Social media exploded this week after a Twitter feud broke out between Nicki Minaj and SZA, two of the most prominent names in music. What started as a vague tweet quickly turned into a public exchange of insults, with fans scrambling to understand what triggered the drama.
The situation began on July 15 when SZA tweeted,
"Mercury retrograde .. don’t take the bait lol silly goose."
The post seemed harmless at first but was sent just after Nicki Minaj had gone on a public rant against Terrence "Punch" Henderson, president of Top Dawg Entertainment, the label SZA is signed to. Minaj accused him of years of online harassment and referred to him as "Minus 30 million" and "Tiny D*ck Executive" while claiming she had receipts for his past behavior.
Nicki appeared to take SZA’s tweet as a direct shot. Her reply was blunt and cutting:
"Go draw your freckles back on bookie. Liar liar pants on fire. Sounding like a f*ing dead dog."**
She also used the hashtags #JusticeForDemoree and #DepositionPerez, referencing a real-life legal dispute involving Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez and her daughter.
SZA responded without backing down.
"I don’t give a f* about none of that weird st you popping," she wrote. She went on to stand her ground, highlighting her accomplishments including a $95.5 million-grossing tour and her current run of sold-out shows across Europe with Kendrick Lamar.
"Y’all have a blessed night. See you tomorrow for night 2 Paris," she added.
Although SZA attempted to move on, Minaj kept posting.
"Shut up ugly. I’m in a meeting so I don’t know if you’re still talking st or not. If you didn’t, I’ll delete later. Hoe,"** she wrote. She then fired off more insults, accusing SZA of being fake spiritual and mocking her artistry.
Minaj also wrote,
"SZA if every song you’ve ever done vanished right now, the music business wouldn’t even miss you. I’ve been to countries that never heard of you."
She dismissed SZA’s vocal style as "yodel with auto-tune that needed retuning."
SZA then clarified that her original post was not aimed at anyone in particular.
"I wasn’t even talking about or to anyone. I had just got off stage talking about retrograde. F* yes I’m mad now. Do you need that?"**
The feud also brought attention to the #JusticeForDemoree hashtag. That phrase references a lawsuit filed by Demoree Hadley, daughter of Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, who accused her mother of sending her to mental health facilities without cause. Perez has denied the allegations and filed her own legal action in response. Minaj using this hashtag in a public beef added another layer of controversy.
At this point, it's unclear if the tension between Nicki Minaj and SZA will continue or fade out. What is certain is that the exchange has stirred conversations throughout the music world and left both fanbases locked in a digital standoff.
The story shows how quickly misunderstandings can spiral in the public eye, especially when artists use social platforms to vent personal frustrations. Whether this beef has lasting effects on either artist’s image or career remains to be seen, but for now, it is the latest headline in a year full of music industry drama.
