SZA Has ‘No Idea’ Where Nicki Minaj Feud Came From: ‘I Don’t Know Her. We Have No Connection to Each Other’

SZA typically steers clear of public disputes, yet she has shown she will respond when directly challenged. This was evident last summer after rapper Nicki Minaj accused Terrence "Punch" Henderson, SZA's manager at Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), of bullying her. The exchange quickly spiraled into a complex back-and-forth. In a recent GQ interview, SZA reflected on the incident, stating, "I don't know her. We have no connection to each other. There's no backstory." She expressed confusion about the origin of the conflict, noting it seemed to stem from a perceived link to Roc Nation, and found the entire situation strange and unnecessary. SZA emphasized it wasn't her role to correct a narrative she felt completely detached from.

Top Dawg Entertainment, the independent record label co-founded by Punch and Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith in 2004, is renowned for its tight-knit roster that has included artists like Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q. This familial atmosphere within TDE meant SZA was inevitably drawn into another major hip-hop feud, this time involving labelmate Kendrick Lamar and Drake. As Lamar's high-profile dispute with Drake intensified—a conflict even more layered than the Minaj spat—SZA received collateral criticism due to her extensive collaborations with Lamar.

When asked about the situation, SZA was quick to clarify her position, affirming her friendship with both artists and labeling the entire affair as "unfortunate." She reasoned that the conflict was fundamentally "something between two grown-ass men," making it inappropriate for her to insert herself. She acknowledged her deep loyalty to Kendrick Lamar and TDE, which she considers family, while also highlighting the long-standing and positive rapport she shares with Drake. This dual allegiance placed her in a difficult position, watching from the sidelines as a public battle unfolded between two of music's biggest figures.

Industry analysts often note that such crossfire is an occupational hazard for artists connected to powerful camps during high-stakes rivalries. As one music journalist observed, "When titans clash, the entire ecosystem feels the tremors, and affiliated artists often have to navigate a minefield of public perception." For SZA, maintaining neutrality while publicly supporting her colleagues became a delicate balancing act, underscoring the complex interpersonal dynamics that exist behind the scenes of the modern music industry.