I was cruising down the road with my children when a catchy tune from Cardi B, “I Like It,” started playing. It was our first listen, and my kids are big fans of Cardi B, which I love because it’s empowering to see their favorite artist is a woman. We were dancing and laughing at her line about Balenciagas that mimic socks, having a blast—until I heard her sing, “Beat it up like piñatas.”
In that moment, I was glad to be behind the wheel while my kids were buckled in the backseat. I could practically feel my face transform into the infamous hollow-eyed scream emoji. Just as I braced for my inquisitive 10-year-old to ask, “Mom, what does that mean?” my six-year-old saved me by asking about Minecraft, allowing me to sidestep the impending conversation. Later at home, I discreetly searched “beat it up like piñatas meaning” and was relieved to find that SafeSearch worked its magic, yielding vague results.
When my kids have questions about sex, I’m all for providing age-appropriate answers. However, this particular phrase has layers of meaning related to sex, violence, consent, and hip-hop culture that my boys simply aren’t ready to tackle yet. It’s like they’re in Sex Ed 101, while “beating it up like piñatas” is reserved for a more advanced course.
Since the rise of FM radio, questionable lyrics in songs have been a constant. I’m generally okay with that; my kids will come to understand these innuendos, just like I eventually did with Cyndi Lauper’s “She Bop.” Some misheard lyrics can even be amusing. For instance, Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” would crack me up if it really went, “Last night you were in my room/And now my butt cheeks smell like you.”
That said, I’m not keen on explaining certain concepts—like “f***ing hoes and popping pillies”—to my young children. We can hold off on that discussion until they’re a bit older. For now, I’d prefer to cringe quietly and hope they’re not paying too much attention to these tracks.
1. Dua Lipa, “New Rules”
This sultry British pop star croons, “You know you’re going to wake up in his bed in the morning/And if you’re under him, you’re not getting over him.” Sure, it’s clever and made me chuckle initially, but I’m not ready to explain the missionary position just yet.
2. Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow”
It’s honestly awkward when my kids rap along, and suddenly Cardi mentions, “My p**** feel like a lake.” Sure, the radio bleeps it out, but I’m not sure if they know what that means. Let’s get through 5th grade Sex Ed first before diving into Bardi’s intimate details, okay?
3. Ariana Grande, “Side to Side”
According to Genius.com, this song’s title refers to the sore waddle that can occur after sex. Just thinking about explaining that to my kids makes me cringe.
4. Post Malone featuring 21 Savage, “Rockstar”
I am a fan of Post Malone’s quirky style, but when 21 Savage raps, “Hit it from the back/Pulling on her tracks/And now she’s screaming out ‘No mas,’” I find myself ducking down in my seat. If the kids ask, I’ll just pretend I have no idea what’s going on. And those mentions of popping pills? I’ll just say Post Malone has a headache needing some Advil.
5. G-Eazy, “No Limit”
With A$AP Rocky’s chorus stating, “If I hit it one time, I’ma pipe her/If I hit it two times, then I like her/If I hit it three times, I’ma wife her,” this track ranks high on the misogyny scale. Yikes! It’s an opportunity to teach my sons about respect for women, but we need to cover a lot of ground before we get to this level.
It’s nearly impossible to shield kids from risqué music unless I turn off the radio altogether or stick to pre-approved playlists. I don’t feel the need to do that; my kids will hear these songs regardless. My role is to explain things as they become appropriate, and bury my head in the sand when they’re not. Is that not the plan? Just kidding! If they inquire about lyrics too advanced for their age, I’ll explain that we need to hold off on the topic for now and revisit it when they’re older.
Hoping they don’t catch on to what these songs are really about, I’d honestly prefer a root canal than explaining what “Boolin’ with a thot-thot/She gon’ give me top-top” means.
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In summary, while pop music often comes with suggestive lyrics that can lead to awkward conversations, it’s part of modern life. As parents, we must navigate these discussions thoughtfully, ensuring our kids are ready for whatever comes their way.