Why John Mellencamp Doesn’t Like Rap Music

John Mellencamp has revealed why he doesn’t like rap music in a new interview on the Club Random podcast with Bill Maher.

It’s not about the beat, flow or production of rap music. Instead, Mellencamp has an issue with some forms of lyrical content that populate the genre.

Recalling a previous collaboration with Public Enemy’s Chuck D, the Jack & Diane singer explained, “Me and Chuck D did a song 20 years ago. We were talking about the N-word.”

Discussing the collaborative 2001 song, Cuttin’ Heads, Mellencamp continued, “We were talking about how it’s not supposed to be used… That’s what I have against – not against, but why I’m not a big fan of rap music.

“You guys are selling out what the people stood up for and fought for, and you’re making money off of it, selling it to white kids? I don’t like it.”

Mellencamp added, “And so Chuck D and I did a song… I wrote the song, then he rapped in the middle of it, and he just said, ‘die, N-word, die.’ That’s right.”

Elsewhere in the interview, things took a turn for the uncomfortable when Mellencamp claimed that only “1% or 2% of black people in America” currently live better lives than enslaved people did.

Mellencamp continued, “I wrote a song that I never recorded because I thought it was wrong. But it was called ‘From The Fucking Cotton Fields To The Playing Fields.’ My point is that, yes, so what [if Black people’s lives are better now]? Us white people love to have Black people entertain us.”

You can watch the entire interview below.

John Mellencamp was due to tour in Australia in February 2016 before postponing the shows until June of that year and eventually cancelling the tour. He hasn’t performed in Australia since November 2008.

Mellencamp has claimed seven top 20 hits and ten top 20 albums nationwide and has sold more than 1.5 million albums in Australia.