Image via Complex Original
When Vic Mensa released his new song, "U Mad," featuring Kanye West, earlier this month, it caught a lot of attention. And it wasn't simply because of how good the song was. Vic also raised quite a few eyebrows—and made more than a few people cringe—when he dropped a Ray Rice reference into the middle of his second verse on the track.
"Hater, please let me live my life, swear to God, I been tryna do right," he rapped. "But if she bad, I might hit a bitch in the elevator like Ray Rice."
Too soon? Uh, yes. TOO SOON. But Vic is definitely not the first rapper to namedrop an athlete who's gotten himself (or in at least one case, herself) into trouble. From Ray Rice to Rae Carruth, we've heard it all. Here are 20 Controversial Rap Lyrics About Sports Criminals.
Eminem on Ray Rice and His 2014 Domestic Violence Incident
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.
Cam'ron on Jayson Williams and His 2002 Manslaughter Charge
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.
Action Bronson on Michael Vick and His 2007 Dogfighting Charges
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.
Young Jeezy on O.J. Simpson and His 1994 Murder Charge
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.
Tyler, The Creator on Jerry Sandusky and His Child Sexual Abuse Scandal
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.
Chino XL on Michael Irvin and His 1996 Felony Cocaine Possession Charge
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!).
Fat Joe on Adam "Pacman" Jones and His 2007 Strip Club Shooting
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.
Lil Wayne on Tonya Harding and the 1994 Attack of Nancy Kerrigan
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 mixtapeWeezy, 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.
A.G. on Mike Tyson and His 1991 Rape Charge
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.
Fats on Jamal Lewis and His 2004 Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine Charge
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.
Eminem on Adrian Peterson and His 2014 Child Abuse Allegations
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.
Eminem on Ben Roethlisberger and His 2009 and 2010 Sexual Assault Allegations
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.
Fabolous on Plaxico Burress and His 2008 Accidental Shooting and Gun Charge
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!
Chino XL on Lawrence Taylor and His 2010 Rape Case
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.
Lil B on Sam Hurd and His 2011 Drug Charges
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.
Fabolous on Marion Jones and Her 2007 Perjury Charge
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.
Kanye West on Marv Albert and His 1997 Sodomy Charge
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.
Chevy Woods on Delonte West and His 2009 Arrest for Driving a Motorcycle While Armed With Three Guns
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.
Rick Ross on Aaron Hernandez and His 2013 Murder Charge
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.
Game on Rae Carruth and His 1999 Conspiracy to Commit Murder Conviction
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 Carruthis 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.