Azealia Banks’ latest feud is with King Push.
Pusha T is often revered by hip-hop purists for his precision, vivid street narratives, and resistance to trends. But not everyone shares the admiration. Azealia Banks, known for her unfiltered candor, reignited long-standing controversy with a sharp critique of the Virginia lyricist.
Her comments followed a resurfaced quote in which Pusha appeared to question Kanye West’s masculinity. Rather than defend West, Banks redirected the focus, attacking Pusha for using a photograph of Whitney Houston’s drug-strewn bathroom as the cover of his 2018 album DAYTONA.
“At least Kanye isn’t cursed by Whitney Houston,” Banks wrote. “I’ll never forgive Pusha T for using that photo. Anyone who respects the genius of Black women shouldn’t either.” She framed the decision as more than a tasteless choice, calling it a violation of cultural reverence and dignity.
Banks went further, criticizing Pusha’s persona as “corny” and “smug.” She dismissed his acclaim, calling him “MID” and suggesting he’s overrated. Her statements echo the backlash that followed the album’s release, when the $85,000 image—licensed by Kanye West—divided audiences. Some called it bold and symbolic. Others saw it as exploitation of a Black woman’s suffering for artistic provocation.
Houston’s family condemned the cover as “in poor taste.” Pusha defended it as a raw, honest reflection of the album’s tone, though he admitted initial discomfort with the decision.
Azealia Banks’s critique breathes new life into that debate. Her stance raises larger questions about how hip-hop treats Black women’s legacies and how pain is too often commodified. For her, it’s not just about DAYTONA—it’s about an industry that frequently turns tragedy into spectacle.
Her comments challenge listeners to reconsider the ethics behind powerful imagery and to question who bears the cost of provocation. Whether dismissed as another outburst or embraced as a necessary critique, her words demand a closer look at Pusha T’s legacy and hip-hop’s accountability to the culture it claims to represent.
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