Top 20 Songs That Bombed So Hard They Killed a Musician's Career

#20: Mo Bounce (2017)

Iggy Azalea

In 2014, Iggy Azalea was on top of the world, thanks to the success of singles Fancy and Black Widow. However, backlash towards the Australian rapper was growing, particularly accusations of cultural appropriation. The chart performance of her singles gradually deteriorated. That brings us to Mo Bounce. It's an in-your-face EDM rap track that feels like it's at least three years out of date. It was also Azaleas first song since breaking out to fail to chart in the U.S. Shes experienced middling success at best since then, and the odds of Iggy Azalea ever having another genuine hit seem slim to none.

#19: Shock to the System (1993)

Billy Idol

Its hard to think of an artist who better exemplifies the flashy ethos of 80s popular music than Billy Idol. A fixture on the radio and MTV, Idol thrived in the era of new wave dominance. But as tastes and trends changed in the early 90s, Idol went from hip to has-been. Shock to the System, from Idols ill-conceived concept album, Cyberpunk, was reportedly inspired by the Los Angeles riots of the previous year. Its a strange fit for an artist not generally known for protest music. Shock to the System did not chart in the U.S., Cyberpunk was a bonafide flop, and Idol wouldnt release another new studio album for more than a decade.

#18: Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up (1996)

Paula Abdul

Some artists can go away for a few years and return to the same level of popularity as before. That wasnt the case with Paula Abdul. After seeing an incredible run of six consecutive number-one singles, Abduls subsequent songs started seeing weaker performances. The four-year gap between her albums Spellbound and Head over Heels didn't help matters. Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up was the third and final single released from Head over Heels. And to be clear, theres nothing particularly wrong with the funky dance-pop song. But it also essentially failed to chart anywhere, making it clear that Paula Abduls time as an A-list pop star was over.

#17: Eat You Alive (2003)

Limp Bizkit

In the late 90s and early 2000s, there was no band more simultaneously reviled and popular than Limp Bizkit. But even if Nookie and Rollin werent exactly cerebral, they at least managed to be guilty pleasure fun. Eat You Alive, the lead single from the bands album Results May Vary, is the opposite of fun. Instead, its brooding, grim, and creepy, and not in a good way. Guitarist Wes Borland having left the band didnt help matters either. It failed to chart on the Hot 100 and essentially indicated that we needed an extended break from Fred Durst and company.

#16: I Hit It First (2013)

Ray J feat. Bobby Brackins

Though he saw decent success as an R&B artist, Ray J is arguably best known for his past relationship with Kim Kardashian, including their infamous sex tape. In 2013, cashing in on his exs notoriety, Ray J released I Hit it First, a not-at-all subtle song about his previous romantic escapades. If it wasnt already obvious who the song is about, the video makes it painfully clear. "I Hit It First" managed to hit 51 on the charts, and no other Ray J song has since charted. If this was supposed to be a flex, it definitely wasnt earned.

#15: Think U the St (Fart) (2024)

Ice Spice

With collabs like "Boy's a Liar Pt. 2" and "Barbie World" and an appearance on a remix of Taylor Swift's "Karma," Ice Spice seemed poised to be the next female rap superstar. But the underperformance of her debut studio album Y2K! slowed down her momentum considerably. It likely would've fared better if the lead single wasn't this, a blatantly low-effort boast track centered around a very juvenile title. It peaked at 37 and Ice Spice's chart fortunes haven't improved since. It may be too soon to say her time in the spotlight is definitely over, but we know a fading career when we see one.

#14: Ninja Rap (1991)

Vanilla Ice

Though Ice Ice Baby made history as the first rap song to top the U.S. Hot 100, it didnt make everyone fall in love with Vanilla Ice. Follow-up single I Love You only peaked at number 52. Less than a year later, Ice appeared in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze and provided a song for the films soundtrack. But while the film itself was a hit, Ninja Rap completely failed on the charts. Not even the Ninja Turtles could make up for how uncool Vanilla Ice had become after his initial taste of fame.

