John Mellencamp Said, Rapper Shouldn't Use N-words In Lyrics

John Mellencamp (Instagram Economy mellencamp)

JAKARTA - John Mellencamp explained why according to him rappers, even black people, should not use N-words in their songs.

During his appearance on the new episode of the Club Random Bill Maher podcast, the singers reflected his collaboration with Chuck D 'Cutin' Heads' in 2001 and discussed some controversial song lyrics.

Remembering the collaboration with Public Enemy vocalist Mellencamp said: 'Me and Chuck D made a song 20 years ago. We talked about N-words. We talked about how it shouldn't be used... That's what I'm about not against, but why I'm not a big fan of rap music. You sell what people are fighting for and fighting for, and you make money by selling it to white kids? I don't like it."

He continued: 'So Chuck D and I made a song... I wrote the song and, then he raped in the middle, and he just said 'die, N-word, die.' That's right.'

To note. N-words have negative connotations in the context of insulting or discrediting African-Americans or black people in general. N-words are one of the harsh words, which cannot be spoken carelessly. These words are often found on social media or in a song lyrics. Some examples of the word N word, namely 'nig*', 'nig*r', and negr*.

Mellencamp and Maher continue to argue uncomfortable about the topic of whether black people's lives have improved in the US over the past few decades.

"I wrote a song that I never recorded because I thought it was wrong. But the title is From thetanium Fields to the Playing Fields. I mean, yes, then what if the lives of black people are now better]? We white people are happy if black people entertain us, "Mellencamp's response.

He continued: 'There is 1 percent or 2 percent of black people in America who have a better life.'

Mellencamp then went on to discuss an incident involving a black friend of his son who was killed in Los Angeles.