By Nathan Muir
WE all love the culturally vibrant art form that is rap, but it can be problematic for Guardian readers like myself. Here are some lyrics I feel the artists should consider revising.
Cop Killer, Ice-T and Bodycount
I understand BAME people’s frustration at perceived police harassment, but violence is never the solution. A more constructive lyric than ‘Die, die, die, pig, die!’ would be ‘Let’s set up a community liaison group to increase mutual understanding’.
Black Korea, Ice Cube
I’m sorry, Mr Cube, but there is no excuse for stereotypes like: ‘So don’t follow me up and down your market/Or your little chop suey ass will be a target’. My partner Lucy and I adore Korean cuisine, and I can assure you there’s far more to it than ‘chop suey’!
Heart of the City, Jay-Z
Luckily it’s rare for a rapper to be homophobic, but it does happen. I’d have expected better of a role model like Jay-Z than ‘Faggots hate when you gettin’ money like athletes’. Rappers should try being less obsessed with money and do more songs about the benefits of yoga.
Stan, Eminem
Relationships need to be worked at, rather than kidnapping your girlfriend and driving off a bridge. ‘Shut up bitch! I’m tryin’ to talk… that’s my girlfriend screamin’ in the trunk’ should be replaced with ‘There’s no longer a stigma attached to professional counselling’ and contact details for Relate.
The Iceberg, Ice-T
I feel a lack of respect for your partner is strongly implied by the lyric ‘Bitch’s ugly face cold spoiled his erection’. I’m starting to wonder if the rap community as a whole needs to rethink its attitude to women. Attending weekly feminist workshops would be a good start.
Campaign Speech, Eminem
One can only assume the lyric ‘Got knives to slash and slice hermaphrodites in half’ strangely and inaccurately refers to transsexuals. Mr Mathers is lucky not to have started a vicious Twitter storm like JK Rowling, or he’d really be regretting his hateful, archaic words.
