#8: “The Real Slim Shady” by Eminem

In the early 2000s, a Colorado radio station found itself in hot water with the FCC for airing a clean version of Eminem’s The Real Slim Shady. Despite removing explicit language, the FCC deemed the song’s “context and innuendo” inappropriate, resulting in a fine.

The controversy highlighted the FCC’s strict broadcasting standards, especially concerning suggestive content. Meanwhile, The Real Slim Shady thrived, becoming a cultural phenomenon and reinforcing Eminem’s reputation as a provocative yet brilliant lyricist.