“11 Songs That are Dangerous, Violent, or Otherwise” features music courtesy of Jessie J, Kanye West, Marilyn Manson, and YUNGBLUD among others.

“Right now, / I feel like an alien / I’m so f**kin’ dangerous.” Simmer down there YUNGBLUD, simmer down there buddy.  Unfortunately, the songs that make up this particular playlist are dangerous, violent, and otherwise.  In some cases, much like young YUNGBLUD above, it would be best not to mess around with these people. “11 Songs That Are Dangerous, Violent, or Otherwise” features music courtesy of Jessie J, Kanye West, Marilyn Manson, and YUNGBLUD among others.

1. Jessie J, “Dangerous”

R.O.S.E. (Sex) • Republic • 2018 

“Your silence drives me crazy / Talking with your hands gets me naked.” Definitely, DEFINITELY dangerous stuff there Jessie J. “Dangerous” appears on R.O.S.E. (Sex) EP, where Jessie J characterizes her newfound man as dangerous.  Despite knowing he’s “trouble,” she admits, “the sex got me screaming hallelujah.” Whether you’re a young adult or grown all-the-way-up, know that sex can get you in trouble – it can be “dangerous.”  An expressive track, J sings passionately over the cool synths, soulful, rhythmic guitar, and the driving, throwback groove.

2. YG, “Handgun” (Ft. A$AP Rocky)

Stay Dangerous • Def Jam • 2018

Does YG ‘Stay Dangerous’ on his single “Handgun”? You bet he does! “Handgun” commences with sketchy, seedy-sounding, mysterious synths at the onset. YG drops a loosely, pop-rapped hook on this rhythmic joint, which grows catchier with successive listens.  On the verses, his rhymes are repetitive at times, yet still ‘amped-up’ as he raps about sex and shooting. Hey – both of those things can get you in serious trouble! A$AP Rocky takes the second verse, exhibiting gimmicky as well, while adding a couple more topics to his ‘arsenal’ – shooting, lux, money, sex. Still, he doesn’t serve up a surprise rap lyric gourmet… Ultimately, “Handgun” is a respectable listen that’s DEFINITELY dangerous.

3. YUNGBLUD, “Kill Somebody”

21^st Century Liability • Geffen • 2018

“Today you made me feel irrelevant / Twisted my intelligence / Made it seem there’s no brain in my head / I’m like a skeleton, I can’t shut my eyes.” Shame on you, you bully!  On the violent “Kill Somebody,” YUNGBLUD (Dominic Harrison) expresses his desires to kill someone who brought him down badly. “All I wanna do is kill somebody / Kill somebody / Kill somebody like you.” Ouch! It’s metaphorical in the big scheme of things, but, Harrison wishes to emphasize the reality that can come of such a scenario.

“And yeah, you may think, you may think this is a metaphor / Something you’ve never heard before / A note I found on the floor / And subconsciously pinned to the door / But then you motherf*ckers could cross a mountain / And I still wouldn’t believe what you thought.”

4. Kanye West, “I Thought About Killing You”

Ye • GOOD/Def Jam • 2018

The ever-polarizing Kanye West commences his brief, 2018 album, Ye, with a bang. The bang is the rather off-putting, bluntly-titled “I Thought About Killing You.” This is creepy, particularly if you’ve read about the mindset of psychopaths and serial killers – not suggesting that West falls in that category, of course. Still, during the spoken word portion, one has to wonder what West is thinking.  Is he really exploring premeditated murder or does this tie in with his bipolar disorder?  The most sensible answer is he’s referencing his mental health.  He goes on to rap one big verse, incorporating ample wordplay, referencing how others describe and view him, as well as how he views himself.  It’s odd, but certainly interesting, if for no other reason than attempting to get into his headspace.

5. Meek Mill, “Dangerous” (Ft. Jeremih & PnB Rock)

Legends of Summer (EP) • Atlantic • 2018 

“Dangerous” finds Meek Mill collaborating with Jeremih and fellow Philly rapper/singer, PnB Rock.  Jeremih and PnB Rock work equally well in their own extended solo parts, as well as trading lines and singing simultaneously.  This is the love/sex joint from Legends of Summer (EP) – totally different from the other three records.  The sound is chiller and lighter. According to the sexually-charged Mill, “‘Cause now you rocking with a real one / And when I’m in it, you be maxin’ on a million.”

6. Marilyn Manson, “WE KNOW WHERE YOU F*CKING LIVE”

Heaven Upside Down • Loma Vista • 2017

From the start of “WE KNOW WHERE YOU F*CKING LIVE”, Marilyn Manson isn’t playing around in the least, exhibiting ample intensity.  This is one truly black song. The chorus is incredibly assertive, with Manson on autopilot, screaming to the top of his lungs.

“We know where you fucking live

We know where you fucking live

We’ll burn it down, burn it down

They won’t even recognize your corpse.”

