"Re do this" — Azealia Banks compares Ice Spice's revamped Y2K album cover to "early Nicki Minaj"

In March 2024, American rapper Ice Spice announced that she had finished recording her new album Y2K, which is set to release on July 26, 2024. The name of the rapper's album is a reference to her birthday on January 1, 2000, which is also the date of Y2K.

On June 5, 2024, the Barbie World rapper released the cover of her album, designed by David LaChapelle, via Instagram. The cover features Ice Spice standing against a graffiti wall, and the album title is mentioned on a dustbin.

While fans were split over the cover art, Azealia Banks took to Instagram stories on June 25, 2024, to compare the art to that of early Nicki Minaj. In her Instagram story, she mentioned:

"Ice I love you down but you should put the halt button, drop David LaChapelle and re do this"

(Image via Instagram/ @theneighborhoodtalk)

Moreover, Azealia made a parallel reference to the rapper's cover art to the style of Nicki Minaj stating:

“This is like VIM early Nicki Minaj pack weave s**t.”

Azealia Banks is known for calling out A-listers from the music industry and she recently called out Jay-Z for ruining Beyonce's country album, dissed Kendrick Lamar, and also claimed that Nicki Minaj is broke.

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"Baby phat, sidekicks were on 2002 and on”: Azealia Banks comments on Ice Spice's Y2K album's aesthetics

Before Azealia Banks drew comparisons between Ice Spice's Y2K album cover and early Nicki Minaj, the Princess Diana rapper took to X to thank David LaChapelle for the cover art.

Ice Spice's tweet thanking David LaChapelle (Image via X/ @icespicee_)

In the tweet, she mentioned that the sweet and legendary artist didn't charge her for the same and thanked him for the "incredible art" he's put through the year. The rapper also mentioned that the cover meant everything to her.

Azealia Banks mentioned in her Instagram story that someone needed to tell the Deli rapper, nothing about her album is Y2K performance-wise, production-wise, or aesthetically. Azealia Banks also indicated that Ice Spice's bodily features were the "antithesis of Y2K"

Drawing comparisons between the timeline of the Euphoric rapper's ensembles from brands like Sidekicks and Baby Phat, and the original Y2K era, Azealia Banks mentioned:

"Baby phat, sidekicks were 2002 and on. "Y2K" is 1997-2001."

(Image via Instagram/ @theneighborhoodtalk)

Azealia also commented on how the rapper needed a new hair color and a new facial expression to get the album cover right. Additionally, Banks also shared the 2000s-era photos of TLC, Jennifer Lopez, and Aaliyah as examples of the trend mentioning "This is Y2K".

This is not the first time, Ice Spice has been compared to or alleged for copying the style of Nicki Minaj. On June 18, 2024, the Munch rapper posted a video lip-syncing to her new song Phat B*tt, wherein fans of the rapper were quick to point out that Ice Spice is copying Nicki Minaj not only with the rap flow but with the styling as well.

However, Ice Spice has been vocal about her love for Nicki Minaj and how she is inspired by her. In an interview with XXL magazine dated January 16, 2023, the No Clarity rapper stated:

“When I saw Nicki, I was so mesmerized. She’s the first female rapper that I seen. And ever since then, I was kinda set on what I wanted to be.”

The two rappers have also collaborated on songs like Princess Diana and Barbie World.

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In other news, the In Ha Mood rapper hasn't released details about the track list or collaborations on her new album Y2K. Additionally, she hasn't responded to Azealia Banks' claims or suggestions to improve the aesthetics of her album art, as of this writing.