#13: Hot Shower (2019)

Chance the Rapper feat. MadeinTYO & DaBaby

Chance the Rapper had built up immense goodwill with his early mixtapes. So, when it came time for him to drop his debut studio album, The Big Day, expectations were understandably high. But fans were largely disappointed, or in the case of second single Hot Shower, utterly baffled. Featuring an obnoxious beat and sub-mediocre rapping and lyricism from Chance, it feels like a prank on his listeners. DaBaby, then at the peak of his popularity, admittedly turns in a good verse. But that wasnt enough to redeem this track. Chance has since released numerous non-album singles, none of which have made any kind of meaningful commercial impact.

#12: Cleopatra's Cat (1994)

Spin Doctors

The success of "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" and "Two Princes" made the Spin Doctors into radio rock stars of the early 90s. But while they achieved commercial success, it seems they were also aiming to be regarded as intellectuals. Thats the only plausible explanation we can give as to why the lead single of their second album was a funky free-form song about ancient historical figures like Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. With no discernible hooks, the Spin Doctors lost their radio audience. And they didnt become critical darlings either. What they did become was a cautionary tale about the hazards of a bands ambitions outweighing its abilities.

#11: White Privilege II (2016)

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Jamila Woods

Theres no denying that White Privilege II is an audacious song. A nearly 9-minute-long examination of racism and its long-term generational effects, Macklemore showed that he wasnt afraid to take chances as an artist. Unfortunately, while well-intentioned, White Privilege II is overstuffed and self-important, feeling as though Macklemore is trying to de-center himself while also having as much of the spotlight as possible. While the song spawned plenty of discourse, it didnt fare well commercially. While Macklemore has continued making music, this marked a pretty definite turning point in his career.

#10 I Admit (2018)R. Kelly

The fact that R. Kelly recorded and released "I Admit" is itself evidence that his career was dead. After allegations and backlash against the R&B star grew, he dropped this 19-minute song where he denies the claims made against him and tries to regain his grasp of a narrative hes no longer in control of. The release of documentary series Surviving R. Kelly would only further the anti-Kelly sentiment, and he was eventually convicted of multiple counts of abuse. Hes now currently serving a 31-year combined prison sentence. Given its length and self-centered focus, its hard to imagine anyone but R. Kelly wanting to hear this.

#9 Literally I Can't (2014)

Redfoo

After the electro-pop duo LMFAO went on a hiatus in 2012, Redfoo kicked off his solo career and found success in Australia, where he became a judge on The X Factor. The party appeared to be rocking on until 2014 when he was featured on this song by production duo Play-N-Skillz. Many found the lyrics and music video to be misogynistic, and condemned the artists for seemingly promoting a culture of assault. Redfoo received the brunt of that criticism, with a petition calling for his dismissal from The X Factor judging panel amassing thousands of signatures. A few months later, Redfoo announced that he would be departing from the music competition series, after just two seasons. His once budding solo career never recovered.

#8: The Way You Love Me (2010)

Keri Hilson

Keri Hilsons career took a particularly racy turn with her 2010 sophomore album No Boys Allowed. Granted, she may not have been known as the most family friendly artist in the industry, but many were stunned when they heard Hilsons collaboration with Rick Ross, The Way You Love Me. While it was intended to show her wild side, the songs explicit lyrics drew overwhelmingly negative reactions. Critics felt it lacked substance and was merely an attempt to generate controversy and boost her album sales. If that was the aim, then it was pretty unsuccessful, as sales of her sophomore effort paled in comparison to those of her debut. . Hilson wouldnt release a new album until 2025.

#7: Everytime tha Beat Drop (2006)

Monica

R&B singer Monica rose to prominence in the mid-90s before achieving the biggest hit of her career with 1998s The Boy Is Mine. She remained a staple in R&B afterwards, with many of her subsequent records peaking in the top ten of the Billboard charts. However, in 2006, the Georgia-born singer released Everytime tha Beat Drop, bringing all of that success to a screeching halt. The lead single from her album The Makings of Me, this track was a significant departure from her usual style, and was seen by fans as a trend-chasing effort. As a result, the song barely cracked the top half of the Billboard Hot 100 and left a lasting stain on Monicas once spotless career.

