The Best F*cking Article You’ll Read Today: Profanity in Rap Lyrics Since 1985
Here we see the Geto Boys and Scarface in the top two spots. For those unfamiliar with the group, the Ge
Flashback to the Bronx in 1973. DJ Kool Herc and MC Coke La Rock are busy laying the groundwork for what will become one of the most popular music genres in the world: Hip-Hop. La Rock, the original MC, initially performed his raps out of view of the audience. This peculiar tactic left audiences scratching their heads, curious about the identity of their favorite local performer.
It is quite remarkable how much hip-hop has changed since those early days more than 40 years ago. Today, the best MCs are more than just popular – they are pop culture superstars. For them, there is no hiding from the audience. Everything they do or say is visible to the public. This intense exposure is magnified when it comes to the distribution of their music. Eminem, the best-selling hip-hop artist of all time, has sold more than 100-million albums worldwide. That puts him in the sales realm of classic artists like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Rod Stewart, Prince and many more. The massive influence wielded by rap mega-stars is undeniable.
As we all know, a common ingredient in many rap lyrics is shameless profanity. No word is off limits. With f-bombs and assorted slurs streaming through popular music, it’s no shock that some people are up in arms against rap. As mentioned before, these artists reach a huge audience. Is it appropriate for them to be spitting profanity-laced lyrics to the world? This study won’t be answering any questions of morality, but it should give others some fuel to form their own opinions.