Brownface, Racial Slurs and Incest: Yesteryear's Pop Music Would Be Super Offensive Today

Beastie Boys, "Girls"

This little number is so offensive, the Beastie Boys actually had to publicly apologize for it. Way before Buddhism and feminism changed their lives, the Beasties were pretty much the go-to rap group for frat boys everywhere. While "Fight for Your Right" was harmless, "Girls" collectively pissed off the whole third-wave feminist movement. Ironic, considering one-third of the boys, Ad-Rock, is married to riot-grrrl queen and Bikini Kill frontwoman Kathleen Hanna.

Guns N' Roses, "One in a Million"

We all know that Axl Rose is an asshole. Don't believe me? Listen to "One in a Million," solely written by Rose. Referring to himself as a "small town white boy," Rose sings over a folksy acoustic guitar "With Police and Niggers, that's right, Get out of my way" and "Immigrants and faggots, They make no sense to me." Perhaps bad boy Axl was trying to be edgy with his "brutal honesty," but instead sounds like a racist and homophobic douchebag. But is anyone surprised?

John Lennon, "Woman is the Nigger of the World"

Even though the song itself is a feminist protest anthem with good intentions, the N-word in the title will always scream "Das Racist." Lennon seems like the kind of guy who says the taboo word and thinks it's groovy because his black friends say its "cool." The avant-garde Beatle really dropped the bomb on this one.

George Michael, "Father Figure"

Way before it was deemed "sexy" to call a sexual partner "daddy," George Michael wrote a chilling song about a daddy-daughter relationship. After declaring that he's banging his girl, he seductively sings:

To be bold and naked
At your side
(baby)
I will be your father figure
(oh baby)
Put your tiny hand in mine
(I'd love to)
I will be your preacher teacher
(be your daddy)

Yikes.

Prince, "Sister"

Of all rockers to sing about incest, the Purple One seemingly doesn't rank high on a potential government watch list. But goddamn, "Sister" might be more screwed than all of the songs on this list combined. Not wanting to speak ill of the recently deceased, hopefully Prince was just wanting to blow our minds, especially when he declared "Incest is everything it’s said to be." He also attributes his sex symbol status to said "sister" when he sings "She’s the reason for my, uh, sexuality." The full lyrics can be found here.