#6: Intuition (2003)

Jewel

When folk singer Jewel made a move towards dance-pop with her 2003 album "0304," she was accused of "selling out." While lead single "Intuition" peaked at number 20, its modest success was greatly outdone by the backlash surrounding it. Though the song is ostensibly a critique of consumerism, the video feels like its trying to make Jewel into the next Britney Spears. And the song's topic was further undermined by its use in commercials for Schick Intuition razors. If Jewel really followed her intuition, she likely wouldnt have tried so desperately to keep up with trends.

#5: Flatline (2016)

B.o.B

Once upon a time, B.o.B was one of the hottest rappers on the block. The Decatur, Georgia artist earned a number-one hit with Nothin' on You in 2009. He followed that up with a string of top ten singles, featuring names like Hayley Williams, Eminem and Lil Wayne. Then, in 2016, B.o.B engaged in a heated Twitter debate with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, in which the rapper claimed that the earth is flat. As if that wasnt bad enough, he released Flatline, a single that not only dissed Tyson, but also touched on other bizarre conspiracy theories. Needless to say, the song pushed whatever was left of B.o.Bs career off the face of the earth.

#4: Pumps and a Bump (1994)

MC Hammer

Following the success of his fourth album Too Legit to Quit, MC Hammer, or simply Hammer, took a three-year hiatus, during which rumors began circulating that he had quit music. In 1994, he made a comeback with The Funky Headhunter, which was preceded by the single Pumps and a Bump. Seemingly in a bid to shed his squeaky-clean image, this song featured suggestive lyrics and a provocative music video, depicting Hammer in revealing attire. As a result, it received significant backlash and the video was banned by MTV. This caused the album to sell significantly lower than Hammers previous efforts. His popularity declined rapidly afterwards, ultimately contributing to his financial troubles a few years later.

#3 Womans World (2024)

Katy Perry

Katy Perry ruled the end of one decade and the beginning of the next. But then she started to stumble. Anticipation over a potential comeback in 2024 was quickly dissipated by news that Perry was reteaming with controversial producer Dr. Luke. Then, comeback single Womans World dropped and people were stunned. Tone-deaf, obnoxious, and painfully dated, it was able to get enough attention to hit number 63 on the Hot 100 before falling off. Perrys album 143 also flopped and her singles since then have stalled. A proper return isnt out of the question, but with each passing year, it feels less and less likely.

#2: Get Her Back (2014)

Robin Thicke

Throughout history, people have gone to extraordinary lengths to win back their exes. Some end up being successful, while others, like this one, further alienate their former lovers and then some. Get Her Back, released by Robin Thicke in 2014, was directed at his estranged wife, Paula Patton, as an attempt to, well, get her back, after their separation. The problem was that the song and its music video were pretty uncomfortable and invasive, especially as the singer aired seemingly private messages between him and Patton. The song turned out to be a flop, in every way possible. Not only did it fail to win him back his ex-wife, it also doused whatever flames were left of his already flailing career.

#1: Rock Me Tonite (1984)

Billy Squier

Billy Squier saw phenomenal success as a rock musician in the early 80s, with two of his albums cracking the top five on the Billboard 200. But whatever hopes he had of rising to the peak of the genre were dashed in 1984 when he released the music video for Rock Me Tonite. The clip, which was helmed by future High School Musical director Kenny Ortega, depicted Squier dancing around in a room. The cheesy choreography was a deviation from Squiers previously established macho image, and didnt quite go down well with rock fans. Although the single still did pretty well, Squiers subsequent music plummeted in sales. Indeed, this was the video that killed the rock n roll star.

Do you secretly love any of these songs? Let us know in the comments