Top Ten Most Controversial Music Artists of the 21st Century
You can include ones that were before 2000, as long as they were still active in 2000.
Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, actor and music producer born on October 17, 1972 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Eminem has sold over 300 million records making him the bestselling hip-hop artist of all time. In addition to his solo career, he is a member of D12 and (with Royce da 5'9") half of the hip-hop duo Bad Meets Evil.
Rolling Stone ranked him 83rd on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, calling him the King of Hip Hop. Including his work with D12 and Bad Meets Evil, Eminem has had ten number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and 5 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and 13 worldwide. Eminem has been the subject of controversy due to offensive and profane lyrics. He addresses this in his song "Without Me".
Anyone who chooses otherwise, Eminem rhymed orange with banana. That's literally all I need to say.
I don't even have to explain this. Even tho he wasn't that shut down
Because of his lyrics
Brian Hugh Warner, better known by his stage name Marilyn Manson, is an American musician, songwriter, actor, painter, multimedia artist, author, and former music journalist. He's not nearly as scary as I first thought, since I discovered he's likes art and poetry. He's the most normal abnormal person around. I mean, his name is BRIAN. Doesn't get more Suburban and normal than that, does it?
His creepy appearance, the music videos with nightmarish content, his lyrics, and his onstage behavior made him a pariah of parents all over.
Yes he's controversial but probably one of the most in the rock n roll community. The fact he gets blamed for shootings because he sings some rock, when other artist like Eminem talk about taking kids from schools but somehow they aren't blamed. LOVE MANSON!
Controversial for religious views, vulgar language and sexual depiction
Michael Jackson (Michael Joseph Jackson; August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by a propofol and benzodiazepine overdose on June 25, 2009. He donated (at least) a remarkable 500,000,000 dollars to charity. Michael is also known as The King of Pop (a title given to him by Elizabeth Taylor) or under the initials MJ. Dubbed the King of Pop, he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. ...read more. He was accused of molesting children, which made him scrutinized by the media, who called him "Wacko Jacko".
Controversial for child molestation accusations and many other things
He was never proven guilty of crimes yet he was still treated like a criminal
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.On the start of her career, she performed at an event called the Lollapalooza Festival during 2007 whereby a record label company Interscope found her due to her performance being “amusing” to watch. Since Interscope found her, she was a mastermind behind her songs with a team of producers namely Rob Fusari and RedOne. Most of her songs were deep unreleased cuts, due to her having more than 30 songs and 17 were picked. ...read more.
LGG in the last few days has almost broken down psychologically, and is condemning the insanity of outrageous boundary busting stardom, and is trying to become "normal" again. She was a very good supper club jazz singer before her superstardom, but she laments that "class" does not sell these days.
People on the far right accuse her of being Satanic for perceived Illuminati symbolism.
Appreciate how she used controversy to direct more attention towards her, such a smart move
Louis Cachet, (born Kristian Vikernes) more popularly known as Varg Vikernes, is a Norwegian musician, writer, and a convicted murderer and arsonist. He is known as the frontman of the one-man band Burzum (named after a word in the Black Speech, which is a fictional language in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings), which is considered one of the most influential bands in black metal history. He's also known for murdering Mayhem guitarist Euronymous and was sentenced to 21 years in prison in 1994. Varg Vikernes is a notable Satanist and white supremacist. He murdered the guitarist of Mayhem and claimed it was self defense.
Why is Eminem number 1 and Varg is all the way down here?!
Madonna Louise Ciccone, known professionally as Madonna, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She influenced a lot of singers such as: Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Beyonce Knowles and Britney Spears. She is known as Queen of Pop and at modern pop culture specifically in 2012 "Madge" or MDNA. She has 14 studio albums (Madonna, Like a Virgin, True Blue, Like a Prayer, Erotica, Bedtime Stories, Ray of Light, Music, American Life, Confessions on a Dance Floor, Hard Candy, MDNA, Rebel Heart, and Madame X), 3 soundtrack albums (Who's That Girl, I'm Breathless, and Evita), 4 compilation albums (The Immaculate Collection, Something to Remember, GHV2, and Celebration), ...read more. Madonna's sexual performances have made her the subject of controversy. Additionally, her music video for the lead single off of "Like a Prayer" received immense backlash from the Catholic Church.
She loves being controversial in all aspects. Sometimes she has taken it too far
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948. He is also known as ''The Prince of Darkness''. Ozzy is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the band Black Sabbath. Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 and has since had a successful solo career, releasing 11 studio albums. In the 1980s, his music was accused of being satanic by parents and media. He also urinated on the Alamo, and bit the head off of a bat.
Christopher Maurice "Chris" Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actor. Born in Tappahannock, Virginia, he was involved in his church choir and several local talent shows from a young age. He is most well known for his physical assault towards the singer Rihanna in 2009. He is also known for many hit singles, such as "Kiss Kiss", "Run It!", "Forever", "Deuces", "Look At Me Now", "Loyal", "Ayo", and "Back to Sleep". What do you mean by accused? It actually happened. She had the marks that proved it.
Chris Brown was accused of severely beating his then wife Rihanna in 2009.
Do I have to say anything?
