Perhaps no other name is thrown around quite so liberally in rap music as Monica Lewinsky. It’s unclear exactly why the former White House intern — made infamous for her affair with President Bill Clinton in the 1990s — has become such a muse for hip-hop musicians, but she has nonetheless been the subject of lyrics written by everyone from Eminem to Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, and Kid Cudi, among many, many, others.
Now, some decades after the notorious scandal, Lewinsky has launched a new podcast titled Reclaiming, again exposing her to a flurry of headlines and probably inspiring a fresh swathe of new rap lyrics making mention of her name. With that in mind, here’s a brief history of the use of Lewinsky’s name in hip-hop, some of the most famous examples, and a full list of all the songs in which she is name-dropped.
The true number of Monica Lewinsky name-drops in rap songs might be incalculable.
i’m the chick from over 125 rap songs…
https://t.co/0jxLPqqlz7
— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@MonicaLewinsky) May 9, 2018
During a TedTalk in 2015, Lewinsky claimed that she had been referenced in almost 40 rap songs. However, researchers at The Cut found that the total number far exceeds that projection, even more so in the some ten years since they first looked into the trend. Using data provided by lyrics site Genius, The Cut found that Lewinsky is mentioned in closer to around 128 rap songs, with the real number likely exceeding even that.
How is Monica Lewinsky’s name used?
Most rap songs rhyme Lewinsky with “whiskey,” and that some — like G-Eazy’s “Monica Lewinsky” and the (extremely crude) “Splashin’ Over Monica” — are dedicated entirely to her. It was also found that most songs use the Lewinsky scandal as a historical touchstone to harken back to the 90s. However, the most common use of the name-drop in rap songs is to achieve one of two meanings; the first being to describe acts of fellatio (given the details of the scandal), and the second as a (regrettable) description of an inferior person.
On the former front, at least 70 rap songs use Lewinsky’s name as a verb to reference oral sex. Some of these references, like those by Beyoncé, use Lewinsky’s name as a verb, as with the “Partition” lyric “he Monica Lewinsky-ed all on my gown.” On the more crude end of the spectrum, the second most common mention of Lewinsky is in reference to a supposedly inferior person, with many rap songs using her name as a stand-in for a prostitute, as a dig against fellow rappers, or as an insult about maneaters. While the list of Lewinsky name-drops in hip-hop is voluminous, there are a few famous examples that have broken through the discourse.
Most famous uses of Monica Lewisnky’s name in rap songs.
Alongside “Partition”, to which Lewinsky offered the edit of “he Bill Clinton-ed all on my gown,” Nicki Minaj’s consistent use of Lewinsky’s name stands out from the pack. The rapper has referred to herself as “Nicki Lewinsky” in a whopping 12 of her own songs, including one, titled “Still I Rise”, in which she reclaims it as a symbol of her own powerful sexuality. Elsewhere, Eminem used Lewinsky’s name in three songs, and so too did Lil Wayne. See the full list of songs that name-drop Lewinsky, compiled by The Cut, below.
- “Sixavelli,” 360(Au)
- “It Has Been Said,” Aaron Omar
- “How Do You Feel,” Akinyele
- “Adrenaline,” Alpha 520
- “Get Down,” Amplify Dot
- “Truffle Butt (Truffle Butter Freestyle),” Anye Elite
- “Scary Movies,” Bad Meets Evil
- “Partition,” Beyoncé
- “Ms. Lewinsky (Clinton Back),” B. Foreman
- “Jaws,” Big Fraze
- “Block Bleeder,” Black Menace
- “Ghaddamnmoney,” Block Kids on the New
- “Foes,” Borgore
- “Leave Me Alone, Pt. 2,” Cam’ron
- “Takeover Freestyle,” Cam’ron
- “Miss Those Days,” Celph Titled, featuring Buck Wild
- “Bud Dwyer,” Charles Hamilton
- “Super Bowl,” Chevy Woods
- “Monica Interview,” Chris Rock
- “Killin Em,” Chris Webby
- “Anti-hero,” C-SEN
- “Tempo,” Cymphonique
- “Bizarre Freestyle,” D12
- “Witit,” Danny Brown
- “It’s Alive,” David Chidiac
- “Danger Roots,” Despo Rutti
- “Help Me,” Deuce
- “Act a Fool,” DJ Butter
- “No Rubber,” DJ Butter
- “Essentials,” DJ JS-1
- “Let’s Fuck,” E-40
- “Blue Widow,” Elzhi
- “Just Rhyming With Proof,” Eminem
- “Rap God,” Eminem
- “XL Show Freestyle,” Eminem
- “Down Here,” E.S.G.
