Blaring from a speaker behind a metal grate in his tiny cell in Iraq, the blistering rock from Nine Inch Nails hit Prisoner No. 200343 like a sonic bludgeon.I don't approve of using incredibly bad music to softly bludgeon war prisoners, but I think the artists protesting are more upset about their "art" being mocked than the rights of those being abused. However, if they really wanna drive home the point, here's some new songs to add to the playlist. You'll have these folks snitchin' and begging for waterboarding in no time flat.
"Stains like the blood on your teeth," Trent Reznor snarled over distorted guitars. "Bite. Chew."
The auditory assault went on for days, then weeks, then months at the U.S. military detention center in Iraq. Twenty hours a day. AC/DC. Queen. Pantera. The prisoner, military contractor Donald Vance of Chicago, told The Associated Press he was soon suicidal.
The tactic has been common in the U.S. war on terror, with forces systematically using loud music on hundreds of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, then the U.S. military commander in Iraq, authorized it on Sept. 14, 2003, "to create fear, disorient ... and prolong capture shock."
Now the detainees aren't the only ones complaining. Musicians are banding together to demand the U.S. military stop using their songs as weapons.
A campaign being launched Wednesday has brought together groups including Massive Attack and musicians such as Tom Morello, who played with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave and is now on a solo tour. It will feature minutes of silence during concerts and festivals, said Chloe Davies of the British law group Reprieve, which represents dozens of Guantanamo Bay detainees and is organizing the campaign.
Master P - "I Really Miss My Homies"
Boy, where do I begin. I could have chosen literally any song from Percy Miller's dicsography, but this is perhaps P's worst song of them all. Yes, it's a heartfelt ode to his deceased brother, but P's Fisher Price "My First Rap Song" flow and the repeated "Unnggghh's" when he has nothing better to say undermine the point. The lousy, tone-deaf interpolation of "Brandy", a song about a dead dog just seals the deal.
Unngghhh indeed.
Somethin' For The People - "My Love Is The Shhhhh"
I can't figure out what I hate most about this song, but was officially the track that made me give up "urban" radio and start listening to the AM dial exclusively. Perhaps it's the "bomb baby" and "downtown" slang that was already long since played out in 1997 or whenever this song dropped. Maybe it was because I liked Trina and Tamara (they were posed' to be the next Zhane) and thought they were above this sorta garbage. And don't get me started on the "step show/ground humpin'" background dancers. Next!
Tag Team - "Whoomp! (There It Is Remix)"
This song actually wasn't all that bad, but the fact that it's still played a decade later at nearly every sporting event I go to makes it triple-lame. And besides, I liked the 95 South bass-music version more anyway. Yeah, it was technically "Whoot!", rather than "Whoomp!", but there was no comparison. Anyone know the back story on this?
Snap - "The Power"
Much like "Whoomp! There It Is", I don't particularly dislike this song for any reason other than it's inexplicable use at sporting events and corporate kickoff meetings decades after it dropped. And oddly, much like "Whoot! There It Is", there was oddly another version of the same song (Chill Rob G's vasty superior "The Power" ) out at the same time. Anyone got the story on this?
Pressha - "Splackavellie"
I can't say I recall this song ever being played on the radio, but the video was in constant rotation when Player's Club (it was on the soundtrack) was in theaters. This is just plain corny, from the baby blue clad background dancers, to the lead singer who looks like some HBCU fullback. And what the f*ck is a "Splackavelli"? I suppose they get some bonus points for putting Mari Morrow in the video, but that only gets you so far with such "LAME" lyrics as "What's my name? Say my name?" Lame.
Nas Ft. QB's Finest - "Oochie Wally"
What can I say about this Nas' abomination that hasn't already been said about Afghanistan?[1] How did Nas go from Illmatic to this ode to drug-induced gangbangs? And yeah, Jay-Z was right in "The Takeover". The bodyguard/weedcarrier's verse is better than Nas'.
Smarten Up Nas.
Us3 - "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)"
Arggh, just arrggh. The only thing worse that "smooth jazz" is "jazz fusion" crap like this early 90's song. The corny Euro-rapper, the "diddy diddy bop" hook, the ATCQ-ripoff rhyme scheme. I can't go a day without hearing this in the background of some random elevator or doctor's office and it's painful on the ears each time.
