Azealia Banks Claims Doja Cat Bites Nicki Minaj’s Style A Lot

Azealia Banks has by no means been shy about calling out the trade, and her newest critique is aimed squarely at Doja Cat. On September 27, the Harlem rapper sparked heated dialog after weighing in on Doja’s new album Vie, which dropped September 25.

In a since-viral publish, Banks accused Doja of leaning too closely on Nicki Minaj’s blueprint. She reposted a fan’s statement that one in every of Doja’s verses sounded “so Silly Hoe coded,” a direct nod to Minaj’s 2011 diss observe. Banks didn’t maintain again in her response.

“Okay I really like the women and love Nicki however we will’t simply be driving Nicki’s dick like this,” she tweeted.

Whereas acknowledging that some inspiration is pure, Banks argued Doja’s method goes past homage. “Like a teeeny little bit of inspiration/borrowing is okay and respectful … however the full on Nicki cosplays need to cease as a result of it’s virtually like mocking her… Which is impolite.”

The remarks drop into a bigger debate about how right now’s girls in rap carve out area in Minaj’s shadow. As one of the dominant figures of the final 15 years, Nicki’s affect is inconceivable to disregard.

Her animated supply, sharp wordplay, and outlandish visuals have change into a part of the style’s DNA. However that affect additionally places new artists underneath a microscope—an excessive amount of resemblance, and critics label them clones.

Banks has made authenticity a centerpiece of her commentary, typically blasting what she sees as copy-and-paste traits. Calling Doja’s supply “Nicki cosplay” suits into her ongoing argument that originality ought to outline hip-hop. To her, mimicry with out stability dangers flattening Minaj’s artistry into caricature.

Doja, in the meantime, has constructed her profession on versatility, mixing rap, pop, and theatrical visuals that preserve followers guessing. Some listeners rejoice her shape-shifting as innovation, whereas others, like Banks, see echoes that cross into imitation. On Vie, a number of moments—particularly her exaggerated vocal flips—have fueled comparisons to Nicki, reigniting discourse about the place homage ends and mockery begins.

Banks’ critique highlights a pressure that continues to ripple by means of rap: how rising stars can channel affect from legends with out being written off as carbon copies.