Back in 2001, John Mellencamp released “Cuttin’ Heads,” an unlikely team-up with hip-hop icon Chuck D. The singer-songwriter reflected on some of the song’s more contentious lyrics in a new episode of Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, explaining why he doesn’t think rappers — even Black ones — shouldn’t use the N-word in their songs.

{snip} “We were talking about the N-word. We were talking about how it’s not supposed to be used… That’s what I have against — not against, but why I’m not a big fan of rap music. You guys are selling out what the people stood up for and fought for, and you’re making money off of it selling it to white kids? I don’t like it.”

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{snip} “I wrote a song that I never recorded because I thought it was wrong,” Mellencamp added. “But it was called ‘From the Fucking Cotton Fields to the Playing Fields.’ My point is that, yes, so what [if Black people’s lives are better now]? Us white people love to have Black people entertain us.”

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