Madonna fans are rallying against rapper Azealia Banks for her controversial comments. When Katy Perry sat down for an interview on the Australian talk show, The Project, she credited Madonna for her success and that of every woman in the industry. She said:
"She's the greatest. She paved the way. Every person, when you talk about me reaching out to younger artists, every female still needs to continue to say 'thank you' to her cause she is breaking down barriers. I'm 40, I still get to do music because of Madonna."
However, when Azealia Banks, infamous for her unapologetic remarks, stumbled upon the interview, she opined:
"Grace Jones, Lil Kim , Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Chaka khan, Teena Marie, Celine Dion, Bjork, Missy Elliott, Toni Braxton, Spice (JA), Eve, and especially Janet Jackson - owe Madonna nothing."
In another tweet, she even declared that she was a better singer than the industry veteran, and labeled her a "mid-vocalist." Regardless, the internet was quick to react, with many pointing out the frequency with which Banks stirs up controversy on the internet. As one user commented on Instagram:
"She wake up everyday and start a new war."
The rest of the internet seemingly concurred, with many pointing out that she's a "hater." However, they did sarcastically appreciate the consistency.
"She’s so cringe. Yet she’ll never come to close to the artistic impact or influential iconic-ness that Madonna has," one user stated.
"Ok, well, get in the studio and let’s see where that career goes," another challenged.
"So that hypocrite called Azealia Banks just tweeted she’s releasing a new song. That’s why she’s talking sh*t about MADONNA to get some clout to boost her 6 streams," another speculated.
"Beyonce? Yes. Lil Kim? Yes she referred to herself as the Black Madonna. Janet? Took major inspo from Madonna’s “Erotica” album for her 1993 ‘Janet’ album…. And also most of these other artists you mentioned debuted before or at same time as Madonna. So ur point is mute anyways," another dished out.
Seemingly everyone online was annoyed at Azealia Banks for her contentious take.
"'It was important for me to follow in the footsteps of Madonna.' -Beyoncé, 2013," one user quoted.
"the women you’ve mentioned are all stars in different genres or haven’t made music since clinton was president, at least music worth listening to… madonna broke down the age barrier for women in pop and if she hadn’t released pop bibles in her 40s things would be different," another stated.
"Obviously her contemporaries and the people previous to her not. Beyoncé lil Kim , missy have taken inspiration from from Madonna several times and have praised her too,' stated one user.
"Lil Kim literally used to say she always wanted tobe Madonna and even brought out a bed and imitated her VMA performance. But go off," another challenged.
While the masses generally disagreed with Banks' opinion, a handful online noted that she "spilled today."
Azealia Banks says Janet Jackson is the true queen of pop, goes off on fans in the comments
The tweets didn't end there, as Azealia Banks doubled down on her stance against Madonna. When one user commented that black people "can NEVER give a white woman anything," and that "Madonna has been named the queen of pop 40 years ago by the whole world, point blank," Banks retorted in two tweets:
"Why is it funny if it's the truth? We don't really see it for her or see her the way you do and that's okay. We have our own icons niece. You're gonna drive yourself insane being mad about it . / And this is not true because I see it for Britney hard. Madonna just doesn't do it for me okay? Okay. Now let's go to bed now child."
She also noted that she had only been a fan of three of Madonna's songs and that she looked up to "Beyonce Janet and Chaka than Madonna." However, the internet was not satisfied, as people began drawing up the rapper's old tweets of her favorite Madonna song, Love Profusion, to which she shot back in a lengthy paragraph:
"Again. This is one of the three songs I know. Yall really have to get over the fact that forever white female artists have been heralded as queens and trendsetters only because the media chooses to narrate women's history thru a white lens. I'm telling you ... and being completely honest... I Azealia Banks, am not nor have I ever been especially excited by or in awe of Madonna, sure this is a cool song, I play it maybe once every two years lol. I'm telling you, her music nor is whatever selective feminism she represents an integral piece to having inspired as many female artists as you think, nor changing any circumstances or knocking down barriers for anyone else but white women. Period."
Azealia Banks continued, referring to Donna Summer as the woman who "actually laid the groundwork for embracing blatant/explicit displays of s*xuality in pop music."
"'Love to love you baby' predates "like a virgin," and Donna has waaaaay more essential anthems, talent and essential influence as far as mothers of the girls go. It's okay if you do not agree. But you're not going to force me into parroting some cliche shit about Madonna being some force of nature because she's not. Sorry. Lol."
In the follow-up tweets, Azealia Banks called for an end to worshipping "crunchy old white" women, dubbing Janet Jackson as the "true queen of pop," and responded to the surge in debate, advising everyone to "take a nap."