The Most Censored Music Artists

Music has always been a great form of self expression. From rebellious anthems of punk rock and rap, musicians often try to push boundaries, challenge the status quo and test the limits of what is acceptable.

And, swearing in music is nothing new (as a background music provider for retail and hospitality, it's something we have to work around, and with, everyday). In the 60’s, profanity began to creep into song lyrics more regularly and modern artists continue to be loud and proud when using strong language to address social issues, personal trauma, and political dissent.

Even teen pop star Olivia Rodrigo has admitted to having a “dirty mouth”, and that including expletives resonates with people. Inappropriate language has become a significant tool in communicating authenticity and raw emotion.  

So, what music artist swears the most?

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How did we find out?

To shine a light on the artists who swear most often, we analysed 60 artists and more than 5,000 songs.

We looked at the top artists on the Billboard 100 Artist chart, to determine the most popular recording artists in 2024.

After gathering the lyrics for one hundred of each artist's most popular tracks, we discovered how many common swear words were used in the songs.

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In first place is...

Taking the podium for the most inappropriate words in their songs is American rapper, GloRilla.

The BET Hip Hop Award nominee, has included 3,785 swear words within 100 of her most popular songs, averaging 37.9 per song.

Releasing her first song “Pretty Thugz x B*tch Where” in 2018, her voice and princess street rap caught the world’s attention.

Her song with the most swear words is “You ain't sh*t” with a total of 152 swear words packed in the nearly four-minute song. She averages over seven swear words more per song than the other Billboard 100 artists we analysed.

Named after her grandmother, GloRilla commented on her music style, stating that she includes “stuff that everybody can relate to,” in a style that she “blew up with”.

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And the runner up?

Second on the podium is the multiple Grammy award-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion.

Our research has identified 3,063 swear words in her top 100 songs, with an average of 30.6 swear words per song.

She went viral in 2016 after a video of her freestyling over Drake's “4PM in Calabasas” was posted on social media. She became the first female rapper signed to 300 Entertainment in 2018. Despite her raunchy lyrics, she’s an advocate for mental health, making her feel like an authentic artist.

Her most explicit song is “Hiss” which may come as no surprise for her fans. With a total of 80 swear words, she explicitly expresses her feelings about her relationships, former friends, and industry enemies.

Continuously keeping her fans engaged, she recently released a teaser of her new song on social media, and the clip indicates that the new hit will not be shy of expletives either.

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In third, forth and fifth place are...

Taking third place is 21 Savage, with 3,001 total swear words found in his top 100 songs.

On average he includes 30 swear words per song. Breaking into the music scene with ‘Red Opps’ in 2016, the rap artist has gained significant recognition and won multiple industry-leading awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song in 2020, and the BET Hip Hop Award for Best Album of the Year in 2023.

In fourth place is Tyler, The Creator with a total of 2,757 expletives while Future comes in fifth place with 2,201 total swear words.

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Swearing not your thing?

At the other end of the scale, artists from the study who are the least censored include ENHYPEN and Benson Boone with joint first place, keeping their songs completely clean with no swear words mentioned in them.

Fleetwood Mac, Cody Johnson and Nate Smith take joint second place with just one swear word found in their top 100 songs. In a tied third place are Stray Kids and Bailey Zimmerman with only four swear words identified.

Harry Styles is also at the bottom of the list in fourth place with just five swear words in his songs, whilst Jimin rounds up the bottom five with twelve swear words.

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Many musicians incorporate explicit content as a means of authentic self-expression, connecting with their audience, or addressing complex social and personal issues. However, the widespread nature of such language also raises concerns about accessibility and suitability for diverse listeners. By providing radio edits and clean versions of tracks, artists and record labels strike a balance between preserving creative integrity and ensuring that high-quality music remains suitable for all contexts.

- Magnus, Startle's Music Consultant

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Click here for the complete findings.