Before today’s playlists filled with explicit lyrics and streaming-era shock value (Cardi and Megan and your WAP song, we’re talking to you), there were songs that made folks blush, gasp, and quietly reach for the volume knob when elders walked into the room.
These were the tracks that sparked raised eyebrows at family cookouts, awkward silence during car rides, and swift commands from the living room: “Turn that mess off!”
But here’s the thing – while they may have scandalized a generation, many of these songs are also classics. They pushed boundaries, celebrated sensuality, and proved that Black music has always known how to mix romance, humor, and a little bit of boldness.
From slow-burning seduction to downright hilarious innuendo, here are 10 older songs that made our grandmothers clutch their pearls.
1. Prince – “Do Me, Baby” (1981)
When Prince released “Do Me, Baby,” it wasn’t just a song; it was an experience. Clocking in at nearly eight minutes, the track is a slow, intimate seduction that leaves very little to the imagination.
Prince whispers, pleads, and croons his way through lyrics so explicit for the time that many radio listeners shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
For some, it was romantic. For others, it was the moment someone’s mama yelled from the kitchen, “You better change that station.” For me, it was the song that got me snatched up by my ponytail by my mama for slithering while I sang it.
2. Clarence Carter – “Strokin’” (1986)
If subtlety had a complete opposite, it might be Clarence Carter’s “Strokin’.” The blues legend delivered one of the most unapologetically explicit songs ever to hit the airwaves, complete with playful storytelling and a chorus that left absolutely no doubt about what he meant.
The track quickly became a staple at parties – and a guaranteed way to make somebody’s grandmother walk out of the room shaking her head. And it happened to be my mama’s favorite,
3. Marvin Sease – “Candy Licker” (1987)
This one might be the ultimate pearl-clutching blues song. Marvin Sease didn’t bother with metaphor. The lyrics are so explicit that radio stations rarely played the song in full—but it became a massive hit on the blues circuit anyway.
This was the song that made me realize my parents were nasty AF and had me side-eyeing all of their complaints about my music!
4. Marvin Gaye – “Let’s Get It On” (1973)
Marvin Gaye didn’t shout his intentions. He whispered them. “Let’s Get It On” became one of the most iconic sensual songs in music history. The silky vocals and smooth groove created the ultimate slow jam.
Still, for many elders, the song felt a little too direct. What younger listeners heard as romance, older generations sometimes heard as a bold invitation that didn’t belong blasting through the living room speakers.
4. Rick James – “Super Freak” (1981)
Rick James didn’t do subtle. With funky bass lines and unapologetic swagger, “Super Freak” celebrated a woman who definitely didn’t fit the mold of the “nice girls” many parents expected their kids to date.
It was catchy. It was bold. And it had more than a few parents raising eyebrows.
Of course, that didn’t stop anyone from dancing when it came on.
5. Millie Jackson – “Slow Tongue” (1977)
Millie Jackson built an entire career around saying the quiet part out loud. Her music often mixed soul with spoken-word storytelling that was raw, funny, and undeniably explicit. “Slow Tongue” was no exception.
Jackson’s fearless lyrics and comedic delivery made her a legend—but also guaranteed that elders might clear their throats and suggest turning to something a little more “respectable.”
6. Prince – “Darling Nikki” (1984)
Prince makes the list twice—and for good reason.
“Darling Nikki” shocked listeners with lyrics about a risqué encounter in a hotel lobby. The song became so controversial that it reportedly helped inspire the creation of the Parental Advisory label in the mid-1980s.
For many parents, it was the moment they realized they needed to pay closer attention to what their kids were listening to.
7. Silk – “Freak Me” (1992)
By the early ’90s, R&B slow jams were getting more direct. Silk’s “Freak Me” became an instant bedroom anthem, with lyrics that made it clear the song wasn’t meant for innocent ears.
Still, the smooth vocals and irresistible groove made it impossible not to sing along, even if you pretended you didn’t know the words when elders were around.
8. Adina Howard – “Freak Like Me” (1995)
When Adina Howard released “Freak Like Me,” she flipped the script. Instead of being the subject of desire, she owned it—loudly and proudly.
The song shocked some listeners with its bold celebration of female sexuality. But it also became an empowering anthem that helped redefine how women expressed confidence and control in R&B.
10. Khia – “My Neck, My Back (Lick It)” (2002)
**********CLICK THIS LINK AT YOUR OWN RISK BECAUSE KHIA IS RAW************
If pearl-clutching had a soundtrack, this might be it.
Khia’s breakout hit was so explicit that even the radio edit couldn’t hide what the song was about. The lyrics sparked plenty of controversy, but the song also became a cultural phenomenon that still gets reactions anytime it comes on.
Honorable Mention
F.P.J. – “Lick it” (2025)
There is no shortage of explicit songs out today….but here’s a modern entry keeping the freaky tradition alive. This is a new-to-me Southern Soul song that’s been making the rounds on the grown-folks blues circuit. When I heard it, I clutched my pearls, my mama’s pearls, and my sister’s pearls—then immediately sent it to all my girlfriends.
With lyrics like “You’d better learn how to lick it like you’re learning to eat a neckbone” this will definitely go down in the freaky hall of fame songbook.
The truth about “Nasty” songs
While these songs might have scandalized previous generations, they also represent something deeper: music’s long tradition of pushing boundaries.
What’s funny about these songs is that while elders might have told us to turn them off, many of those same songs have become classics—played at family reunions, cookouts, and grown-folks parties everywhere.
And if we’re being honest, some of the same grandmothers who told us to change the station probably knew every word.
