Nicki Minaj Goes to War Against Jay-Z and Beyoncé
By Fedelis Fengu
November 5, 2025 — The often-tempestuous world of hip-hop has been rocked yet again by a long-simmering feud between rap queen Nicki Minaj and music’s most powerful couple, Jay-Z and Beyoncé. What started as a dispute over business has escalated into highly public, personal attacks, raising questions about financial equity, industry power, and the seriousness of the beef.
The root cause of the current conflict, which exploded into public view primarily through Nicki Minaj’s highly-charged social media posts on X (formerly Twitter) throughout 2024 and 2025, centers on money owed from the Tidal streaming service. The fight started when Minaj accused Jay-Z of cheating her out of her rightful equity and payment following the sale of his majority stake in Tidal to Square (now Block) in 2021. Minaj claims she promoted the platform extensively and was part of the original cohort of artist-owners, but never received proper compensation. She has publicly stated that she is owed a figure she calculates to be between $100 million and $200 million from the deal, going so far as to tell Jay-Z on X to “settle this karmic debt.”
The financial dispute quickly expanded, fueled by Minaj’s broader criticisms of Jay-Z’s influence and industry practices. A major point of contention arose after the selection of the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show headliner in early 2025, which was programmed by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Minaj vehemently criticized Jay-Z for choosing another artist over Lil Wayne, a New Orleans native, for the show in his own city, suggesting he allowed “ego” and “hatred” for artists like herself to affect professional decisions. Her venom has also been directed at Roc Nation CEO, Desiree Perez, whom she has publicly called out over her past legal history and alleged broader corruption within the music mogul’s empire.
The beef took an even sharper turn in October 2025 when Minaj made the dramatic, albeit quickly retracted, announcement that she was canceling her highly anticipated new album, directly tagging Jay-Z on X with the message: “Ok I’m not going to put out the album anymore. No more music. Hope you’re happy now @sc.” Her posts also mocked Jay-Z’s recent failed attempt to open a casino in New York City. While Jay-Z is the primary target, Beyoncé has been indirectly, and sometimes directly, pulled into the drama, particularly due to the Carters’ perceived support for rapper Megan Thee Stallion, a known rival of Minaj.
What Has Been Said So Far? Minaj has been the primary aggressor and speaker, using new music and social media rants to demand money and respect. However, the Carters have maintained their characteristic total silence. Despite the mounting pressure and the direct, recent attacks in October, there has been no official public statement or comment from either Jay-Z, Beyoncé, or Roc Nation addressing Minaj’s claims of financial debt, malice, or industry sabotage. This lack of response is often interpreted as a power move, signaling that they do not view the claims as serious enough to warrant a direct reply.
The central question remains: Is this a genuine, high-stakes dispute or a calculated publicity stunt? Arguments for its seriousness cite the massive financial figures involved in the Tidal deal and Minaj’s genuine, personal frustration over professional recognition. However, the theatrical nature of the online rants—including the temporary cancellation of her album—and the fact that both parties are masters of generating hype, lend credence to the theory that the feud is a highly effective, if messy, business strategy designed to drive conversation, streaming, and relevance.
Given Jay-Z’s policy of maintaining silence and operating primarily through business moves, a public, amiable resolution is highly unlikely. If a resolution were to occur, it would most likely take place behind closed doors via a private financial settlement regarding the Tidal claims. Until then, the rift between rap’s biggest female star and its most powerful couple is expected to continue dominating headlines, with all the drama playing out on social media.
