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‘14 Crime-Filled, Criminal Songs’ features songs with either the world ‘crime’ or ‘criminal’ in their song title. Features artists on the list include Britney Spears, Lil Dicky, and Miguel.  

No sense in lying – “the truth will set you free!” The title – 14 Crime-Filled, Criminal Songs – is deceptive.  Sure, the 14 songs that grace this playlist have either the word crime or criminal in their song titles.  But, all of these songs aren’t necessarily that bad. Artists featured on this playlist include Britney Spears, Lil Dicky, Miguel, and many more.

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1. Miguel, “Criminal”

Ft. Rick Ross

War & Leisure • RCA • 2017

“I know I’m dicey / Oh, it’s so good it feels criminal, ha / This shit’s gotta be criminal, ha / The way I keep killing you / Though I’m dangerous, ha, yeah / It’s so good it feels criminal, ah /This shit’s gotta be criminal, ah.”

What’s so bad about “Criminal,” at least in the context of Miguel? Lush production, rich sounds, the sexy vocals Miguel himself, not to mention Rick Ross riding the beat like a champ. Oh, and there’s the aforementioned chorus – a major selling point.

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2. Pop Evil, “A Crime to Remember”

Pop Evil • Entertainment One • 2018

“Yeah, this is a crime to remember / Was broken apart / Won’t go back together / Yeah, this is a crime to remember / For better for worse / You won’t forget forever / Yeah, for better for worse / You won’t forget forever / Yeah, show me the truth / Show me the truth.” – chorus

“A Crime to Remember?” More like a song to remember.  There’s nothing criminal about the chorus, which is the crowning achievement of this rock standout.

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3. Lil Dicky, “White Crime”

Professional Rapper • Commission / David Burd • 2015

“Yeah, people acting like I ain’t a fucking criminal (aight bruh) / Like I ain’t never doing dirt though / Prolly ‘cause the way I’m doing shit is clinical / Yeah / But I’ve been putting in some work, brah / I see you looking at me cynical (stop looking at me) / I ain’t fucking with your smirk, hoe (it’s condescending) / We been doing shit despicable (no sleep).” – Verse one

Lil Dicky is an anomaly.  On the one hand, the highly-intelligent, graduate of Richmond has an excellent flow on his hands.  On the other hand, it’s hard to take him seriously because he’s also a comedian.  Talk about criminal situations man.

“White crime (white crime) / White crime (white crime) / Yeah, we ’bout that, do a lot of dirt, never doubt that / Lotta rap twerps love to shout crap / Love to make they mouth flap / When it come to Burd, know he spout facts / You gon’ learn what I’m ’bout, brah.” – hook

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4. Britney Spears, “Criminal”

Femme Fatale • RCA • 2011

“But mama, I’m in love with a criminal / And this type of love isn’t rational, it’s physical / Mama please don’t cry, I will be alright / All reason aside, I just can’t deny, love the guy.” – chorus

Britney Spears just can’t help it, Y’all – she’s in love with a criminal.  “Mama, please don’t cry.”

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5. Anti-Flag, “The Criminals”

American Fall • Spinefarm • 2017

“These are the days that test your heart and soul / Strap yourself in for the American Fall / Day after day it is all crash and burn / A nation hijacked by the criminals.”

Aggressive, ‘in your face’ vocals, minor key, and a shit-ton of angst. Need more evidence – see the outro.

“Reject the criminality / That monetizes our humanity / Construct a new reality / Where you’re not just a number, you’re a name / We’ll never have our dignity / Till all you fascists are six feet deep.”

 

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6. Michael Jackson, “Smooth Criminal”

Bad • Epic • 1987

“Annie, are you okay? / Will you tell us that you’re okay? / There’s a sound at the window / Then he struck – a crescendo, Annie / He came into your apartment / Left the bloodstains on the carpet / And then you ran into the bedroom / You were struck down / It was your doom…/ You’ve been hit by – / You’ve been hit by – / A smooth criminal.”

Question – “Annie, are you okay?” Another question – Honestly, did you think we’d have a criminal playlist without including the King of Pop? C’mon.

