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Janelle Monae didn't hold back her critique of Nelly performing during President Donald Trump's inauguration weekend at an afterparty for the 2025 Grammys.
On Sunday (February 2), Monae blasted Nelly as his hit "Hot in Herre" played at a Grammys afterparty hosted at Andy's, a bar in West Hollywood, California co-owned by fellow artist Anderson .Paak.
The pair were on the mic singing a medley of songs when Monae remixed Nelly's "Hot in Here" with lyrics roasting the artist for performing at Trump's Inaugural Liberty Ball.
"I used to like Nelly ... but then he performed for Donald Trump. "F**k that [n word.] I don't give a f**k ... Nelly, you sold out. I used to think he was cool ... F**k you [n word.] Get a new attitude," Monae, who performed during late producer Quincy Jones' Grammys tribute, rapped to the tune of Nelly's hit.
Warning: Explicit
Nelly was among several rappers, including Snoop Dogg, Soulja Boy, and Rick Ross, who faced backlash for their involvement in Trump's inauguration festivities.
In response to the criticism, Nelly defended his decision to perform for Trump in an interview with "Willie D Live."
"We tend to sometimes make a quick, I would say, response to something that on the surface may seem it's effed up because we don't agree on something else," Nelly said. "I'm not political. I'm not out here trying to tell anyone who they should vote for. This is not a campaign trail."
"I respect the office. This isn't politics. The politics, for me it's over. He won. He's the president. He's the commander-in-chief of what I would like to say is the best country in the world," he added.
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