A musical collaboration between Brad Paisley and LL Cool J entitled “Accidental Racist” has (shockingly) not been received very well. The pair tackle the admittedly complicated topic of race relations, but the lyrics (not to mention the song’s country music/hip-hop fusion) come across, as well, a little awkward.
Along with hard-hitting lines like “the relationship between the Mason-Dixon needs some fixin’”, the song’s lyics largely seems to aim to tackle stereotypes involving fashion choices: “If you don’t judge my do-rag, I won’t judge your red flag”, “When I put on that t-shirt, the only thing I meant to say is I’m a Skynyrd fan, The red flag on my chest somehow is like the elephant in the corner of the south”, “If you don’t judge my gold chains, I’ll forget the iron chains”, and “when I see that white cowboy hat, I’m thinkin’ it’s not all good”. Paisley has since defended the song, saying “… I wouldn’t change a thing … This is a record meant to be FAR from easy listening …” He’s certainly right about that …
