"John" (CD Single)

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Explicit violence, sex make this track off-limits for kids.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that "John" is an extremely violent single that revolves around guns and killing. It also features a ton of profanity "(f--k," the N word) and some graphic descriptions of sexual encounters. The song is not appropriate for kids of any age.

  • Extremely negative messages about murder, disrespecting sexual partners.
  • Song about killing describes the worst role model behavior imaginable.
  • Lots of guns, talk of killing: "Talk stupid, get your head popped."
  • Extremely explicit descriptions of sexual situations.
  • Tons of mentions of "f--k" throughout.
  • Range of product names like (Air) Jordans, Nike, Louis Vuitton, and Lamborghini.
  • Reference to alcohol: "N--gas gather around, got gifts for each and all of y'all / Take it home and let it bubble."

What's the story?

"You're f--king with a n--ga who don't give a f--k": This line sums up the message behind the single "JOHN" by hardcore rapper Lil Wayne. The track describes a person completely out of control, killing people at will ("Kill 'em all and keep moving"), engaging in explicit sex, and more. The overwhelming violence, anger, and profanity included in this song make it absolutely off-limits for kids and young adults -- and troubling for listeners of any age.  


Is it any good?

 

It takes a lot more than explicit lyrics to make a song interesting -- and this track doesn't have any of it. The plodding synth-hook is super played-out, not to mention the violence and bravado that have characterized countless hardcore rap songs to date. If Lil Wayne really wanted to stand out, he would try to switch up his sound by partnering with an artist in an entirely different genre -- and he'd write a song that suggests a constructive way to fix what's wrong with the world rather than just blowing it away. 


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how Lil Wayne's personal life may have influenced his music: Just before releasing this single, Wayne spent time in jail on gun possession charges.

  • Should artists who engage in criminal behavior be allowed to release violent music that's sold to so many people? Why or why not?

  • How might Wayne's early years -- his parents divorced when he was two,
    and despite being an honor student, he dropped out of school at 14 --
    have contributed to the theme of extreme anger that permeates so many of
    his songs?


This review was written by Stephanie Bruzzese
Teen, 15 years old
June 1, 2011
 
lil wayne isn't bad
i think parents should stop being uptight i mean no matter what ur kids gonna hear these things from friends,internet,school,tv,video games,the street, the radio,and also we hear a lot of things from you parents yes you parents so unless you can remove all these things and keep what you say and do to your selves ur kid will hear and see these

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 9 years old
May 9, 2011
 
WORST RAP SONG EVER!
Has alot of each thing

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 16 years old
April 29, 2011
 
Best Lil' Wayne Song of The YEAR!
This is the best song of the year. Your kid will probably hear this in school.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 17 years old
May 18, 2011
 
Lil Wayne = gross
I haven't heard this song and I really, really, really don't want to. But, am I the only one who thinks Lil Wayne is overrated? I mean he sounds horrible when he raps, he's dirty, and raps about the same stuff every other rapper in the game raps about, girls, and money. Its good to see people like B.o.B, and The Black Eyed Peas change that up a bit. But, I can't stand Lil Wayne and I can't be the only one like that. Did I mention I don't ever want to listen to this song? :D

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
August 31, 2011
 
ok
bad sex

Flag as inappropriate 
Parent
October 29, 2011
 
Lil wayne kicks rear
This song is great for kids to listen, but get the un edited version as the edited one has much more language

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 13 years old
December 20, 2011
 
Choppers in the Car
This is probably one of the top 2 best Lil Wayne songs of all time with Go DJ, but it's also one of the most explicit songs of the year. Wayne and Ross fairly graphically depict killing people, having multiple guns, smoking and dealing drugs, invading homes, and, of course, over 30 curse words. The first two lines of the song are excessively graphic with Wayne describing his girlfriend and his sexual relationship. Ross is a bit tamer, but not by a whole lot. This song has absolutely no positive messages, and all it basically is is the two rappers bragging about having tons of money, weapons, and sex. One perfect example is this line - "You're ****ing me wrong, I knock your head off your neck." This song is a great rap in my opinion, but at LEAST get the edited version unless you're mature enough to handle it.

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
March 22, 2012
 
love the song
I really love this song. People may say its horrible but open your minds

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Stephanie Bruzzese
Artist:Lil Wayne
Release date:March 24, 2011
Label:Cash Money Records
Genre:Rap
Parental advisory:Yes
Edited version available:Yes

This review was written by Stephanie Bruzzese
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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