'American Idol' Recap: Papa Peachez Sent Home During Boys' Night

Goodbye, Papa Peachez. We hardly knew ye.

Peachez, the deep-voiced soul singer from Jackson, Mississippi, and self-described "big black woman trapped in a little boy's body," was one of several significant cuts made on Thursday's "American Idol," which focused on Hollywood Week's male singers. After a performance of Lady Gaga's "You and I," Peachez was cut after Nicki Minaj told him he'd lost his way in the competition.

"I'm pretty sure that flame is now completely burnt out," Nicki told him, lambasting him for his choice of song. "I'm so disappointed... I can't believe you've allowed this competition to suck that amazing quality out of you." (After his initial audition, Minaj labeled him a "superstar.")

Peachez argued that he's still got it, but it wasn't enough to make it through. He didn't seem too busted up about his dismissal, however. "This just isn't the competition for me," Peachez said after being delivered his walking papers. "I just don't like singing other people's songs."

Along with Peachez, other early favorites who were cut on Thursday's episode included Micah Johnson, whose speaking voice was severely affected during an accident when he was having his tonsils removed, and Matheus Fernandes, whose stunted growth made him appear much younger than his 22 years. Johnson was sent home after his version of Randy Travis' "I Told You So" didn't quite cut it with the judges, but he took his dismissal in stride. "It's tough to get cut, but I've been through a lot worse," he told cameras. Fernandes, meanwhile, was cut after botching a performance of Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger," and making one too many cracks about his own height.

"Sometimes things can go from being inspiring to becoming you wanting a pity party," Minaj told him. "Once you're great, we don't even notice your height. You don't have to milk that ever again, ever."

It wasn't all bad news for the hopefuls. The awkward Charlie Askew, 17, of Little Rock, Ark., made a big leap forward in the competition with his version of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know," sang while he was wearing an ill-fitting suit and turquoise blue sneakers that completely didn't match his outfit. Askew made it through to the next round. "Charlie I am obsessed with you!" Minaj told him. "Today you became an artist in my eyes. You have this quirky thing that is so odd that is right." Askew, owning his offbeat manner, replied, "I glorify weirdness." That statement could become his calling card.

Other singers making it through to the next round include Lazaro Arbos, the ice cream scooper from Naples, Florida, whose stutter melts away when he sings, and Curtis Finch Jr., the choir director from St. Louis, Missouri, who stunned Mariah Carey with his take on Christina Perri's "Jar of Hearts." Devin Velez and Gurpreet Singh Sarin also made strong impressions with their versions of "What a Wonderful World" and "Georgia on My Mind," respectively, and were among those to survive the brutal Hollywood Week cuts.

Wednesday's "Idol" episode will focus on Hollywood Week's female singers, and this season's Top 40 is set to be unveiled on Thursday's "Idol" episode.

What did you think of this week's "Idol" cuts? Let us know in the comments!