The world of rap is something that is greatly enjoyed throughout the globe. Almost all rappers are deemed ‘controversial’, but does this particular word have a definition in the life of rappers – or does it encompass all things illegal and immoral just the same?
Is accountability and taking on responsibility for your actions not applicable to the rappers whose music is widely spread and enjoyed globally? Keeping this in mind, let us dive into the top 10 most controversial rappers.
Related: From Chris Brown To Diddy, 5 Rappers Who Physically Assaulted Their Partner
Popular Rappers And Their Biggest Scandals
10. R. Kelly
Other than being a famous American former singer, songwriter, and record producer, Robert Sylvester Kelly has also been facing allegations of sexual abuse for over two decades now.
In 2022, he was jailed for 30 years after being found guilty of eight counts of sex trafficking and one of racketeering in a New York court. Months later, he was convicted of child sexual abuse in a second federal trial in Chicago. He is also widely known for his controversial marriage to a then 15-year-old singer Aaliyah when he was 27 years old himself.
9. Tory Lanez
Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer, Daystar Shemuel Shua Peterson, known professionally as Tory Lanez is one for the books because he was found guilty of three felonies- assault with a semiautomatic firearm; having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle; and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
‘The Color Violet’ singer had been seen shooting at a fellow rapper, Megan Thee Stallion, in the foot in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles in July 2020. Last August, Tory was sentenced to 10 years in California State Prison for the same.
In case you missed: When Drake Dissed Megan Thee Stallion Over Tory Lanez Shooting Allegations
8. Kodak Black
Bill Kahan Kapri, famously known as Kodak Black, is yet another rapper who has made questionable decisions during his career. Known for his 2018 hit ZEZE featuring Travis Scott and Offset, Kodak is also known for being charged with first-degree assault and battery and making a false statement on a governmental form.
Black was accused of rape in 2016 and faced the charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in South Carolina. He was given a plea bargain in 2021 to the lesser offense of assault and battery and was sentenced to probation. In 2019, Black was arrested for making false statements to possess weapons and was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison; his sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump in 2021- which is yet another topic of discussion amongst the public.
7. Eminem
Eminem‘s global success is considered to have broken racial barriers to the acceptance of white rappers in popular music, Eminem is known worldwide for his multiple famous hits such as ‘The Real Slim Shady’ and ‘Rap God’. Although a lot of rap enthusiasts think of him as a lyrical genius, they often forget that in some of his lyrics, he has referenced the Rihanna-Chris Brown beating, Ariana Grande Manchester Bombing, 2Pac’s death (accusing Diddy of killing him), wanting to punch Lana Del Rey in the face (from a freestyle) and using homophobic slurs and directing it towards Tyler The Creator.
In 2001, Eminem faced charges for two incidents involving real guns – both of which took place in Michigan in 2000. The first centered on a gun that fell to the ground from Eminem’s waistband during an altercation with Insane Clown Posse employee Dennis Dail. The second involved accusations that Eminem pistol-whipped John Guerra after he saw Guerra kissing his ex-wife, Kim.
Related: Eminem And Michael Jackson’s Revenge-Filled Feud Explained
6. XXXTentacion
Although having a large sum of followers even after he passed away, XXXTentacion had a rather big sum of controversies and charges against him while he was alive.
He had been charged with possessing 21 grams of marijuana in 2012, charged for possessing a gun in 2014, arrested for stabbing his “manager” Dylan Turner aka Tablez in 2016, charged with home invasion, robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon in 2016, and charged for aggravated battery, false imprisonment, and domestic battery in 2016. Along with this, a video leaked in which he admitted to stabbing 8 people, with another video leaked the same year where he admitted that he “bashed (his ex-girlfriend’s) face”.
5. Ye
Although world-famous, Kanye West is now infamous for his controversies. While Ye’s music is enjoyed on a global level, it is also now being acknowledged how his recent remarks and controversies have been getting just a little out of hand. Although ye had always been looked upon as a controversial figure due to his interactions with singer and songwriter Taylor Swift, and his Instagram presence wherein he has had multiple outbursts, during recent times, his actions and words have pointed towards anti-Semitism and support for white supremacists.
Appearing on Alex Jones’ podcast in 2022, Kanye denied the Holocaust ever happened, and said that “Hitler had a lot of redeeming qualities”. During the disturbing interview, a masked Kanye said: “I like Hitler. I love Jewish people, but I also love Nazis.” Ye had also attended Paris Fashion Week in 2022 in a shirt emblazoned with the controversial slogan ‘White Lives Matter’ which is said to have had its roots in white supremacist movements. Adidas’s Yeezy brand collaboration with Mr West was put under review after this incident, and days later his Adidas products were pulled from sale with immediate effect. Balenciaga also removed Kanye from their campaigns.
In case you missed: Kanye West Accused of Masturbating During Calls, Sending Pornographic Videos To His Former Assistant In Fresh Lawsuit
4. Nicki Minaj
Bards can only defend so much when it comes to the globally known Rapper and Singer Nicki Minaj. Often referred to as the “Queen of Rap”, Nicki has put out a number of hit songs like ‘Super Bass’ and ‘Bang Bang’.
Controversy came onto the surface when Minaj announced her relationship with Kenneth “Zoo” Petty over Instagram in December. Petty is a registered sex offender from a 1995 conviction of attempted rape in the first degree. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and served seven years in prison. This came up right after Minaj’s failure to publicly address the reputation of her older brother Jelani Maraj, who was found guilty of the sexual assault of a child in November 2017. During recent times, Minaj had also faced great backlash in response to her insults targeted at Megan Thee Stallion, questioning if she really was a victim of gun violence, accusing her of using ghostwriters, taking shots at her sexual history, and invoking Megan’s recently deceased mother.
3. Young Thug
Young Thug is one of the finest rappers emerging out of the Atlanta Rap scene but that is not to say that he hasn’t had his controversial moments. Young Thug has been speculated to be a founding member of the criminal gang Young Slime Life, or YSL by Georgia Officials.
In May 2022, he was arrested on charges of participating in gang activity and violating Georgia’s criminal racketeering law as part of YSL. YSL allegedly is responsible for a string of criminal activity including murders, shootings, carjackings and thefts. This case has been taken to court and Young Thug is in between trials as we speak!
2. Chris Brown
Chris Brown is no stranger to causing havoc in the Hollywood news with his long history of criminal records, charges, and allegations. This history mostly began when Brown had physically assaulted his then-girlfriend and famous singer Rihanna in 2009, he was subsequently charged with felony assault and making criminal threats on March 5. She still kept forgiving him till she was finally done.
In October of 2012, Chris had also violated the restraining order against them by going to a Halloween party wherein Rihanna was present as well. He subsequently had to appear in court on November 1st. Since then, he has been to court multiple times with charges against him due to assault, unwillingness to follow probation rules, and involvement with drugs- amongst other things.
1. Diddy
Sean Love Combs, professionally known as P Diddy or Puff Diddy is yet another rapper who has been seen to be physically assaulting ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, famously known as Cassie, tanking his reputation.
Cassie had filed a Civil Lawsuit against Combs in December 2023, wherein she included multiple graphic descriptions of violent abuse, alleging that Combs “regularly beat and kicked Ms. Ventura, leaving black eyes, bruises, and blood“. Later a video dating back to 2016 was released wherein Diddy was seen violently physically abusing Cassie. Three other women have filed a lawsuit against Diddy for raping, drugging, assaulting and trafficking them.
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