RepLuna: I can confirm that I talked to @NICKIMINAJ directly and that we would do everything we can to keep her safe. We take threats of violence and murder very seriously. It is also against the law to use RICO.

Luna also talked about her worries about "unchecked corruption in some parts of the rap industry," which suggests that the problem is bigger than just one fight.

#JusticeForDemoree and Desiree Perez: The Roc Nation Connection

Minaj has also linked this fight to her continuing problems with Roc Nation, the entertainment firm Jay-Z started, and its CEO, Desiree Perez, in her social media tweets.

The Baker Act lawsuit and the claims against Roc Nation

Minaj has used the hashtag #JusticeForDemoree a lot in her posts. This is a reference to Demoree Hadley, who is Desiree Perez's daughter. Reports say that Hadley sued her mother in Florida earlier this year, saying that she had her illegally held and put in a mental institution under the state's Baker Act, which lets people get emergency mental health care. Minaj has published interviews with Hadley, who said that her mother was trying to control her by keeping her in jail.

Minaj has compared Hadley's position to her own, talking about the many times she has been "swatted." She has said in public that she is willing to tell the FBI and CIA things about Perez, Roc Nation, or TDE.

SZA's Answer: Receipts, Tours, and "Feeling Myself"

Minaj has been very hostile, but SZA has answered with a mix of straight counterclaims and a focus on her profession.

SZA's Alleged Requests for Features and Credit for "Feeling Myself"

SZA responded to Minaj's assertions that she wasn't a big artist by talking about things that had happened in the past.

@SZA: Nicki... You know my music and what I can do because you've requested for features twice and haven't heard back. In addition to singing my rhymes, I also said, "Cooking up the bass looking like a kilo."

SZA also tweeted a snapshot of what she said were text messages from Minaj asking about a collaboration. In one message, Minaj asked if SZA was "recording right now" and said, "this hook I think she would be dope on."

SZA also talked about her writing credit on the 2014 song "Feeling Myself" by Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj. She notably mentioned the line "Cooking up the bass looking like a kilo."

Even though Minaj is making fun of SZA's looks and success, SZA has also talked about her huge stadium tour that is still going on.

@SZA: Every day, millions of people bully me online. Then I go out on a crowded stadium tour where people offer me REAL love. IN REAL LIFE. I'm doing better than ever, and my parents are healthy. GET SOME F-CKING PERSPECTIVE AND BARK AT THE WALL!!!

The "Rich Baby Daddy" Claim: What Drake Is Said to Have Done

Minaj also brought Drake into the fight by making a specific charge regarding his song "Rich Baby Daddy."

Nicki Minaj's Story About the "Rich Baby Daddy" Offer

Minaj said that at first, she was promised a part in Drake's "Rich Baby Daddy" instead of SZA.

@NICKIMINAJ: I wonder if she knows I said no to going on the "Shake Dat A for Drake" song. He wanted me and Sexy to be on it. I still have the version with only Drake and Sexy.

She said she turned down the deal so she could work with Drake on her album Pink Friday 2. This one detail contributes to the imagined insults and rivalry between the artists.

More broadly, celebrity fights in the digital age

The fight between Nicki Minaj and SZA is a great illustration of how social media makes celebrity fights bigger. Platforms like X are open and immediate, which lets people talk to each other in real time, frequently without the help of publicists or traditional media.

How Social Media Makes Fights Worse

Artists may talk to fans and each other directly through social media, but it also gives them a place to air their frustrations in public. The swift back-and-forth, which is sometimes caused by different readings and misinterpretations of messages, makes these feuds grow quickly and last a long time.

Because it's public, millions of people can immediately look at and talk about every statement, screenshot, or perceived slight. This makes it hard for either side to back down without seeming to give in.

Fan Reactions and How They Affect Both Artists

The fan bases of Nicki Minaj (Barbz) and SZA (SZANation) have made the fight more bigger.

Looking at how the fan bases of Barbz and SZANation work

Fans often take sides, defending their favorite artist and assaulting the other, which leads to a cycle of online harassment. This strong audience involvement, which shows loyalty, but also make the fight more poisonous and make it harder for the artists to get over it.

Public fights like this can have different effects on artists. They get a lot of media attention and talk, but they also risk turning some of their fans off or hurting possible partnerships. We still don't know what the long-term effects will be on Nicki Minaj and SZA's careers, other than the headlines they get right now.

Possible Long-Term Effects on Jobs and Working Together

In the past, celebrity fights have either helped an artist's brand or made people tired of them. This fight is typical for Nicki Minaj, who has had a lot of public fights with other musicians in the past. This direct confrontation is rare for SZA, who usually keeps a more private public image. How this situation plays out and how the two artists choose to deal with it will have an effect on their future collaborations, endorsements, and public image.

What will Nicki Minaj and SZA do next?

There are no indicators that the fight will end soon. Nicki Minaj keeps pushing her allegations, getting politicians and lawyers involved. While defending herself, SZA seems to be focused on her successful tour and music. The subject is still a hot topic in the music business, and many people are watching to see what these two powerful rappers will do next.