Nicki Minaj and SZA get embroiled in explosive online exchange - Drama explored

Nicki Minaj and SZA got into an explosive online exchange on July 15, 2025. The rapper first criticized Terrence "Punch" Henderson, the president of Top Dawg Entertainment. She claimed he allegedly bullied her when she rejected some business proposals.

SZA, Jay Rock, Ray Vaughn, Doechii, and other artists are signed under Top Dawg Entertainment. Terrence "Punch" Henderson was also SZA's former manager.

After Nicki's tweet, the singer tweeted about Mercury retrograde and suggested not to take the bait. It is unclear who SZA was referring to, as she neither tagged anyone nor mentioned them explicitly.

"Mercury retrograde .. don't take the bait lol silly goose," SZA wrote.

However, Minaj believed the singer was addressing her, and went off on her appearance, and her voice, comparing SZA to a "dead dog."

For the uninitiated, the hashtags #JusticeForDemoree and #DepositionPerez refer to Roc Nation's CEO, Desiree Perez, and her daughter, Demoree.

Minaj has been criticizing the music label for months for various reasons, from allegedly "sabotaging" her career to not hiring a Black woman as CEO.

Currently, the rapper is publicly supporting Demoree Hadley after she accused her mother of abusing her.

"Go draw your freckles back on bookie #JusticeForDemoree #DepositionPerez Liar liar pants on fire. Sounding like a fkng dead dog," Nicki Minaj tweeted.

SZA replied to the rapper's tweet, stating that she doesn't care about Nicki Minaj's tweets. Nicki then again mocked SZA's voice and her freckles.

Nicki Minaj shades SZA in new tweet:

“B**** looking & sounding like she got stung by a f***ing bee. 😩 dot dot dot *Draws on my fake freckles*” pic.twitter.com/YZO4KSCJ3d

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 15, 2025

When the rapper's fanbase, Barbz, told SZA not to get involved with them, the singer said she receives hate online on a regular basis.

However, she then goes on to perform for a packed stadium, receiving "real love" from her fans.

SZA then stated that she's successful and her parents are healthy, then dismissed the fandom, telling the Barbz to get "perspective" and "bark at the wall."

More details on Nicki Minaj and SZA's online exchange

Nicki Minaj's fans quickly started to attack the singer, saying she "inserted" herself into the drama, to which SZA replied she wasn't referring to Minaj.

She was supposedly talking about Mercury retrograde. Barbz then brought up her joint tour with Kendrick Lamar.

The singer responded by highlighting her successful SOS tour, which grossed over $100 million, making her the fourth female Black artist to achieve this milestone, after Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Tina Turner.

Nicki Minaj then went on a long X rant, writing multiple tweets that mocked SZA's voice and appearance. Minaj also posted screenshots of the singer's old tweets, in which she criticized Rihanna, Ciara, and Beyoncé.

The rapper called herself an "icon" and questioned SZA's musical impact, saying that if her music were to vanish, it wouldn't be missed by the industry.

"I've been to countries that never heard of you. I know you're not THAT stupid are you? Stadiums? Did you look at the venues I played on my OWN headlined FESTIVAL tour out of the country last year? B*tch have you ever headlined to 80K ppl? Btch what have you ever done besides yodel with auto tune that needed retuning? Boo im an icon. You're not," Minaj wrote.

Nicki Minaj responds to SZA:

“Does Sza think she's more successful than me? Lol yall catch me up pls. Sza if every song you've ever done vanished right now the music business wouldn't even miss you.” pic.twitter.com/1bllu8a3lK

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 16, 2025

Meanwhile, SZA is co-headlining Kendrick Lamar's Grand National Tour.