Handpicked by Our Editors

"Wash Your Hands" (CD single)
Age 3+
4

"Wash Your Hands" (CD single)

Why We Recommend It

Feel like a broken record about clean hands? This cute ditty may make an impression and send kids to the sink.

Read our full review
From Elmo to Eminem you can trust our children's music reviews.

Kids of all ages love music. For our littlest children, music helps build vocabulary and coordination. For our older kids, music expresses passions and angst. But finding kids' music that has messages you feel comfortable with can take some homework on parents' part. Luckily, our reviews give you what you need to know to choose and manage kids' music.

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showing: r&b
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"Russian Roulette" (CD single) by Rihanna
Parents Need to Know...

that RUSSIAN ROULETTE is about a girl holding a gun, deciding whether or not to shoot herself. The song ends with a gun going off.  Though the song includes no graphic language, it does contain references to suicide that will disturb ... read more

Age 15+
"Russian Roulette" (CD single)
2
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"I Can Transform Ya" (CD single) by Chris Brown
Parents Need to Know...

that  this combo rap-R&B song by Chris Brown offers lots of references to girls and material goods, but it doesn't incorporate profane language or graphic descriptions of sex, drinking/drugs, and violence.  read more

Age 13+
"I Can Transform Ya" (CD single)
3
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"Papers" (CD single) by Usher
Parents Need to Know...

that this song touches on a serious topic: divorce. Usher doesn't use swear words or go into graphic detail about the intimate details, but his general description of an exceptionally difficult marriage and subsequent break-up will still ... read more

Age 13+
"Papers" (CD single)
3
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"Whatcha Say" (CD single) by Jason Derulo
Parents Need to Know...

that though this song deals with a guy who's cheated on his girlfriend, it includes no swearing or explicit sex talk. read more

Age 11+
"Whatcha Say" (CD single)
3
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Love IS by Ruben Studdard
Parents Need to Know...

that Studdard keeps it clean on this album: while his major theme is romantic relationships, he doesn't get graphic with sexual descriptions or delve into super-serious topics that are too mature for young ears. read more

Age 12+
Love IS
3
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"Love Sex Magic" (CD single) by Ciara
Parents Need to Know...

that while this song lacks graphic language, the message is all about sex, plain and simple. Parents should be especially attuned to the video, which includes Ciara dancing on a strip-club stage and lots of full-body contact between her ... read more

Age 13+
"Love Sex Magic" (CD single)
3
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Intuition by Jamie Foxx
Parents Need to Know...

that while Jamie Foxx and his many collaborators rein in the swearing, the album includes lots of references to sex -- some of them really raunchy. read more

Age 15+
Intuition
3
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"Right Now (Na Na Na)" (CD single) by Akon
Parents Need to Know...

that this single lacks the more graphic language and messages about sex and violence heard in Akon's other music. The video for the song takes the maturity level up a notch, however, showing the singer in some suggestive, scantily-clad ... read more

Age 12+
"Right Now (Na Na Na)" (CD single)
4
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Playa Cardz Right (CD Single) by Keisha Cole
Parents Need to Know...

that this single mixes Keisha Cole's soulful vocals with clean verses from deceased rapper Tupac Shakur. read more

Age 14+
Playa Cardz Right (CD Single)
3
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Year of the Gentleman by Ne-Yo
Parents Need to Know...

that this album is less sexy than Ne-Yo's previous releases. Although it's driven by love songs, most of the lyrical content is perfectly age-appropriate for teens. In these songs, Ne-Yo sings respectfully about the women in his life, is ... read more

Age 13+
Year of the Gentleman
5
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Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams by Solange Knowles
Parents Need to Know...

that although this album is from Beyonce's sister, it's definitely an assertion of Solange's separate identity and own musical style. Several songs have some references to sex, but it's mostly implied, rather than directly in your face. ... read more

Age 13+
Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams
3
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"Like I Never Left" (CD single) by Whitney Houston
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a subdued duet about a romantic reunion that never gets graphic -- despite Akon's involvement. The mature R&B sound might not instantly appeal to kids accustomed to singles loaded with musical fireworks, but it just might ... read more

Age 14+
"Like I Never Left" (CD single)
4
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The Declaration by Ashanti
Parents Need to Know...

that Ashanti's fourth album is more of the same in terms of sexual content, but she seems to have toned it down a bit when it comes to glorifying the gangsta life. Unfortunately, she just can't stray too far from the lyrical formula of ... read more

Age 14+
The Declaration
2
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Here I Stand by Usher
Parents Need to Know...

that there's some sexy talk, the "N" word, a couple of brand names, and some assumptions of traditional gender roles on this album, but Usher is his usual honest and engaging self -- not to mention a truly gifted R&B singer. read more

Age 15+
Here I Stand
4
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Day26 by Day26
Parents Need to Know...

that this is the debut album from the MTV show Making the Band winners. There is some sexual innuendo, but the language is pretty clean. read more

Age 12+
Day26
2
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Growing Pains by Mary J. Blige
Parents Need to Know...

that although Mary J. Blige's songs are deeply rooted in personal experience and she doesn't treat emotions or relationships lightly, the lyrics don't get too heavy or explicit. Older tweens and teens (and parents!) will enjoy the ... read more

Age 12+
Growing Pains
4
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Love Me All Summer, Hate Me All Winter by The Dream
Parents Need to Know...

that The Dream's lyrics include four-letter words and sexual content, along with some sexist expressions of infatuation ("I Luv Your Girl" apologizes to a friend for stealing his girlfriend as though she were a piece of property with no ... read more

No Kids
Love Me All Summer, Hate Me All Winter
3
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As I Am by Alicia Keys
Parents Need to Know...

that the song "Teenage Love Affair" does talk about physical intimacy in terms of "bases," but this girl puts on the brakes at third base. There's some innuendo in tracks like "Wreckless Love" and "Like You'll Never See Me Again," but ... read more

Age 10+
As I Am
5
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Exclusive by Chris Brown
Parents Need to Know...

that although this CD has mostly innocent overtones about love, there's also a bit of more explicit sexual content such as talking about women's body types and parts ("I'm in love with double D cups") and getting with someone. read more

Age 14+
Exclusive
3
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Just Like You by Keyshia Cole
Parents Need to Know...

that this star of her own reality show sings a lot about heartbreak and troubled relationships. Hurting one another and loneliness are the themes throughout just about every song. While there's nothing objectionable, the lyrics are rife ... read more

Age 13+
Just Like You
3
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Don't Talk, Just Listen by B5
Parents Need to Know...

that this R&B brother quintet is played on heavy rotation on Radio Disney. Mixed with R&B and light rap (think a harder Boyz II Men on some tracks), at first listen the music may sound a bit mature, but the content is clean enough for ... read more

Age 8+
Don't Talk, Just Listen
3

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About Our Reviews

Common Sense Media's music reviews and ratings for all ages are based on child development principles. We give you trustworthy information so you can pick what's best for your family. We may know media, but you're the expert on your kids.

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