Danielle Bregoli, known professionally as Bhad Bhabie, is an American rapper and internet celebrity. She gained fame in 2017 and is known for her songs like "Gucci Flip Flops" and "Geeked Up" Cash me outside how bout dat!
Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy (January 23, 1998 - June 18, 2018), known professionally as XXXTentacion, and often referred to as X, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and criminal. Extremely good artist with a noted history of violence.
Helped so many people through their depression to remind them that they're not alone. LLJ
An artist with a lot of potential but also highly controversial even after his death
Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), better known by his stage name Tyler, The Creator, is an American rapper, record producer, and music video director.
He is well known for his hostile relations with his now deceased father, whom he addresses in multiple songs and albums telling the audience how much he distastes his father.
Tyler has composed seven albums, which are Bastard (2009), Goblin (2011), Wolf (2013), Cherry Bomb (2015), Flower Boy (2017), IGOR (2019), and Call Me If You Get Lost (2021). In love him, but his old stuff like goblin and bastard is a bit much...
In many of his songs, he uses homophobic slurs.
He said he had a three some with just him and a girl and now he makes Christmas music
Miley Ray Hemsworth (born Destiny Hope Cyrus), known as Miley Cyrus, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was born on November 23, 1992, in Franklin, Tennessee, to Tish Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus. Her voice type is Mezzo-Soprano and has 4 octaves. She became a teen idol starring as the character Miley Stewart in the Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana in 2006. After that Miley had numerous worldwide hits, such as ''Party in the USA'', '' We Can’t Stop'', and ''Wrecking Ball''. On December 23, 2018 she got married to Australian actor Liam Hemsworth, but they divorced shortly after. Her BANGERZ era's Music videos sparked controversy around the world because she was considered a Disney teen idol; also the 2013 VMA awards performance.
Peer van Mladen (born May 3, 1989 in Belgrade, Republic of Serbia) has more than 8 million dollars in annual revenue and one of the most influential music producers.
Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967), known professionally as R. Kelly, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and convicted sex offender. He has been credited with helping to redefine R&B and hip hop, earning nicknames such as "the King of R&B", "the King of Pop-Soul", and the "Pied Piper of R&B." ...read more. In 2002, R. Kelly urinated on an underage girl. In 2019, a damning documentary series revealed he was running a sex cult and holding underage women against their will.
Holy crap this guy is low on the list, after the stuff he did he needs to be higher on the list
Also a rapist!
Slipknot is an American metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa in 1996. The band is best known as one of the pioneers of the New Wave of American Alternative Metal during the late 1990s - 2000s and are distinguishable by the band's clothing choices, consisting of black/red jumpsuits and horror inspired masks. ...read more. The band's image can be scary to some, and a stabbing in South Africa was linked to the band.
Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American actress and singer who was born in McComb, Mississippi, and grew up in Kentwood, Louisiana. She performed acting roles in stage productions and television shows like "The Mickey Mouse Club" as a child before signing with Jive Records in 1997 and going on to become a pop superstar and one of the most famous female pop singers of all time. She is best known for her songs such as "Toxic", "...Baby One More Time", "Circus", "I'm A Slave 4 U", "Oops!... I Did It Again", "Work B****", "Womanizer" and "Till' The World Ends".
Onika Tanya Maraj, known professionally as Nicki Minaj (born December 8, 1982) is a Trinidadian/American rapper / pop music artist. Minaj is most known for her songs such as "Anaconda", "Super Bass", "Starships" and her feature on "Bang Bang".
Despite her controversial songs, Brent Staples from "The New York Times" claimed her to be 'the most influential female rapper of all time', presumably distinctive for her fast flow and her use of alter egos with Cockney accent.
She has endorsed Adidas, MAC Cosmetics and Pepsi.
Minaj has received ten Grammy-nominations throughout her career, and has won multiple awards including the Billboard's Women in Music 2011 Rising Star award. Seriously, you got people like N.W.A and Michael Jackson, who isn't really '21st century', but you completely miss out on THIS.
What even is this? She doesn't even make decent music.
Controversial for being sexual and suggestive in lyrics and music videos
How is she last place?
Ye (born Kanye Omari West; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and fashion designer. He is regarded as one of the most influential, as well as controversial, artists of the 21st century. ...read more. Kanye is controversial due to claiming he is a god like figure similar to Jesus Christ.
Kanye West has a messiah complex, and interrupted Taylor Swift while she was accepting her award at the VMAs.
Again, do I even have to explain this?
N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton, CA. They were among the earliest and most significant popularizers and controversial figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, and are widely considered one of the seminal groups in the history of hip hop music.
Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian-American pop singer. Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, she first entered the music industry by recording demo tapes under the direction of record producer Evan Rogers in 2003. She ultimately signed a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings after auditioning for its then-president, hip-hop producer and rapper Jay Z.
Charles Milles Manson (né Maddox; November 12, 1934 – November 19, 2017) was an American criminal and musician who led the Manson Family, a cult based in California, in the late 1960s. Some of the members committed a series of nine murders at four locations in July and August 1969. In 1971, Manson ...read more.
Water Handblast (born Ardy Robert Andrews) better known by his name Submarine Man, is an American rapper known for his songs that heavily feature lyrics about foot fetishes as well as heavily autotuned vocals.