CeeLo Green has criticised female rappers including Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion for making modern music “disappointing on a personal and moral level”.
The “F*** You” singer, who is one half of musical duo Gnarls Barkley, told Far Out magazine that he felt the current music scene was too explicit and lacked nuance.
“There was once a time when we were savvy enough to code certain things,” Green said. “We could express to those it was meant for with the style of language we used. But now music is shameless, it is sheer savagery… We are adults. There should be a time and a place for adult content.”
The musician took particular aim at female rappers such as Nicki Minaj, who he referred to as “heads of state”, stating: “[She] is up there in accolade: success, visibility, a platform to influence. Nicki could be effective in so many other constructive ways, but it feels desperate.”
Green then turned his attention to Minaj’s fellow female rappers Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, who last week released their explicit new music video for “WAP”.
“They are all more or less doing similar salacious gesturing to kinda get into position,” Green said. “I get it, the independent woman and being in control, the divine femininity and sexual expression. I get it all, [but] it comes at what cost?”
“WAP”, which was released on Friday (7 August) has been condemned by a number of conservative politicians, as well as far-right pundit Ben Shapiro, for its explicit lyrics and music video.
After reciting lyrics from the song, Shapiro said in disgust: “This is what feminists fought for. This is what the feminist movement was all about, and if you say anything differently it’s because you’re a misogynist, see?”
In response, Cardi has shared a number of tweets mocking Shapiro, including retweeting images of Waylon Smithers, a character from The Simpsons, covering his eyes as half-naked women cavort in front of him.
The “Bodak Yellow” rapper also tweeted: “I can’t believe conservatives soo mad about WAP.”
