Offensive lyrics

An increasing proportion of records contain lyrics which are offensive to some groups, especially to minority ethnic groups, to women or to those of another race or religion. Such records may carry explicit lyrics descriptive of or advocating one or more of the following: suicide, sodomy, incest, bestiality, sadomasochism, sexual activity in a violent context, murder, morbid violence, illegal use of drugs or alcohol. In the USA in 1993 harsh rap lyrics, written and performed by blacks have been attacked by other blacks because of their references to mugging, killing and beating women, and sexual behaviour. In 1994 in the UK a Catholic priest claimed that a musical, in which a topless women offered her body to a corrupt pope, was blasphemous.