Dishonorable Mention: Fantasia - "Baby Mama", TI - "Whatever You Like", T-Pain - "Sprung", Bone Thugs -N- Harmony - "The First Of The Month", Jay-Z - "Beach Chair", anything by Ray-J.
Question: You got any more nominees for "Worst Black Song Evar"?
Blaring Music Used To Abuse War Prisoners [CBS]
[1] Man I miss Chappelle's Show. Chocolate News, go sit down.



38 AverageComments™:
Can't agree with the canteloupe. The song itself is ok. Of course I see you're point because you could leave the rap out but the is WAAAAY more crap than that. Can you say C+C Music factory. How about Kid Frost? How about that timeless classic "That's just my baby's daddy?"
"Knocking Boot's for Christmas" - HTown.
"Freak Like Me" - Adina Howard
"Da Ha, Da Ha" - Rappin' Duke
"Wanna be a Baller, Shot Caller, 20 inch Blades on the Impala" - Unknown
"I'm in love with stripper" - Unknown
"Pumps in a Bump" - MC Hammer
"Girl you know it true" - Milli Vanilli
"You Remind of me of my JEEP" - R. Kelly
There's a million bad songs.
1. ANYTHING by Keith Sweat. That nasal, whiny mewling of his makes me wish I'd been born deaf.
2. ANY AND ALL reggaeton. In fact, find whoever invented that shyte and put them in Gitmo!
3. Any rap or hip-hop in which people brag about or glorify (a) cars, (b) jewelry, (c) mansions, (d) clothing, (e) lavish partying, (f) misogyny or (g) violence, whether or not the song has a good beat or catchy hook.
4. All Celine Dion. Pretentious garbage.
5. Anything by anyone who can't actually write music, lyrics, or play an instrument. There are places for people like that. They're called showers. Or choruses.
There's plenty more, but that'll do for now.
Yeah, I liked the us3 disk! They were sampling old Blue Note tunes on there, too.
OMG, cjames. I have to agree with your list (although I have a soft spot for Milli Vanilli). Da Ha, Da Ha? Is that what you come up with while smoking weed in the recording booth?
I have to add that relatively new song 'Lady Cop' (or 'Officer' or something) song by Lil' Wayne. That whole "wee oh wee oh wee..." gives me a headache. And lets just say the plot also stinks (pulled over by a lady cop and they end up in the back seat?) ::sigh::
Hawa, author of
Fackin Truth Blog (Personal Blog)
and
Cleanse Master Remix (Health Blog)
Nice list, CJames. We disagree on US3 though. That song is a$$.
Man, you can't disrespect The Rappin' Duke!!! "Tha' HAR" is a classic.
"Stripper" was T-Pain. It was a dishonorable mention.
"Shot Caller" is Pastor Troy or Troy somebody. I actually liked that song.
How could I forget Robert Kelly? He's got a whole catalog of crap.
@ boboso
C'mon man, Keith had some hits. Cut him some slack. Ain't you from NY too?
I hate reggaeton too. Arrgh.
@ Hawa
That Lil' Wayne and Bobby Valentino song is called "Ms. Officer". I actually sorta like it.
@AB:
Sorry, my Sweat criticism stands. If I were a dog his music would make me howl.
Let's add anything by Michael Bolton or Britney Spears to my list, too. Can't imagine how I forgot them on my first go-round.
I'm not from NY, my friend, and I'm not sure why you'd think so. I'm actually a virtual life-long resident of the birthplace of basketball, Smith & Wesson, and Dr. Seuss: Springfield, MA, though I now reside a few miles further south in CT.
@AB and Hawa
I like that song too LOL
@boboso
Keith Sweats early hits I can deal with. It's the newer ones I don't particularly care for.
@cjames
I kinda liked Milli Vanilli...but then again I was like 10.
@AB again,
lemme see...garbage songs....damn I'm drawing a blank. I'll have to come back when I think of some additions.
Man, where do I begin? First, great post AB, both thought and cringe-provoking at the same time ;)You know when it comes to crap music, I'm the first and last to speak.
