The Rap Icon Questions the Academy’s Choices in a Resurfaced Interview, Calling Out “Unfair” Snubs for Nicki and Himself – “Which Female Rapper Is Better Than Her? No One”

Eminem has reignited a long-simmering feud with the Grammy Awards, slamming the Recording Academy in a resurfaced 2010 interview clip that’s exploding across social media, where he calls losing to “people you know have no fans or not famous” “funny” and passionately defends Nicki Minaj’s Grammy drought. The Detroit rap legend, who has won 15 Grammys himself, didn’t hold back: “If I lose an award to Kanye or Nicki, I can understand. But losing to people you know have no fans or not famous is funny. So who voted for them? Look at Nicki Minaj, she got no Grammys, which female rapper is better than her? No one.” The remarks, from a forgotten DJ Khaled interview, have gone viral with 12 million views in 48 hours, sparking debates on rap’s Grammy biases and rallying fans behind Nicki as the “snubbed queen.”

The clip, unearthed by a TikTok user and amplified by Nicki’s Barbz, captures Eminem at his candid best during a 2010 chat promoting Recovery. At the time, Eminem was riding high after his comeback album’s success, but he didn’t mince words about the Grammys’ “politics.” “Kanye’s a genius, Nicki’s a beast – I get it if they win,” he said. “But when it’s someone with no buzz, no streams, no impact? That’s suspect.” His shoutout to Nicki, then an emerging force with Pink Friday (2010), highlighted her talent amid her own Grammy frustrations – she’s nominated 12 times without a win, tying for the most by a female rapper.

Nicki, 42, has long voiced her Grammy grievances, tweeting in 2022: “The industry is rigged against women who don’t play nice.” Her 2023 Pink Friday 2 earned a nod for Best Rap Album but lost to Travis Scott’s Utopia, prompting her to boycott the ceremony. Eminem’s defense feels timely, especially as he prepares for a 2026 Rock Hall induction and Nicki eyes a 2025 comeback tour. “Slim Shady gets it – the Academy fears queens like me,” Nicki posted Monday, reposting the clip with 1.8 million likes.

The broader context underscores rap’s Grammy struggles. Eminem, with 15 wins from 44 nods, has been vocal about the Academy’s “pop bias,” losing Album of the Year for The Marshall Mathers LP (2001) to Steely Dan. Kanye West, 24-time nominee with 21 wins, boycotted in 2015 over Beck’s upset. Nicki’s snubs – no wins from nods for The Pinkprint and Queen – have fueled calls for reform, with #GrammySoWhite evolving to #GrammysSoMale.

Fans are divided but energized. #EminemForNicki trended with 2.1 million posts, supporters hailing “real recognize real,” while critics accused Eminem of “performative allyship.” The clip has boosted streams for Nicki’s Roman Reloaded by 150%, proving the discourse drives discovery.

As Eminem’s legacy cements and Nicki’s influence endures, this flashback isn’t just nostalgia – it’s a reminder: talent doesn’t always trump taste. Which female rapper is better than Nicki? No one, says Slim Shady. The Grammys may disagree, but the streets know better.