Kanye West can't seem to catch a break when it comes to his recent music videos. First, "All of the Lights" was under fire from an epilepsy awareness group who said that the video—with many quick flashes and flickering lights—could put some viewers at risk. The video was briefly taken down from YouTube and other hosting sites before reappearing with a warning message at the beginning. Now, just a few weeks later, another single from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy has been embroiled in controversy.

Over the weekend, MTV announced that they had banned Yeezy's "Monster" video after it was taken to task by activists Sharon Haywood and Melinda Tankard Reist. The two spearheaded a petition urging MTV and Universal Music Group to not play the video, backed by 1600 signatures on Change.org. "The mainstreaming of videos like this increases desensitized and callous attitudes toward violence against women," said Reist. "Young people are seeing images and absorbing harmful messages which glamorise misogyny and brutalise women. Women are reduced to sex-doll like playthings. So great is the level of desensitization that the barbaric treatment of women and girls is seen as normal and to be expected. We decided to run this campaign because we wanted to challenge the status quo." MTV has agreed to not air the video in it's current form, though UMG has yet to respond.

This is not the first time (nor do we expect it to be the last) that a rap video has been banned after coming under fire by one or more groups. With issues ranging from political themes to hyper-sexualized images at the center of the controversy, here are five of the most memorable banned videos through the years.


Public Enemy “By the Time I Get to Arizona” (1991)
Hostile Party: MTV
History: PE’s politically-charged song criticizing Arizona’s refusal to recognize Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was banned by the MTV Standards Department for its portrayal of the assassination of a White supremacist governor.
Outcome: Despite the pushback, the album that the single was featured on, Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/hip-hop albums charts. Two decades later, Arizona is still confused.


Geto Boys "Crooked Officer" (1993)
Hostile Party: MTV, Bob Dole
History: The video for the controversial single from the group's Till Death Do Us Part is banned on MTV due to the images of violence against police officers. Bob Dole denounces the Geto Boys and the video during his run for President.
Outcome: The single reached the Top 100 of Billboard's Rap/R&B charts.


Eminem "White America" (2002)
Hostile Party: MTV
History: Not comfortable with the perceived anti-government rhetoric, MTV puts the kibosh on Em's animated visuals.
Outcome: Despite the controversy Em's fifth studio album Eminem Show went on to sell 5 million plus copies.


Nelly "E.I. Remix Tip Drill (Uncensored)" (2003)
Hostile Party: Women of Spellman College
History: Women of Spellman pressure BET Network to ban the XXX video.
Outcome: Nelly meets with women to make nice and settle the issue.


The Pack, “Vans” (2006)
Hostile Party: MTV
History: MTV wasn’t comfortable playing the Bay Area group’s breakout hit, feeling it was somewhat of an advertisement for Vans.
Outcome: “Vans” is still a success, making rounds on radio and bringing The Pack into fans’ consciousness. Though the group wouldn’t have as big a hit again, Lil B, one of its members, becomes a 2011 XXL Freshman.

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