@CJames,
You took a few of those right outta my mind--Adina Howard shoulda been slapped silly(er) offa that one. Pumps n the Bump was the quintessential nail in the coffin of Hammer's already dying career. and my boy Kels stooped to the lowliest of lows for that crapola (even for him).
A few that come to mind are:
"Uh Oh" by Lumidee (I was actually praying for a vocoder on that one!)
"Laffy Taffy" by those southern idiots I won't even exert the memory power to recall.
Since we're in the season,
"Have a Very Merry Xmas" by TLC straight stank of rotten egg nog (sorry LeftEye, still miss u)
and most of Ashanti's stuff. She would NOT have the success she's had if she didn't look (or screw) like she does. Color me haterific.
More to come............
@AB
WHAT?!? LOL! "....Making money the fly way, but it's got to be a better way, better way, Yeah-ah!"
Tell me your kidding.
Here's some more.
"I got 5 on it"
What about anything by Oaktown 3:5:7
"What you want for Christmas" Quad City DJ's. You wouldn't believe me if I didn't put the you tube link in here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4suaQ6OIpI
"Hey Lizard, lizard" - Uncle Luke
"Must be the Money" - Deion Sanders
"Shoot, pass, slam" - Shaq
"Players Club" - Rappin 4 Tay
"Steppin to the AM" - 3rd Bass. Be sure to peep the hip hop Dances below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5trgthmADs
"baby baby" - kilo Ali http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV8XNLciTH0
"Back to the Hotel" - N2DEEP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl9m-NC0VGE
AND My alltime favorite
"B*tch betta have my money" - AMG
@ boboso
Sorry, I got you and Marbles mixed up. My bad.
Yeah, Michael Bolton too. John Tesh also.
@ Kesnut
Laffy Taffy was D4L, Shawty Lo's group.
"Uh Oh" should have been included.
The "Dipset Ballin' Christmas" song by Jim Jones is actually worse than TLC's.
Quit' hatin' on Ashanti. That was unnecessary.
@ CJames
Can somebody tell me who sang that song "makin' money the fly way... wanna be a baller, shot caller 20 inch blades on the impala". It was Troy something, right?
Man, you are CRAZY, The Luniz "5 On It" is another classic.
"Back to the Hotel" - N2DEEP!?!? Officially in the Bottom 5 All time worst songs.
AMG? Uh oh. Hey, tell me you remember this....
CHICKEN SAMMICHES, FIDDY CENTS!!!!!
HA! Good picks-esp. "That's Just My Baby Daddy" and "Back to the Hotel"--- Throw these lists together on a mixtape with "Tootsie Roll" and you basically have my graduation party soundtrack. The "Come and Ride the Train" song comes to mind too.
@MissJay, ARE YOU serious, Milli Vanilli!...."Blame it on the Rain".....uh......"Don't forget my number" You can't be serious. I ain't gonna front though I had the cassette tape.
@Kesnut
I cain't co-sign on that Laffy Taffy. You apparently have never been to "Dream Girls" here in the A. It gives a WHOLE new meaning to Laffy Taffy. Love that song!
@boboso
"Who can give you what you need, NOBODY. Who can love you all night long, NOBODY, BABY. And the band keep playin on'. WOAW! WOAW! WOAN-ON ON!"
LOL! NO THAT was crappy. I don't want to discredit Keith's entire body of work but that......whew was bad.
"On them thangs" - Mack 10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp7VbjybZIA
Please look at this.
anything from some of the American Idol winners; Operas; Maroon 5; Michael Bolton; Beyonce; Brandy; 50 cent; Lil Wayne; Akon; any Rap (I'll make an exception to some of Ice-T's songs), Hip Hop or Reggaeton...
My lists is too large to write.
@cjames:
I hate it all. And it didn't help that he sorta-kinda resembled Patrick Ewing who I, as a Celts fan, quite naturally hated. Probably the best ball player to come out of Boston and he winds up playing for the despised archenemy Knicks!
Is it too late to add that "Soulja Boy" song? The kids downstairs sometimes sing it as they play outside and it's all I can do to keep from going out there to choke the shyte out of them.
@boboso
Crank that Soulja Boy. That's an instant classic! Bwah-ha-ha! I couldn't even hold that on in!.
