Hell hath no fury like a musician scorned! Join us as we explore the most savage musical takedowns from the decade that gave us grunge, gangsta rap, and girl power. From bitter breakup anthems to legendary diss tracks, these songs turned personal vendettas into chart-topping hits that still resonate today.
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00:00And if you complain once more, you'll be damned, I love you
00:08Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most compelling,
00:12vicious, and or entertaining revenge tracks from the 1990s.
00:16I'm here to remind the air
00:20Number 10, Bills, Bills, Bills, Destiny's Child
00:23You're asking for my keys? You're tripping, you need your own car.
00:26No, here, I'm sick of you, I'm sick of you. Yasha, why are you bugging?
00:30In one of their best songs, Destiny's Child lays out a good argument against dating a scrub.
00:35The singers talk about a man that's asking for too many favors.
00:38You have the audacity to even come and step to me
00:42Ask to hold some money from me until you get your check next week
00:45Instead of being equals, the toxic union breaks down as the partner takes advantage of his
00:50girlfriend's wallet. The band members take their frustrations out on him by asking for some help
00:54in return.
01:02Detailing the horrors of a one-sided relationship,
01:05Bills, Bills, Bills is an anthem for women considering an exit.
01:08The number one hit feels like sweet revenge to all those boyfriends that might have slighted you.
01:19Number 9, Santeria, Sublime
01:22I don't practice Santeria, I ain't got no crystal ball
01:27If you never listen to the words, you might think this is a more chill song,
01:31as the reggae influence creates a fun vibe.
01:33Tune in to the aggressive lyrics though and you'll find a murder plot inside this 1990s classic.
01:38The singer contemplates what he would do if he found the guy that took his girl.
01:42Tell Sanjito that if he knows what is good for him, he best go run and hide
01:49It blossoms into a dark fantasy, mixing in some references to religion and violence.
01:54The vocalist sounds like he's having a good time despite mentioning a potential murder weapon,
01:58which makes it more disturbing.
02:04Sublime's laid-back style lulls you into this narrative,
02:07taking you down a rabbit hole of twisted detours.
02:12Punk ass, what I really want to know
02:16Number 8, No Vaseline, Ice Cube
02:26This song elevated Ice Cube's solo career and revealed his feelings about N.W.A.
02:31The rapper left his group for independence,
02:32but he had a few words to say about their direction and musical choices.
02:36He name-checks members like Dr. Dre and Eazy-E,
02:39along with referencing his old manager Jerry Heller.
02:43Cube doesn't leave anyone out, using explicit language to get his point across.
02:50He also wants revenge for songs which aimed at him,
02:53such as 100 Miles and Runnin', fighting back in an entertaining performance.
03:04You could argue that he ended the feud right there.
03:07With the title alone, this intense production raised the bar for diss tracks.
03:12Number 7, Strong Enough, Cher
03:22On her hit album Believe, Cher proves her musical strength once again.
03:26She also knows how to tell off an unfaithful partner.
03:29Strong Enough details how she really feels about a bad boyfriend,
03:33standing up for herself in bold fashion.
03:35There's no more to say, so save your breath and walk away.
03:40The singer doesn't want to be taken for granted or shared with someone else.
03:44Putting her foot down, the artist makes it clear you shouldn't mess with her.
03:47Now I'm telling you that I'm strong enough to live without you, strong enough.
03:55It is yet another exciting record from the vocalist's 1990s resurgence.
03:59Combining her forceful lyrics and her legendary talents,
04:02she shows that she's a multi-generational icon with a youthful energy.
04:13Number 6, It's Not Right But It's Okay, Whitney Houston
04:23Who would be fool enough to cheat on Whitney Houston?
04:26This song considers the impossible as the singer discovers the truth.
04:30Her vocals convey the emotion and underlying heartbreak accompanying her lover's betrayal.
04:40But rather than living with sadness, the artist moves on with a positive attitude.
04:44It's an inspirational message along with being a showcase for Houston's greatness.
04:48Using her powerful range, she charts a course for freedom.
04:52The awesome tune takes the high road as the vocalist takes a brave stand.
04:56By the time it reaches the chorus, she makes people see the bright side of breaking up.
05:08Number 5, Caught Out There, Khalees
05:22Sometimes being direct can be poetic.
05:25Caught Out There captures Khalees at the start of her career, showing that she is a force of nature.
05:30The lyrics detail her response to someone being unfaithful.
05:33She runs down a list of her good deeds, demonstrating that she really cared about him.
05:45The evidence piles up against him until the angry chorus erupts.
05:49With all of her might, Khalees unleashes a firestorm against a cheater.
06:00It's exactly the kind of thing you want to say to somebody if they've hurt you.
06:04Backed by a catchy beat, this singer raises the bar for lyrical vengeance.
06:15Number 4, Creep, TLC
06:19There are a number of different ways a person might respond to a cheater.
06:29Some people might leave, but others might want to get even.
06:32This gives Creep by TLC an edginess that other songs don't have.
06:43The song proposes a controversial route, causing a rift among the R&B trio.
06:48Lisa Left Eye Lopez didn't agree with the lyrics and objected to cheating as a response.
06:57Considering this backstory, the song is even more interesting to revisit.
07:01The excellent beat and production values are practically hypnotic.
07:04Whether you agree with the words or not, the killer groove makes you want to sing and dance along.
07:09Number 3, Francis Farmer will have her revenge on Seattle, Nirvana.
07:28For their third studio album, these grunge titans created some great deep tracks.
07:33This one in particular showcases Kurt Cobain's knack for melodies and engaging lyrics.
07:39Referencing the movie actress, Francis Farmer will have her revenge on Seattle might also be one of the band's best titles.
07:50The lead singer mixes complex thoughts about fame, the media, and mental health with Farmer's story.
08:03Cobain doesn't hold back here either, making audiences consider the comfort in being sad.
08:08It likely inspired listeners to read up on the horrors of the subject's life.
08:12With his gritty voice, the vocalist brought all of his emotions to every performance.
08:23Number 2, Hit Em Up, Tupac featuring Outlaws.
08:26Nothing gets past Tupac.
08:28When he wanted to ramp up the East and West Coast rivalry, he didn't do it lightly.
08:32Hit Em Up goes after Bad Boy Records and people like the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy.
08:39From the start, Tupac Shakur lays into his musical enemies.
08:44He doesn't mince words or leave you hanging about how he feels in what might even be the most aggressive diss track of the 1990s.
08:58If there's one lesson to take away from the song, it's that few people could compete with Shakur's artistry.
09:03This intensely visceral attack has not aged a day.
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09:28Number 1, You Oughta Know, Alanis Morissette.
09:31I wish nothing but the best for you both.
09:38For one of her most famous tracks, Alanis Morissette leaves nothing to the imagination.
09:43This hit from Jagged Little Pill might be the ultimate revenge piece from recent rock history.
09:47Starting with the explicit opening verse, the singer gets under your skin with her pointed words.
09:52And would she have your baby? I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother.
09:59It's penned with raw intensity, and the fury in her voice captures that intensity perfectly.
10:04Over the years, audiences theorized that the target might have been Dave Coulier from Full House.
10:09This potential detail adds a layer, but even without it, the track makes an indelible impression.
10:23Regardless of who it's about, You Oughta Know is an artist at her most angry.
10:29What's your personal choice for the greatest revenge anthem? Let us know in the comments below.
10:46Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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10:59Thanks for watching.