Geezer Butler calls Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s WAP “disgusting”
How does the WAP controversy compare to heavy metal moral panic?
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Geezer Butler is known for his part in the creation of heavy metal, which raised quite a few eyebrows from its inception, what with all of the dark imagery and discordant, downtuned guitars. However, the Black Sabbath bassist has spoken out about the recent controversial pop hit, Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B’s WAP, which upon its release back in August made headlines for its explicit lyrics and video.
Speaking to Kerrang, Butler contextualised his thoughts, discussing how most radically new music invokes the ire of some commentators: “That’s really about the fact that whatever new music comes out, it’s viewed as the devil’s music. I remember when Elvis came out everybody said he was Satan. And then in the ‘60s and ‘70s, he became America’s national treasure.”
“It happens with every new wave of music. Like metal, obviously. The Christians were going mental when Sabbath came about. And then when rap came about, people were up in arms about that and certain words that rappers were using.”
Butler goes on to note that WAP is perhaps the exception that proves the rule: “I have to say, though, that Cardi B pisses me off with that WAP song. It’s disgusting! But there you go,” he said. “A friend of mine didn’t know what the song was about but his 10-year-old girl was singing it! I was like ‘What?!’ To put it on album, fair enough. But to put it out as a single… It’s a bit much. Then again, I’m 71. A bloody old goat!”
Regardless of your personal thoughts on WAP’s message and lyrics, it’s hard to disagree with Butler when it comes to a 10-year-old singing them. But, perhaps the same was said back in 1970 with the release of Black Sabbath’s own take on the controversial three-letter acronym song N.I.B.
The last time the worlds of rock and WAP collided was no less controversial than the song itself, when Biffy Clyro covered the song, invoking a confused response from many. However, their version skirted most of the explicit lyrics, reworking them into a Biffy Clyro-based nonsensical word salad.