@cinco
No Beyonce. Not even a little bit! No 50! No to P.I.M.P....No to "In da Club". No Brandy...."I wanna be down". No to All Rap!
Yet ICE - T get the nod. You can't possibly put ICE - T over .....I don't know....ICE CUBE! C'mon mayne. Besides "Colors" what other songs does ICE - T have. I know you didn't say ICE - T.
@ cjames...
As a middle aged female, what can I say? I stand by my preferences. Absolutely nothing by Beyonce, Brandy and most certainly nothing by Curtis! (Even his stage name bugs me because it isn't correct use of the english language!)
You're usually pretty sharp on your hip-hop quotes AB but I gotta call you out on this one. The song Jay-Z said his bodyguards verse was better is call "The Take Over". Nas' comeback song was called "Ether".
My vote for worst song ever is:
Gangster Lean by D.R.S.
"I tip my foooooorty tooooo your memryyyyyyy..."
I HATE that song!!!!!
@ Yellow Fellow
Thanks. Major mistake. I fixed it.
@ cinco & cjames:
Call me crazy, but I actually dug Ice-T's Body Count stuff. Lots of people condemned "Cop Killer" without ever having listened to the lyrics, which were actually about one man's decision to handle his brutalizing by the police in his own way. That entire album kicked ass and had plenty of useful, positive messages (stay off drugs, don't join gangs, etc.) for anyone willing to listen.
this is fun!! some of these songs i have absolutely LOVED in the past- "first of the month" by bonz, "gangsta lean" LOL!, "the power" by Snap- the dance phases ALONE in 1990 make that a classic!, gotta love ALL milli vanilli!,
i cosign on knockin' boots- i HATE h-town!! (although i'm embarrased to say that i used to love candyman's version :) loved and whomp there it is; and anything by michael bolton or clay aiken;
here are some new ones:
party all the time- eddie murphy
informer- snow
oochie coochie- mc brains
mr. lover man- shabba and maxi priest?
come on ride the train
la shmoov- fushnikins
workermOn- patra
have you seen my childhood- mj
earthsong- mj
let's face it, pretty much all the new songs on the HIStory album blew chunks.
"to the lead singer who looks like some HBCU fullback."
AB, when I manage to stop going back and forth between the above line and looking at the guy in the video and stopping for a few minutes to laugh until I cry, then I will try to answer the question...
cinco makes a good point- it does depend on age and more importantly what you were doing when the song was hot. the keith "beggin" sweat collection is a great example. his music single-handedly represents the 4.5 year age gap between my husband and me. "i want her" is something i was mock dancing to with friends in the 6th grade but my husband was probably at a high school dance getting his swerve on with some chick. he LOVES keith sweat. i can only tolerate "make it last forever" and that wasn't even a solo cut.
this also brings up the r. kelly debacle and how sad it is that you can't relaly admit to liking his music anymore. his self-titled album was the JOINT when we started dating. but as soon as we found out about his case, we scrapped the cd. d@mmit, "ARA"
@DEEDEE and CINCO
Yall go me cracking up over here. You didn't like la smoov with SHAQ-FU. C'mon. LOL!!! DEEDEE you're got some classic bad songs here. "Party All the time, OOOHHH! OOOHHH!"
Does anybody even know what snow is saying?
@AB,
The Dipset made a Ballin Xmas Song!?!?! Say it ain't so!! Blasphemy I tell ya. BLASPHEMY!!
And you're right, that was a bit harsh and unnecessary towards Ashanti. She can't help how she looks ;)
@ DeeDee
You beat me to Eddie Murphy's abomination. I never understoond that one, cause he can actually sing! But he IS a comedian AND was boys wit Rick James----says alot.
@ Cinco
Cmon---Brandy AND Beyonce?? Maaaaybe one, Nah bump that, you cant hate on neither one of them, albeit they've made some bad songs throughout their careers, but hey, who hasn't that's been out over a decade or so? I'm sure I share the sentiment of alot of commenters here who don't understand that one. and to just group Hip Hop as a whole and cast it out---dunno Cinco, juss dunno.
Addition to the Xmas list:
"8 Days of Xmas" by Destiny's Child
LOL, cjames!! great feel good friday post, avb. it's always a kick to remember the old, carefree days. good look on the youtube collection. gotta go listen to "knockin' boots" candyman version :-) and the Christmas remix foolishness that h-town came up with! wth?? they REALLY s@ck.
