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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New Music Reviews

showing: rap
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"Forever" (CD single) by Drake
Parents Need to Know...

that the lyrics in FOREVER are extra mature in just about every way, including plenty of references to violent situations, mentions of drug use, sexual allusions, and swearing.  read more

Age 15+
"Forever" (CD single)
3
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"Empire State of Mind" (CD single) by Jay-Z
Parents Need to Know...

this single is milder than most rap songs and cleaner than most of Jay-Z's other works. There are a few questionable traits to the song, however, that make it best for teens and up. First, there's the use of the N-word, plus a few other ... read more

Age 14+
"Empire State of Mind" (CD single)
4
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So Far Gone by Drake
Parents Need to Know...

that though this album is by no means clean -- with more than a few curse words, sexual descriptions, and references to partying -- it's certainly not the dirtiest or most shallow record out there, offering some introspective lyrics that ... read more

Age 14+
So Far Gone
4
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The Blueprint 3 by Jay-Z
Parents Need to Know...

that though Jay-Z runs in the most hardcore of rap circles, he's also interested in achieving mainstream success with his records; as a result, even the explicit version of this album is a type of "rap-lite" that includes some ... read more

Age 13+
The Blueprint 3
4
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Rebelution by Pitbull
Parents Need to Know...

there are very few tracks on this album that don't contain sexual references or swearing. The most popular single off of this album, "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" is probably the tamest song on the CD. The album contains ... read more

Age 15+
Rebelution
4
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"Run This Town" (CD single) by Jay-Z, Kanye West, Rihanna
Parents Need to Know...

that, in terms of violent and sexual content, this isn't the worst of Jay-Z's music. However, its focus on bragging about being the best merely reinforces the infamous and dangerous sense of rivarly that pervades the rap and hip-hop ... read more

Age 15+
"Run This Town" (CD single)
4
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"Best I Ever Had" (CD single) by Drake
Parents Need to Know...

that though this track offers a positive overall message about appreciating women for who they are rather than how they dress, it still includes explicit language and vivid sexual descriptions. read more

Age 15+
"Best I Ever Had" (CD single)
4
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"Every Girl" (CD single) by Young Money
Parents Need to Know...

that just about every line in this song includes a graphic reference to sex and/or substance use. read more

No Kids
"Every Girl" (CD single)
1
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"Make Her Say" (CD single) by Kid Cudi
Parents Need to Know...

that this song includes graphic references to various sexual acts, extremely explicit language, and plenty of boasting about being rich and famous.  read more

Age 16+
"Make Her Say" (CD single)
2
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"D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)" (CD single) by Jay-Z
Parents Need to Know...

that this single is pretty mild, save for the repeated use of the word "nigger." Jay-Z takes aim at rappers who use Autotune (the audio processor that creates near perfect pitch) and other electronic production techniques in ... read more

Age 15+
"D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)" (CD single)
3
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Relapse by Eminem
Parents Need to Know...

that this album glorifyies rape and murder, and many tracks portray Eminem as a serial killer. Eminem also raps about his addiction to prescription drugs, which includes the brand names of pills. read more

No Kids
Relapse
2
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"3 A.M." (CD single) by Eminem
Parents Need to Know...

that this song is full of grotesque, unapologetically violent lyrics about murderous, sociopathic impulses. The video is full of ultra-violent scenes of blood, gore, and murder -- Eminem is seen in a bathtub filled with "blood" ... read more

No Kids
"3 A.M." (CD single)
1
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"We Made You" (CD single) by Eminem
Parents Need to Know...

that even though this is one Eminem song that surprisingly doesn't contain profanity, it's still not appropriate for kids. With crass comments about women's body parts, sarcastic quips regarding homosexuality, and various references to ... read more

Age 15+
"We Made You" (CD single)
3
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New Jack City II by Bow Wow
Parents Need to Know...

that Bow Wow is out to prove he runs with the big boys by talking a lot about sex, money, and partying. Though he tempers some of the talk with discussions of first love, the mature language he uses throughout the release makes the album ... read more

Age 14+
New Jack City II
2
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"Sugar" (CD single) by Flo Rida
Parents Need to Know...

that although this song starts out innocently enough, with the artist describing how he loves to kiss his lady, it goes progressively downhill, ending with some not-so-subtle descriptions of the other sexual activities they engage in. read more

Age 16+
"Sugar" (CD single)
3
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"Day 'N' Nite" (CD single) by Kid Cudi
Parents Need to Know...

that this song revolves around using drugs as a means of escaping difficult emotions like depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Though Kid Cudi refrains from using graphic language, the bleak, drug-related lyrics send a grim message. read more

Age 15+
"Day 'N' Nite" (CD single)
3
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"Can't Stop Me" (CD single) by Jadakiss
Parents Need to Know...

that this song glorifies every known vice, from graphic sexual references, to the hardest drugs, to extreme violence. read more

Age 17+
"Can't Stop Me" (CD single)
2
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"Crack a Bottle" (CD single) by 50 Cent, Eminem, Dr. Dre
Parents Need to Know...

that although this song is getting lots of press for being such a huge hit, it's definitely not for kids -- no matter how much they may argue that their friends have downloaded it! Although there is a smattering of expletives throughout ... read more

Age 16+
"Crack a Bottle" (CD single)
3
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"I Get It In" (CD single) by 50 Cent
Parents Need to Know...

that this song promotes all the wrong messages: irresponsible drinking, rationalizing bad behavior, and objectifying women. Not only that, but 50 Cent brags about partying hard seven days a week, a lifestyle that would send even the most ... read more

Age 16+
"I Get It In" (CD single)
3
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Notorious Movie Soundtrack by Various Artists
Parents Need to Know...

that this CD is not meant for kids. The graphic references to violence and sex are too numerous to mention, and the artists seem to use adult language more often than ordinary words. With no edited soundtrack available, kids can't opt for ... read more

No Kids
Notorious Movie Soundtrack
4
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"I Love College" (CD single) by Asher Roth
Parents Need to Know...

that while this song includes a few eyebrow-raisers, the party circumstances it describes are far from the drug-, violence-, and sex-filled scenes in other rapper's songs. read more

Age 16+
"I Love College" (CD single)
2

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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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