Steven Tyler was asked about the upcoming season of "American Idol" and slammed the new crop of judges—Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban.

The Aerosmith frontman, and former 'Idol' judge, said: "I know that they've got something going on on the judges' panel, and it shouldn't be that, it should be just the opposite. They should have something going on, which is called 'camaraderie.' They should have something going on so thick and beautiful that they can lay it over the new talent that's trying to birth itself. It needs to be birthed, not judged by 'entertainment' factors, it needs to be judged by people that are honest, true, that have the 'it' factor. Not the 'it' factor because they can fight. The f--- is that all about?"

Tyler used last year's "Idol" champ, Phillip Phillips, as an example of the type of artist that "camaraderie" is capable of creating. He hopes Minaj and Carey can put aside their differences.

He said: "You just have to give your opinion. It wasn't hard for me, but I would imagine it's hard for some people, and they need a manager to say 'Shut the f--- up, and just give them your opinion.' These kids, they just got out of a car from the Midwest somewhere and they're in New York City, they're scared to death; you're not going to get the best out of them. If it was Bob Dylan, Nicki Minaj would have had him sent to the cornfield! Whereas, if it was Bob Dylan with us, we would have brought the best of him out, as we did with Phillip Phillips. Just saying."

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Nicki Fires Back:

Nicki Minaj says it's "racist" of Steven Tyler to predict that she'd probably send Bob Dylan back to "the cornfield" if he appeared as a contestant on the Fox show.

Minaj tweeted:  "You assume that I wouldn't have liked Bob Dylan??? why? black? rapper? what? go f--k yourself and worry about yourself babe.

'I understand you really wanted to keep your job but take that up with the producers. I haven't done anything to you. That's a racist comment.'

"When Steven 1st went on Idol he was ridiculed by his peers & fans alike. Called a sell out. So what does he do? Ridicule the next judge".

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