20 Controversial Rap Lyrics About Sports Criminals

Image via Complex Original

Song: 2014's "Shady XV Cypher"

Lyric: "But I may fight for gay rights, especially if the dyke is more of a knockout than Janay Rice/Play nice? Bitch, I'll punch Lana Del Ray in the face twice like Ray Rice, in broad day light in the plain sight of elevator surveillance/'Til her head is banging on the railing, then celebrate with the Ravens"

How controversial was it? Controversial enough to get the entire Internet upset. It doesn't take very much to do that nowadays. But for what it's worth, Em's Ray Rice reference was way worse than Vic Mensa's Ray Rice reference.

Song: 2003's "Ground Zero"

Lyric: "Chill, while I'm chasing millions/I'm a baller that would merk you like Jayson Williams"

How controversial was it? It was controversial because, at the time, Williams hadn't been found guilty of killing his limousine driver. So while he eventually ended up pleading guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated assault, he'll always be considered a murderer in the eyes of those who spent months (and years!) bumping Diplomatic Immunity.

Song: 2012's "Mike Vick"

Lyric: "When you down, the people kick you/When you up, the bitches lick you/Chill, dogs, don't want to have to Michael Vick you"

How controversial was it? This line wasn't really that bad. But when you couple it with the line that appeared directly after it—"Stash the work inside the asshole of a pitbull/This getting money shit is simple"—it was enough to make PETA's collective fur stand on end.

Song: 2011's "O.J."

Lyric: "Wake up, drinking Rosé/Killing that white bitch, O.J."

How controversial was it? It was controversial because of how casually Jeezy threw this line into the hook of the song. One second he's rapping about blowing stacks at the mall and popping champagne. And the next? "KILLING THAT WHITE BITCH, O.J.!" Whoa.

Song: 2012's "P"

Lyric: "So after the showers with Sandusky/Me and Sean Kingston went and rented a couple jet skis"

How controversial was it? If anyone other than Tyler had said this same exact line, it would have been a thousand times more controversial. But even though it was him, this Sandusky reference still made us shake our heads.

Song: 1996's "Jesus"

Lyric: "Flows you get lost in/Louder than Michael Irvin when he's snorting"

How controversial was it? Believe it or not, this wasn't anywhere close to as controversial as the next Chino XL reference that appears on this list (yes, two Chino XL references on one list—in 2015!).

Song: 2008's "The Crackhouse"

Lyric: "Yellow mustard Phantom car, it's Grey Poupon/I can make it Pacman Jones in here too long"

How controversial was it? The fact that anyone would want to compare one of their strip club experiences to the one that Pacman Jones endured during NBA All-Star Weekend back in 2007 is just dumb. We get what Joey Crack was going for here. But…no.

Song: 2007's "Put Some Keys on That"

Lyric: "I got the hardest bars, just call me the warden/Yeah, excuse me, pardon/I break a bitch down like Tonya Harding"

How controversial was it? There have been so many Tonya Harding rap references over the years that it's hard to pick just one and label it the most controversial. So we'll go with this one from mixtape Weezy, which was both controversial and confusing since it came out of nowhere and didn't have much to do with everything else Wayne was rapping about on this song.

Song: 1992's "Fat Pockets"

Lyric: "But the sex I never take/'Cause if that bitch screams rape like Mike Tyson, I'm upstate"

How controversial was it? This doesn't sound all that controversial in 2015. But remember: Tyson had just been convicted of rape in 1992 and was headed to prison for at least a few years. His entire future was in doubt, and it was unclear whether or not he'd ever be able to fight again. So this lyric hit a lot of Tyson fans right where it hurt.

Song: 2005's "Nextel Chirp" (by Maceo)

Lyric: "Naw, dog, don't do it/Ask Jamal Lewis/One slip over the phone, time, you gon' do it"

How controversial was it? Lewis went from being a Pro Bowl running back to being a cautionary tale about not conducting drug deals on the phone in less than two years flat. He's lucky that this is pretty much the most outdated rap song ever or else he'd still be subjected to hearing about his fall from grace every single time this came on.

