20 Problematic Songs From Past 25 Years

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5 days ago

"Cool, Daddy Cool" by Kid Rock and Joe C. (2001): The fact that this song appeared on the Osmosis Jones soundtrack, a movie for KIDS, is appalling. Kid Rock clearly sings he likes being with underage girls, and doesn't care if it's considered "statutory rape." To say he's a creep is the understatement of the century.
"Bad Guy" by Eminem (2013): Eminem is known for releasing extremely violent, misogynistic, and anti-gay songs for decades. People have argued he's just using his imagination as a songwriter, but in "Bad Guy," he takes it too far and describes in horrific detail how he'd violate someone with a "chloroform rag," among other horrible things.
And "Kim" by Eminem (2000): Again, Eminem has a long history of problematic lyrics about women, including his ex-wife, Kim Scott. In "Kim," he fantasizes about kidnapping, abusing, and murdering her. I don't know how this song ever got okayed in the first place.
"Try That In A Small Town" by Jason Aldean (2023): It's not just the tough-guy lyrics that are problematic — it's how it leans into a kind of small-town pride that feels more like a threat than a celebration. Even worse? The video was filmed at the Maury County Courthouse, the very spot where, in 1927, black teen Henry Choate was accused (without evidence) of assaulting a white girl and lynched and hanged by a white mob.
"Blame It (On the Alcohol)" by Jamie Foxx and T-Pain (2009): The song glamorizes alcohol-fueled hookups in a way that blurs the line around consent, and encourages people to blame reckless behavior on being drunk. The melody is catchy, but if you listen to the words, you'll probably never want to listen to the song again. So I'm here to say.......please never listen to this song again.
Rick Ross's verse on "U.O.E.N.O." by Rocko (2013): In his verse, Rick Ross describes giving a roofie to a woman, bragging about how he "enjoyed that" (insinuating sex) while she's unconscious. Ross issued an apology after facing backlash for the lyric, but it was initially still okayed by a music label, and for that, it's pretty unforgivable.
"Facts" by Tom MacDonald and Ben Shapiro (2024): This 'MAGA rap' track by MacDonald and ring-wing commentator Shapiro attacks progressive culture, They have a "problem" with the LGBTQIA+ community using different pronouns, people being pro-abortion rights instead of anti-abortion, and anything else that a pro-Trump supporter might otherwise "disagree with."
"Shut Up and Swallow" by Combichrist (2007): This song seems to revel in a woman's pain while she performs oral sex on a man. He's mad at her for some unknown reason, so he hopes she's "gagging" and "choking" on him (which....is pretty damn gruesome).
"Runaway Baby" by Bruno Mars (2010): This singer has been a hit machine ever since he came on the scene. But "Runaway Baby" and its implications feel too problematic to ignore. In this song, he wants to be with a girl, by any means necessary, no matter if she's interested or not. And that is NOT okay.
"Vultures" by Ye, Ty Dolla Sign, Bump J, and Lil Durk (2023): It's sufficient to say that anything Ye has released in the past seven years is problematic. His verse on "Vultures" speak for themselves — they're deeply anti-semitic, and he doesn't take accountability for being so.
"D.R.U.G.S." by Iggy Azalea and YG (2011): Azalea — a white woman — rapping "I'm a runaway slave master, shittin' on the past" is supremely insensitive and racist. It's no wonder this song doesn't hold up today, and frankly, never will.
"Ur So Gay" by Katy Perry (2007): There's a crass undertone (or overtone?) in this Katy Perry song because she implies you're "gay" if you're "annoying." It's a limited perspective and disrespects anyone who's in the LGBTQIA+ community.
"Grrrls" by Lizzo (2022): Lizzo has since changed the lyrics after facing backlash for using "spaz" in her song. But, it still doesn't ignore the fact that she used it in the first place.
"Tron Cat" by Tyler, the Creator (2011): I would argue that a lotttttt of Tyler, the Creator's music is problematic, especially this song. Like Eminem, he describes a beyond baffling situation where he physically abuses a woman, and he'll "get it done" no matter what.
"Villuminati" by J. Cole (2013): In this song, J. Cole throws anti-gay slurs around like it's his full-time job. There are at least three instances of a derogatory word used, which obviously didn't need to be included...there's a whole dictionary out there, my dude. Use it.
"Roman Reloaded" by Nicki Minaj (2012): Minaj casually name-checks the Columbine High School shooting — a national tragedy where children were murdered — to imply she'd kill some "hoes." That should be enough to never want to listen to it ever again.
"Let's Get Ret*rded" by the Black Eyed Peas (2004): The problematic nature is in the title itself, disrespecting a community that was notoriously made fun of in the 2000s. The Black Eyed Peas released a clean version, titled "Let's Get It Started," but still — the original version exists, and it definitely doesn't hold up in 2025.
"Daughters" by John Mayer (2003): This narrow view of a woman's worth in the world makes "Daughters" just an insufferable song. John Mayer believes that women can only be "mothers" and "lovers," AKA just play a role in relation to a man/someone else.
"If I Want To" by Usher (2001): Like "Runaway Baby" by Bruno Mars, this Usher song is a clear sign that a man doesn't care how a woman feels. If he's attracted to her, he will do anything to "make her his," brushing off any "misunderstandings." "If I Want To" is problematic at best.
And finally, "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I. (2013): If you're tired of the discourse around this problematic song, then I'm sorry, but.......I'm not sorry. Why? Because Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I. imply that a woman "wants a man" just because she's "paying attention to him." If she's talking to him or dancing with him, he assumes he can "have his way with her." They distract from the disturbing message of this song with a catchy beat, fooling listeners everywhere. A horrible use of lyric and melody, if you ask me.
Let's flip the script a little here, folks: What's a problematic song from the '80s and '90s you can't believe was ever recorded? Share with us in the comments below.