Call it a modern form of accountability or a digital witch hunt, cancel culture is one of the most polarizing phenomena of our time. It’s the collective call-out, often fueled by social media, where public figures face backlash for actions or problematic language. Some see it as a necessary way to confront injustice; others see it as a harsh system that leaves no room for growth or forgiveness.
In today’s social media-driven society, no industry can escape this intense scrutiny, including hip hop. More than just a musical style, hip hop has embedded itself deeply into everyday life. Its influence can be seen in everything from fashion and language to political activism and digital culture — even extending into leisure activities like online gambling. Today, it’s not unusual to see hip hop aesthetics and beats energizing casinos offering free spins bonuses and codes to activate them, where players find themselves immersed in a world soundtracked by the culture’s rhythm and spirit. As hip hop continues to spread into every corner of entertainment and lifestyle, it becomes clear: no amount of cancel culture can mute its impact.
This resilience has allowed numerous artists to do the unthinkable: claw their way back into the public’s favor after being canceled. Rather than letting past criticism silence them, these artists have taken time to reflect and then pushed forward with renewed strength.
Doja Cat
Doja Cat’s career has seen major highs and lows, but that hasn’t stopped her from making a comeback. After skyrocketing to fame in 2020 with “Say So,” she faced serious backlash when old videos surfaced showing her in controversial chatrooms. Accusations of racism and offensive behavior led to the hashtag #DojaCatIsOverParty trending, a slowdown in her social media growth, and a drop in Spotify listeners from 41.5 million to 34 million.
Despite the backlash, her music continued to perform well, “Say So” remained near the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and radio play stayed strong. Doja kept mostly silent, avoided dramatic apologies, and continued releasing new music.
Years later, she sparked controversy again by rejecting her earlier pop image, calling her albums Hot Pink and Planet Her “cash grabs.” She even lashed out at some fans, losing half a million followers. Once again, many claimed she was “canceled.” However, none of this stopped her success. After a widely praised performance at last year’s Coachella, Doja Cat contributed to the highly anticipated F1 movie soundtrack, further cementing her comeback.
Chris Brown
Chris Brown remains one of music’s most controversial figures, yet despite being “cancelled” after his 2009 assault on Rihanna, he’s continued to thrive in his career. After the incident, he lost endorsements, was banned from radio stations, and faced intense industry backlash. Many assumed his career was finished. Still, he released Graffiti months later, landing in the Billboard Top 20. By 2012, he won a Grammy for F.A.M.E., marking a return to mainstream success.
Brown’s legal troubles didn’t stop there, the singer has faced countless charges including probation violations, assault allegations, and time in rehab. He was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD. These issues damaged his reputation, but not his commercial appeal. Though he’s been mostly shut out of major award show performances since 2009, Brown continues to release hits and collaborate with big-name artists.
While such incidents might end most careers, Brown’s fanbase remains loyal. His “bad boy” persona seems to fuel, rather than hinder, his popularity.
Travis Scott
Travis Scott enjoyed a steady rise to fame built on chart-topping hits, high-profile brand deals and a strong fanbase. However, that all came crashing down in November 2021. His Astroworld Festival in Houston ended in tragedy when a crowd surge claimed the lives of 10 people. The fallout was immediate: widespread public outrage, lawsuits, dropped brand partnerships, and calls for him to be “cancelled.”
Scott was heavily criticized for how he handled the situation, particularly for continuing to perform as the chaos unfolded and later attending an after-party. He claimed he was unaware of the severity of what was happening in the crowd and maintained that he didn’t know about the deaths until after the show.
The incident severely damaged his image. Sponsorships, like his major Dior collaboration, were paused. The launch of his long-awaited album Utopia was delayed, and public sentiment toward him turned sharply negative.
Despite the backlash, Scott didn’t disappear. Instead, he gradually returned to the spotlight. In June 2023, a Texas grand jury declined to indict him or others involved in the festival on criminal charges, a legal turning point that helped shift public perception. That same year, he resumed performances and began promoting Utopia, though that hit a snag when a planned concert at the Pyramids of Giza was canceled due to political and cultural controversy.
Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj is widely regarded as one of the most commercially successful female rappers of all time but wearing that crown hasn’t come without controversy. Over the years, the Anaconda hitmaker has found herself in hot water more than once, including high-profile feuds with fellow rappers like Iggy Azalea, Lil Kim, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Her public disputes haven’t been limited to the music world. Minaj has also clashed with celebrities outside the industry and drew criticism for agreeing to perform in Saudi Arabia, a country known for its human rights violations, particularly against women and the LGBTQ+ community. After learning more about these issues, Minaj canceled her appearance, signaling a willingness to listen and respond to public outcry.
More seriously, she has faced backlash related to her husband, who is a registered sex offender. Her decision to collaborate with Tekashi 6ix9ine, a rapper with a criminal record, further fueled criticism.
Despite these controversies, Minaj has consistently demonstrated her staying power, maintaining commercial success and cultural influence in the face of ongoing scrutiny.
Final Thoughts
While cancel culture may aim to hold people accountable, it rarely sticks in the hip-hop world, and likely never will. Why? Because hip-hop was born out of a need to give marginalized communities a voice. It has always been a raw, unfiltered genre, one where scandal, feuds, and controversy often add layers to the music rather than diminish it.
It also raises the question of whether we can, or should, separate the artist from the art. You can “cancel” Chris Brown, but that doesn’t stop people from streaming his music. As long as these artists continue to deliver hits, true cancellation remains nearly impossible. It would almost have to be the artist’s decision themselves to walk away as die-hard fans would never leave them.