Song: 2014's "Detroit Vs. Everybody"

Lyric: "You crazy for me to flip/What's making you think I need a switch? 'Cause I'm Adrian Peterson/When he's raging and heated and on the way to go beat his kid/On the track get spanked like he just did"

How controversial was it? Every bit as controversial as the Ray Rice line that we listed earlier.

Song: 2010's "Almost Famous"

Lyric: "I stuck my dick in this game like a rapist/They call me Slim Roethlisberger"

How controversial was it? Same old Eminem! Looking back at this, it's kind of amazing that Big Ben didn't try to take any legal action against Slim Roeth, er, Slim Shady once police revealed that they weren't going to charge the Steelers quarterback with any crimes.

Song: 2011's "Lord Knows"

Lyric: "But money talks, you ain't got it, then you shouldn't be saying shit/Like Plaxi-ho, oops, I mean Plaxico/Talking 'bout we got 'em robbed, shut the fuck up, Cheddar Bob"

How controversial was it? Fab referencing the former NFL wide receiver's shooting was one thing. But referencing him and calling him out for snitching on Fab's Street Family crew in a New York Daily News article? CONTROVERSY!

Song: 2012's "Bad Man Bible"

Lyric: "Witness, I got a brain sickness that's twisted/As Lawrence Taylor in that crack hotel with underage bitches"

How controversial was it? We told you that we had a more controversial Chino XL line in store for you, didn't we? And we think we delivered. LT has been referenced on rap songs a lot in the past. But no one skewered him quite like Chino XL did on this track that referenced one of LT's most infamous arrests.

Song: 2013's "Praying 4 A Brick"

Lyric: "Free Sam Hurd, 'cause I'm tryna cop a brick/Free Big Meech, 'cause I'm tryna cop a brick"

How controversial was it? Extra controversial. It wasn't because the Based God name-dropped Hurd, though. Rather, it was because he name-dropped the former NFL wide receiver before name-dropping Big Meech, as if Hurd was somehow the standard for moving weight.

Song: 2011's "Here's Another Hit"

Lyric: "I mean, the world don't need another Marion Jones, you heard?/Crying, lying, that she never did it/Some women are Clemens, they just keep going with it"

How controversial was it? Controversial and clever. If you're going to work a perjury reference into your rhymes and have it make sense, this is how you should do it.

Song: 2011's "Who Gon Stop Me"

Lyric: "Last night ain't go so well, got kicked up out the hotel/Got a little freaky like Marvin Albert/'Yes!' Tell Howard Cosell"

How controversial was it? Much like you shouldn't compare any of your strip club experiences to Pacman Jones' infamous strip club experience, you also shouldn't compare anything that goes on in your sex life to what used to take place between Marv Albert and women. Seriously, have you read about the "freaky" stuff he did? It doesn't sound like something you'd want to brag about. At all.

Song: 2012's "Delonte West"

Lyric: "Motorcycles, guns on it, Delonte West/Crap shooters 'round the table, please place your bets"

How controversial was it? This might be the most matter of fact sports criminal reference on our entire list. Chevy doesn't add any commentary to the Delonte West line or anything. But the fact that he named the song after Delonte and repeated the line above over and over and over again probably didn't sit real well with the former NBA player.

Song: 2013's "Dis Ain't What You Want" (by Lil Durk)

Lyric: "In the hood, no shirt, no fear/Aaron Hernandez with a verse, no plea deals"

How controversial was it? If Ross had dropped this, say, last month, it wouldn't be controversial at all. But he recorded this almost immediately after Hernandez was placed under arrest. So the words "too soon" would definitely apply.

Song: 2013's "Just So You Know"

Lyric: "180 proof, gotta throw it back for Proof/Air Jordan Ones, North Carolina, I'm killing these bitches like Rae Carruth"

How controversial was it? It's sad that several rappers have immortalized Carruth by name-dropping him on songs. Even sadder? That Carruth is scheduled to be released from prison within the next three years. This is a prime example of a sports criminal who shouldn't be name-dropped by any rapper. Ever.