“Super Freaky Girl” will compete in pop categories at the 2023 Grammy Awards, and Nicki Minaj is not happy about it. The artist submitted the song to the rap category, but the Recording Academy said the sampling of “Super Freak” by Rick James meant it’s designated as pop. In a series of social media posts on Oct. 13, Minaj criticized the committee for “moving the goal post,” pointing out the fact that this decision doesn’t align with the way the award show has categorized songs in the past. The Recording Academy did not immediately respond to POPSUGAR’s request for comment.
The rapper first retweeted a fan account that said, “Let’s also talk about how ‘Can’t Touch This’ by MC Hammer (which also samples ‘Super Freak’ by Rick James) was nominated for RAP categories at the Grammys.” Minaj added, “Unbelievable.”
That same day, Minaj shared additional thoughts and scrutiny on Instagram. “If ‘Super Freaky Girl’ is a pop song . . . what genre is ‘Big Energy’?” Minaj says in her Instagram video captioned “Dear Grammys.” Minaj was referring to the Latto song that samples Tom Tom Club’s 1981 single, “Genius Of Love,” which Mariah Carey also sampled in her famous song “Fantasy.” Despite sampling from a similar genre as Minaj, Latto’s song remains in the rap category.
In the 17-minute-long video, Minaj cited songs like “Say So” by Doja Cat and “Hotline Bling” by Drake, which Minaj claims sway more pop than her song and still competed as rap. “I have no prob being moved out the RAP category as long as we r ALL being treated FAIRLY,” she tweeted. “If SFG has 2B moved out RAP then so does Big Energy!”
The Recording Academy has yet to comment on the decision. The 2023 Grammy nominations will be announced on Nov. 15, with the award show taking place on Feb. 5, 2023.