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.
Brian Hugh Warner (born January 5, 1969), better known by his stage name Marilyn Manson, is an American rock musician, songwriter, actor, painter, multimedia artist, author, and former music journalist. He is the lead singer and only constant member of the band Marilyn Manson, which he formed in 1989... read more He's not nearly as scary as I first thought, since I discovered he 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 and roll community. He gets blamed for shootings because he sings some rock, when other artists like Eminem talk about taking kids from schools but somehow they aren't blamed. Love Manson.
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 and controversial artists of the 21st century... read more He has a strange admiration of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis in general. That alone should put him in the top 5 of this list.
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.
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... 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.
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which was ruled a homicide. Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures... 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.
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 best-selling hip-hop artist of all time. In addition to his solo career, he is a member of D12 and (with... read more 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 though he wasn't that shut down.
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.Early in her career, she performed at Lollapalooza on August 4, 2007, as part of "Lady Gaga & The Starlight Revue," where she was noticed by Interscope Records executive Vincent... read more
Lady Gaga, in the last few days, has almost broken down psychologically. She is condemning the insanity of outrageous, boundary-busting stardom and is trying to become "normal" again. Before her superstardom, she was a very good supper club jazz singer, 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.
Ronald Joseph Radke is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, musician, and record producer born in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is the current singer of the band Falling In Reverse and is the former singer of Escape The Fate.
Miley Ray Cyrus (born Destiny Hope Cyrus), known professionally 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 popularly described as a lyric mezzo soprano, with a vocal range... read more 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.
Christopher Maurice "Chris" Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. Born in Tappahannock, Virginia, he participated in his church choir and several local talent shows from a young age. He gained international notoriety in 2009 for his physical assault of singer... read more 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.
The Newcomers
Azealia Amanda Banks is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Banks began releasing music on MySpace in 2008 and was signed to XL Recordings at age 17. Her debut single "212" achieved commercial success, leading to a record deal with Interscope... read more Azealia Banks supported Bill Cosby and was arrested for bringing guns into the UK.
You can't say that the drama surrounding her isn't entertaining.
Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar (born October 11, 1992), known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actress. Born and raised in New York City, she became an internet celebrity by achieving popularity on Vine and Instagram. From 2015 to 2017, she appeared as a regular... read more
Madonna Louise Ciccone, known professionally as Madonna, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She has influenced many artists, including Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Beyoncé Knowles, and Britney Spears. Often referred to as the "Queen of Pop," she has played a significant... 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.
Louis Cachet (born Kristian Vikernes), more popularly known as Varg Vikernes, is a Norwegian musician, writer, and convicted murderer and arsonist. He is known as the sole member of the one-man band Burzum, named after a word in the Black Speech from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings... read more 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?
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born December 3, 1948) is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality, often nicknamed "The Prince of Darkness." He rose to fame in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath... read more 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.
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"
Britney Jean Spears (born on December 2, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi) is an American former singer and actress. She was raised in Kentwood, Louisiana. As a child, she performed acting roles in stage productions and television shows, such as The Mickey Mouse Club, before signing with Jive Records in... read more
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 are not alone.
An artist with a lot of potential but also highly controversial, even after his death.
Slipknot is an American metal band that formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1996. They're recognized as a key force in the New Wave of American Alternative Metal from the late 1990s through the 2000s. The band is also known for their black and 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.
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.
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... read more I 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 threesome with just him and a girl, and now he makes Christmas music.
Onika Tanya Maraj, known professionally as Nicki Minaj (born December 8, 1982), is a Trinidadian-American rapper and pop artist. She is widely recognized for hits like "Anaconda," "Super Bass," "Starships," and her feature on "Bang Bang."... read more 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.
Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian-American singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, Barbados. She began her music career in 2003 by recording demo tapes with producer Evan Rogers and eventually signed with Def Jam Records after an audition for Jay-Z. Rihanna... read more
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.
Justin Drew Bieber (born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He currently resides in Ontario, Canada, and is Christian. He is the son of Pattie Mallette, an author... read more If you've been on this website before, you know that people hate Justin Bieber. However, he's improved since the days of "Baby," a fact that a lot of people still don't know.