@kesnut;
Music tastes are subjective. I stand by my comments. Of the men here that like Beyonce and/or Brandy I'm not sure it's their singing abilities that they're in favor of @ all!
@cjames
I said I was like 10!!! ("Ba ba ba ba...ba ba ba ba baby...") And I think Snow said "Informer youknowsnowkdshihssilphfpipshplay. A licky boom boom doooooooown" LOL I never would have know a bit of what he's saying unless you peep the video, sometimes the words scroll across the bottom.
Ok AB I was at work earler and on my lunch break my coworker and I were listening to the radio. Keyshia Cole's song Love came on where she's all like "I found, aaaa, aaah, aaah, aaaound" and she made the comment that it sounds like someone was choking her. That made me almost choke on my food but it reminded me to come back and put that on the list.
I cosign Baby Mama. Anything by D4L with their Atari sounding beats. Like I'm playing packman or some ish. I can see MJ's Earth Song on there although I did like to sing along to the "aAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH's" LOL
Oh oh I know it's classic but I can't STAND MJ's She's Out Of My Life when he starts "crying".
How about Eddie Murphy and MJ What's Up Witu.
Am I the only one who remembers Roy Jones, Jr's "Yall Must of Forgot"? He must of forgot he was a boxer and not a recording artist. Just him yelling over a wack @ss beat. When me and my cousin saw this video on 106th and Park we both watched it with our mouths wide open in amazement at how f****n' TERRIBLE that damn song was!
This is just plain corny, from the baby blue clad background dancers, to the lead singer who looks like some HBCU fullback. And what the f*ck is a "Splackavelli"?
Ok that had me falling out laughing when I started the video and saw the explination of a Splackavelli (that is a dumb ass name), then the lead singer, then the electric blue suits. *dead*
@MissJay
Roy Jones Jr......had an album. That mess must have gone triple wood.
@cjames
I agree, who the hell bought that album besides him and his agent?
I think we all talked up that SFP My Love is the Shhhh. I saw the video last night on VH1 Soul. The male lead looks like he could be T-Pain's older cousin.
PULEEASE add this one, AB--Mokenstef's "He's Mine." Worst. Black. Song. Eva. (Probably the worst song, period.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJYRbQYWSKU
Why don't I see Souljah Boy on this list?
Hi AB Nation, I must agree with most of the songs on everyone's this list.
@ AB
"What's my name? Say my name?" Lame. LOL!!!
Maybe you shoud do a list of worst dances to go along with these songs.".
Love the Blog
I'd like to add the annoying as Hell commercial jingle for 'lovin the McDonald's McNuggets...alone with the inappropriate sexual inuendos....
The worst black songs for me would be
1.Gimme what you got for a pork chop - Lil Jimmy
2. You don't know nan - Trina and Trick Daddy
3. Come On Ride That Train - Quad City DJ
4. Toosie Roll - Unknown
5. Hard Out Here for A Pimp - 3-6 Mafia
6. Going Back to Cali - LL Cool J
7. Dont Call Me NO MO- Project Pat
8. Anything By Master P and C-Murder
9. Good Viberation- Unknown
10. My Neck, My Back - Khia
-What about "I'm F**king You Tonite" by R.Kelly (on the same album he has a song with Kirk Franklin. lol.)
-U Remind Me Of My Jeep - R.Kelly
-Funk Cold Medina - Tone Loc
-All the songs on Marlon Jackson's debut solo album
-I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt
-Macarena - by dem two ole saggy booty white men
-You Better Work - RuPaul
-Anything Eddie Murphy put to wax
-Anything by Coolio
-Anything Anita Baker has recorded since 1998 because I can't understand a damn thang she's singing. Sounds like she's eating a cornbread muffin as she's singing.
-EVERYTHING. PUFFY. DIDDY. PUFF. PUFF DADDY. P-DIDDY. HAS EVER RECORDED.
-I can't think of the name of it but that single put out by Tyra Banks.
wanna be a baller is by lil' troy. that song is the shit. and this was supposed to be the worst black songs of all time people, last time i checked britney spears and michael bolton were the two furthest things from black, LOL.
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