As epic as the chorus is, the bridge is simply devastating. Lyrically, it’s all about repetition, but the impact has a pulverizing effect: “Fire, fire, fire, fire, fire away!” Ultimately, “WE KNOW WHERE YOU FUCKING LIVE” is well-produced featuring an awesome performance by Manson.

7. The xx, “Dangerous”

I See You • Young Turks • 2017

“They say we’re in danger / But I disagree / If proven wrong, shame on me / but you’v had faith in me.” The xx have a slightly different idea of dangerousness compared to Marilyn Manson who precedes them. “Dangerous” kicks off I See You with a ‘controlled punch.’  While the brass hits give the opener an edge, the record never grows raucous or loses a sense of control.  Nonetheless, the groove is infectious, while the cool, calm, and collected approach of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim is successful. Perhaps characterizing “Dangerous” as electrifying is an overstatement, but it definitely sets the bar high for I See You.

“They say / You are dangerous, but I don’t care / I’m going to pretend that I’m not scared / If this only ends in tears / Then I won’t say goodbye / ‘Cause I couldn’t care less / If they call us reckless / Until they are breathless / They must be blind.”

8. Logic, “Killing Spree” (Ft. Ansel Elgort)

Everybody • Def Jam • 2017

For “Killing Spree,” Grammy-nominated rapper Logic tapped Gus from The Fault in Our Stars as a featured guest. In all seriousness, we’re referencing  actor-musician Ansel Elgort, who sings the second verse. In the context of Everybody, the violent “Killing Spree” features some of the hardest hitting production of Everybody. It serves a perfect fuel for the fire for Logic, who is on autopilot.  His autopilot status is solidified on the hook, where he criticizes society’s shallowness as a whole:  “Ass, titties, pussy, money, weed / Everywhere I look a killing spree / All the things they wanted me to e / Is all the things that I turned out to be.”

Throughout the course of the song, he contrasts legit concerns with first world problems:

“Real shit goin’ on in Lebanon

But I don’t give a fuck, my favorite show is coming on

Hashtag pray for this, pray for that

But you ain’t doing shit, get away from that.”

See just how dangerous and violence this record is? Man, oh man!

9. Ariana Grande, “Dangerous Woman”

Dangerous Woman • Republic • 2016

“All that you got / Skin to skin, oh my God / Don’t ya stop, boy.” Sigh, years before proclaiming “God is a Woman”, Grammy-nominated pop artist Ariana Grande proclaimed herself to be a dangerous woman.  “Dangerous Woman” was certainly a change of pace from the Grande music of old, set in a minor key and embracing more of an edgy, risqué sound. To answer the burning question, besides the music itself, what or who makes Grande dangerous? YOU – rather her man, if you listen to the lyrics from the chorus. “Somethin’ bout you makes me feel like a dangerous woman / Somethin’ ‘bout, somethin’ ‘bout, somethin’ ‘bout you / Makes me wanna do things that I shouldn’t …” So, she’s dangerous because of a three-letter word…

10. Metallica, “Here Comes Revenge”

Hardwired…To Self-Destruct • Blackened • 2016 

“Little grave I’m grieving, I will mend you / Sweet revenge I’m dreaming, I will end you.” Metallica totally aren’t playing around on “Here Comes Revenge.” “Here Comes Revenge” is epic – rather, it continues the epic nature of Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” adds more Biblical fare to the mix, following mention of Adam and the Garden of Eden in the previous record.  The Biblical ties extend beyond Matthew 5:38.  Before uttering the aforementioned, James Hetfield proclaims:

“I’ve been here since dawn of time / Countless hatreds build my shrine / I was born in anger’s flame / He was Abel, I was Cain.”

As the story goes, Cain kills his brother Abel because the Lord didn’t approve of his offering, but approved of Abel’s.

11. Lana Del Rey, “Ultraviolence”

Ultraviolence • Interscope • 2014

“Jim raised me up, he hurt me but it felt like true love / Jim taught me that, loving him was never enough.” Ah, what better way to close out this dangerous, violent list than with a dash of Lana Del Rey.  Del Rey isn’t one of the ‘brightest’ artists in the game – she keeps it pretty dark.  A perfect example is “Ultraviolence,” from my personal favorite Lana Del Rey album, Ultraviolence (2014).  Naturally, the record is set in a minor key, characterized by its eerie, unsettling nature.  Besides the instrumental backdrop, as well as Del Rey’s distinct vocal performance, the reason why “Ultraviolence” is so chilling is because of its subject matter.  According to Del Rey (via Culture News), it’s about the cult leader of the underground group of which she was a former member.

“With his Ultraviolence / Ultraviolence / Ultraviolence / Ultraviolence / I can hear sirens, sirens / He hit me and it felt like a kiss / I can hear violins, violins / Give me all of that Ultraviolence.”

Photo Credits: Atlantic, Blackened, Def Jam, Geffen, GOOD, Interscope, Loma Vista, Republic, Young Turks