The Hip-Hop internet is ablaze once again, and this time the flames are coming from an unexpected spark: Nicki Minaj vs. SZA. What started as quiet shade on social media has turned into a headline-grabbing feud between two of the most prominent women in contemporary Black music—one representing lyrical rap royalty, the other a genre-blending R&B powerhouse.
How It Started: Subtweets and Subliminals
The drama began subtly in early July when fans noticed SZA unfollowed Nicki Minaj on Instagram. Social media detectives soon uncovered that both artists had stopped liking or commenting on each other’s posts, a sharp contrast to their once-warm online dynamic.
Things escalated quickly when Nicki Minaj posted a cryptic tweet:
“One thing a bum b gonna do is pretend she’s above it all. Whole time she’s praying for a moment to be me.”
Although no names were mentioned, fans were quick to connect the dots, especially after SZA posted shortly after:
“Peace is loud. Jealousy is louder.”
Neither artist has publicly confirmed the feud, but the subtweet-style communication has sent fanbases—the Barbz and the CTRL crew—into overdrive, dissecting every lyric, tweet, and interaction.
Nicki Minaj and SZA go back and forth on social media (Photos: Getty Images)
Is There a Deeper Story?
Industry insiders speculate that the fallout may be tied to a missed or shelved collaboration. Sources close to both camps suggest the two artists were once in talks to work together on a remix to one of SZA's recent singles, possibly “Saturn,” but creative differences reportedly soured the deal. Some even believe label politics and mutual allegiances (especially involving Cardi B and Doja Cat) added fuel to the tension.
SZA has made a point in past interviews to keep herself clear of “music drama,” which makes this feud especially noteworthy. Fans have viewed her as neutral territory in many of Hip-Hop's messier moments—until now.
Nicki’s History of High-Profile Beefs
If you’ve followed Nicki Minaj’s career, you’ll know this isn’t her first clash with another female artist. In fact, Minaj has been at the center of some of Hip-Hop’s most talked-about rivalries:
Lil’ Kim: A long-standing feud that dates back to Nicki’s debut. The two traded barbs in interviews and diss tracks, with Kim accusing Nicki of biting her style.
Cardi B: Their 2018 clash at New York Fashion Week was legendary, with Cardi literally throwing a shoe at Nicki. The tension boiled over from social media to real-life altercations.
Remy Ma: The infamous “ShETHER” diss track from Remy was aimed directly at Nicki, sparking a lyrical back-and-forth that had the whole culture watching.
Miley Cyrus: Who could forget the “Miley, what’s good?” moment at the 2015 VMAs? It added a pop culture twist to Nicki’s reputation as someone who speaks her mind without filter.
Doja Cat & Megan Thee Stallion (rumored): Though less publicized, whispers of behind-the-scenes drama with these current It-girls have made the rounds online for years.
What Fans Are Saying
Nicki’s fans (The Barbz) and SZA’s supporters are fiercely defending their queens. While the Barbz accuse SZA of being “passive-aggressive” and opportunistic, SZA fans argue that Nicki often sparks feuds to drum up publicity for new music.
One viral tweet summed it up:
“Nicki beefing with SZA in 2025 is like Batman beefing with Wonder Woman. Y’all both powerful. Y’all both icons. Why fight?”
What Happens Next?
Both Nicki Minaj and SZA are expected to release new projects in late 2025. Whether this feud dies quietly or spills into their music remains to be seen—but one thing’s clear: the culture is watching. Closely.
And in Hip-Hop, where rivalry and reign go hand-in-hand, even a whisper of tension can shake the timeline.
Stay tuned to Clout Nation for updates as this story develops. If a diss track drops—we’ll be the first to break it down, bar for bar.
