ST. LOUIS – Rapper and St. Louis native Nelly continues to receive backlash for his performance at President Donald Trump’s inauguration. This time, the criticism came from award-winning singer and actress Janelle Monáe.
According to TMZ, Monáe performed a medley of songs with a band alongside rapper Anderson .Paak at a Grammy afterparty following her electrifying Quincy Jones tribute at the music award show Sunday night. Among the medley of songs, Monáe began rapping solo over a band playing a rendition of Nelly’s hit single, ‘Hot in Herre,’ and she was not fond of the St. Louis artist.
Instead of rapping the original lyrics from the hit song, Monáe, who has long opposed President Donald Trump and his policies, interpolated the song to diss the ‘Country Grammar’ artist for his performance at Trump’s Liberty Ball.
“I used to like Nelly … but then he performed for Donald Trump. F*** that *****. I don’t give a f***,” Monáe freestyled over the ‘Hot in Herre’ beat. “Nelly, you sold out. I used to think he was cool, but now you look like a motherf****** fool … F*** you, *****. Get a new attitude.”
Nelly received widespread backlash for accepting an invitation to perform at the Liberty Inaugural Ball on Jan. 20. During the performance, Nelly was introduced by a narrator highlighting his background, saying, “Only in America can you go from the streets of St. Louis to the White House.”
In response to the backlash he received from the performance last month, Nelly insisted that his performance wasn’t about politics or influencing opinions. Instead, he viewed the invitation as an honor and a way to celebrate what he calls “the greatest country on the planet.”