Nearly 3 years ago Nicki Minaj joined a chorus of hitmakers who called out The Recording Academy for snubbing The Weeknd‘s 2020 album, ‘After Hours,’ when it was reported the blockbuster project didn’t get any nominations for the GRAMMYs’ 2021 ceremony.

Minaj is no stranger to being overlooked by the voting committee as she – despite being attached to some of the biggest Hip-Hop hits over the last 12 years – has only been nominated 10 times and boasts no wins (as of the time of this report).

The remedy to that seemed poised to finally come thanks to the commercial and critical response to ‘Super Freaky Girl’ – her first solo Hot 100 chart-topper and one of the biggest songs of 2022. Yet, once again, the diva has found herself at odds with the Academy’s voting committee after it was announced Thursday (October 13) the Rap song would not be considered in any Rap categories.

And while the Rap Queen’s discussion on the matter may have turned into a controversial royal rumble (as we reported here), her initial grievance should not be disregarded:  ‘Super Freaky Girl’ does NOT belong in GRAMMY Pop categories.

Look inside for That Grape Juice‘s top 6 reasons why.

‘Super Freaky Girl’ is Classified as a Rap Song Everywhere Else!

• • From Billboard to Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, iTunes, and more, every sales, streaming, or commercial performance ranking where ‘Super Freaky Girl’ has been listed categorizes the song as a “Rap” tune.

MC Hammer‘s 1990 Megahit, ‘U Can’t Touch This,’ Captured a Rap GRAMMY in 1991

• • Rick James‘ ‘Super Freak’ acts as the sample for Hammer’s signature tune just like it does ‘Super Freaky Girl,’ yet the 1990 chart-topper was nominated in Rap categories at the next year’s GRAMMYs and even took home the Best Rap Solo Performance trophy.

MC Hammer’s ‘U Can’t Touch This’ Was A Cross-Genre GRAMMY Winner

• It’s not uncommon for songs that fit multiple genre bills to be nominated in different categories.  Ask Hammer; the same year he snatched the Best Rap Solo Performance honor for ‘Touch’ he also collected the Best R&B Song trophy for the tune.  If Minaj’s song does lean toward Pop, it seems reasonable it would just be nominated in different/multiple genre categories.

Pop Categories Put Nicki At a Clear Disadvantage

• Some of the biggest Pop songs of the year – including Harry Styles ‘As It Was,’ Adele’s ‘Easy On Me,’ Taylor Swift‘s ‘All Too Well,’ and Lizzo‘s ‘About Damn Time’ – will likely be vying for the GRAMMYs’ Pop categories.  No Rap song – even the biggest of the year (i.e. from acts like Drake, Jack Harlow, Future, or Kendrick Lamar) – can fairly compete in a category where there’s a clear sonic line of distinction.  In the same way a Taylor or Harry song would likely never land in a Rap category, even when it contains lyrics that were mostly spoken versus sung, no Rap song with little singing should be categorized as Pop.

Some of the Most Pop-leaning Rap Songs by Men Were Still Nominated in Rap Categories

• Macklemore‘s ‘Thrift Shop‘ and Drake‘s ‘Hotline Bling,’ as well as hits from Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, Eminem, and others have all collected Best Rap Performance or Best Rap Song honors despite having a distinctive Pop undertone.

Nicki Minaj Has Been Nominated in Rap Categories for Work That’s Had a Heavier Pop Sound Than ‘Super’

• Across Minaj’s 10 career nominations, multiple are listed in Rap categories despite having a heavy Pop lean. In 2015, she earned a Best Rap Song nod for ‘Anaconda’ – a tune many consider the sonic “older sister” to her current hit, ‘Super Freaky Girl.’  Like ‘Girl,’ ‘Anaconda’ borrows elements from a GRAMMY-winning Rap tune from the 90’s – Sir Mix-a-Lot‘s iconic ‘Baby Got Back’ (which won Best Rap Solo Performance in 1993).
• Elsewhere, Nicki snagged a Best Rap Album nod for her third studio album, ‘The PinkPrint,’ in 2016.  The project contains some of her most Pop-leaning numbers yet including ‘Pills N Potions,’ ‘Bed of Lies,’ ‘The Night Is Still Young,’ and more.

Because voting for the first round of 2023 GRAMMY nominees doesn’t end until October 23, there’s still a chance Nick could be moved back to Rap categories.

We won’t know for sure until nominees for music’s biggest night are announced on November 15!  The live telecast will air on February 5, 2023.

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