Nicki Minaj has branded Steven Tyler ''racist''.

The 'American Idol' judge has hit out at the Aerosmith rocker - who she replaced on the panel of the talent show - after he questioned her suitability as a panelist and claimed she would've passed on legendary musician Bob Dylan if he auditioned for the programme, prompting furious Nicki to blast his comment.

She tweeted: ''Steven Tyler said I would have sent Bob Dylan to a cornfield??? Steven, you haven't seen me judge one single solitary contestant yet.

''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.

''You assume that I wouldn't have liked Bob Dylan??? why? black? rapper? what? go f**k yourself and worry about yourself babe. LOL lets make him a shirt that says 'No Coloreds Allowed' (sic)''

Nicki - who was appointed to the panel with Mariah Carey and Keith Urban following the departure of Steven and Jennifer Lopez - thinks the 'Crazy' hitmaker should have been more understanding because of the backlash he received when he joined the show.

She wrote: ''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. (sic)''

Steven had claimed that he, Jennifer and remaining judge Randy Jackson - the only original panelist - had got the ''best out of'' auditionees, but he was unsure the new panel will be able to do the same.

He said: ''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.''