- “Can’t Let You Go (Remix),” Fabolous
- “Diamonds,” Fabolous
- “Hit it for Free,” Field Mob
- “Zabij mnie nim wejdę na szczyt,” Filipek
- “Bill Clinton,” FNBe
- “The Lah,” Freddie Foxxx/Bumpy Knuckles
- “Superstar,” Fuckly
- “Monica Lewinsky,” G-Eazy
- “Parents Ain’t Even Care Enough,” Goldee
- “Click Pow,” Horseshoe G.A.N.G
- “Pushin’ Weight (Remix),” Ice Cube
- “That Action,” ImprompTwo
- “Pills,” Jacob ZL
- “Rough,” Jeezy
- “Kings/100,” Jez Dior
- “You Oughta Know,” Juelz Santana
- “Tidal Forces,” Jugga the Bully
- “Through the Wire (Remix),” Kanye West
- “2005 Hardcore,” Kery James
- “Erase Me,” Kid Cudi
- “Top Floor,” Kirko Bangz, featuring 2 Chainz
- “Bafana Bafana Remix,” La Fouine
- “Powerful (Remix),” Lalcko
- “Pour qui? Pourquoi,” the Wise Poets of the Street
- “Bitch I’m Bill Clinton,” Lil B
- “Obama BasedGod,” Lil B
- “Courtesy,” Lil Deezy
- “In da Club,” Lil Jon, featuring Ludacris and R Kelly
- “Looks Like Money,” Lil Kim
- “Higher Than a Kite,” Lil Wayne, featuring Nicki Minaj
- “New Orleans,” Lil Wayne
- “No Type,” Lil Wayne
- “Sorry Ms. Carter,” Liv
- “Black Bush,” Mac Miller
- “Willie Dynamite,” Mac Miller
- “Black Trudeau,” Maestro Fresh Wes
- “Get Ready,” Mase
- “Wrist Game,” Migos
- “Summer Zoo,” Mister You
- “Presidential Politics,” Money$Team
- “Splashin Over Monica,” Mr. Live
- “Lighters Up,” Nahzy
- “Life Is What You Make It,” Nas
- “Freaky Girl (Wanna Minaj?),” Nicki Minaj
- “Getting Cake,” Nicki Minaj
- “I Get Crazy,” Nicki Minaj
- “I Love Ny Range Rover,” Nicki Minaj
- “Itty Bitty Piggy,” Nicki Minaj
- “Kill Da DJ,” Nicki Minaj
- “Set It Off,” Nicki Minaj
- “Still I Rise,” Nicki Minaj
- “Sunshine,” Nicki Minaj
- “Win Again,” Nicki Minaj
- “Young Money Ballaz,” Nicki Minaj
- “What the Fuck is Up,” N.O.R.E
- “Hit ‘Em Up,” Pretty Ugly
- “IFYA,” PrezSport
- “Status Quo,” Pyskaty
- “100 Rounds,” Raekwon
- “Never Back Down,” Random Axe
- “Gorillaz on My Mind,” Redman
- “Freshundunbenannt,” Retrogott & Hulk Hodn
- “The Beginning,” Ri.Lee
- “Presidential Anthem,” Rough Riders 2
- “Can’t Blame Me,” Rudy Williams
- “Chi Kung,” RZA
- “My Lovin’ Is Digi,” RZA
- “Marche Arriere,” Sake
- “I’ve Been Rhymin,” SC Static
- “Serious Business,” Seven Shots
- “Pancakes,” Shindy
- “My Opinion,” Shock G
- “Flawless, Yung Mar, Black P,” Team Backpack
- “Dick Starbuck: Porno Detective,” The High & Mighty
- “Squeeze It,” Three 6 Mafia
- “Rap Legend,” ToxicNdubuisi
- “Creep,” Twistid Rob
- “Grunging,” Verbal Tech
- “Zoog Cypher,” Wax
- “In My Car,” Wiz Khalifa
- “In the Ocean,” WoeFerro
- “Thug Money,” Yukmouth
- “I Rather,” Yung Massina
