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Radio 1 Stories: What the &%@*!? - Swearing in Music

What the &%@*!? - Swearing in Music

08/04/2013

BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1 Stories, What the &%@*!? - Swearing in Music

Radio 1 explores swearing in music. This show contains very strong language.

With artists questioning the use of the word b**** in modern music, Jameela Jamil looks at the relationship between bad words and good songs! Contains very strong language.

When, in September 2012, Kanye West asked via Twitter if the word 'B****' is acceptable, it was a very public display of one of the biggest artists in the world trying to understand the boundaries of language in music.

Presented by Jameela Jamil, In 'What the &%@*!?' we look at what B**** and other 'swear words' mean to popular music today. We talk to established artists like Example as well as breaking acts like Mikill Pane, K Koke, L Marshall, SOAK and Lady Leshurr to find out how much swearing matters to them and when they feel certain words can and can't be used.

We take you through the history of swearing in music - from Prodigy's 'Smack My B**** Up' and Cee-Lo Green's 'F-You', to Azealia Banks' '212'.

With words like 'B****' becoming an issue for artists like Kanye and Lupe Fiasco, but not for others, we ask why this might be the case? When we're exposed to an uncensored internet do these words still have the power to shock?

The management at Radio 1 tell us about the station's relationship with swearing and how Radio 1 deals with those little words for those listeners they may offended by them. We also hear from the founder of 'B**** Magazine', and try to find out whether it is better to re-claim words like 'B****' for something positive, or if that's even possible at all.

Swearing can be used to offend, to aid expression and for no reason at all. 'What the &%@*!?' is an honest portrayal of why and how artists use swearing in 2013 and what young people think of it. 

This programme will obviously contain very strong language - if you're easily offended please turn off now.

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