 

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7. Fiona Apple, “Criminal”

Tidal • Sony BMG Music Entertainment • 1997

“What I need is a good defense / Cause I’m feelin’ like a criminal / And I need to be redeemed / To the one I’ve sinned against / Because he’s all I ever knew of love.” – chorus

Ah, another classic example of the utterly criminal in popular music.  This bad boy earned Fiona Apple a Grammy for the now defunct Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

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8. Eminem, “Criminal”

The Marshall Mathers LP • Interscope • 2000

“My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge / That’ll stab you in the head, whether you’re a fag or lez / Or a homosex, hermaph, or a trans-a-vest / Pants or dress, hate fags? The answer’s yes / Homophobic? Nah, you’re just heterophobic / Staring at my jeans, watching my genitals bulgin’ / That’s my motherfuckin’ balls, you’d better let go of ‘em / They belong in my scrotum, you’ll never get hold of ‘em…” – verse one

Eminem closes The Marshall Mathers LP with a bang – nothing’s shocking. Obviously, the criminal is the always the raw rapper.  

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9. Lindsay Ell, “Criminal”

The Project • Stoney Creek • 2017

“I don’t wanna close my eyes / Why pretend I’m going to sleep / When I know damn well I’m gonna keep lying here wide awake? / Waiting for the breath you take, to come back / I can’t relax, I’m a tiger pacing in my cage / Cocked like a twelve gauge / Feeling like a teenage crush / You’re the habit that I can never get enough of / Boy, what you do to me is criminal.” – verse one

Sorta like Britney Spears, Lindsay Ell has fallen in love with a criminal. His love is just too good to resist.

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10. Lukas Graham, “Better Than Yourself (Criminal Mind Pt. 2)”

Lukas Graham • Warner Bros. • 2016

“You got your head up / But I don’t have my hopes high / I know that you’re a good man / And that’s what, brings a tear to my eye / I hope you know you’re not alone in that hell / And there ain’t, no / No once can change it / No one can do it better than yourself.” – chorus

Need a perfect example of using a classical staple in a pop song? Look no further than the utterly criminal “Better Than Yourself (Criminal Mind Pt. 2)” by Danish pop band, Lukas Graham.  The classical piece? Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.

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11.Mayer Hawthorne, “Crime”

Ft. Kendrick Lamar

Where Does This Door Go • Republic • 2013

“We just wanna party / We don’t mean no harm / Don’t wanna hurt nobody / But they make it so hard / We just wanna party / Just wanna rock all night / Don’t wanna hurt nobody / No need to be uptight / It’s a crime.” – Chorus (Mayer Hawthorne)

Mayer Hawthorne doesn’t look like your typical R&B artist. Doesn’t matter – he’s got a sick set of pipes.  He managed to get then rising rapper Kendrick Lamar on “Crime.” Corny as it may sound, there’s no crime in that!  Of course, Hawthorne describes this song as his “‘Fuck the police’ song”.

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12. Disturbed, “Criminal”

Indestructible • Reprise • 2008

“Malevolent criminal, I / When the vision paints my mind / Cross the invisible line / And you’ll be paid in kind / Criminal / The suffering / It makes me feel like a / Criminal / The suffering / When we’re alone.”

“Criminal” checks off the boxes of a Disturbed song.  Angular, jagged guitars, pummeling drums, and assertive, edgy vocals.

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13. Tyler Farr, “Criminal”

Suffer in Peace • Sony Music Entertainment • 2015

“You kicked my door in and stole my heart away and / Took all my lonely nights and ran off with my bad days / Girl you didn’t leave nothing but the wonderful / You’re a beautiful criminal.”

She took it all – she’s a criminal. Like the ladies who describe their dudes as a criminal, Tyler Farr flips the script.    

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14. Slayer, “Criminally Insane”

Reign in Blood • American • 1986

“Night will come and I will follow / For my victims, no tomorrow / Make it fast, your time of sorrow / On his trail, I’ll make you follow / Quarters for the criminally insane / The sentence read for life I must remain / The path I chose has led me to my grave / To try again I’d have no other way.”

Slayer has always been a polarizing metal band – big time understatement.  Regardless, “Criminally Insane” sounds true to its title.  Tom Araya is aggressive to the nth degree, filled with the utmost angst.  It’s not all vocals though – those guitars are pretty animated and hellish as well. Oh, and that aforementioned statement made about the deceptive title of this playlist – this song is truly crime-filled an utterly criminal.

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