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Brad Paisley Unrepentant About ‘Accidental Racist,’ His Cringe-Inducing LL Cool J Collab

LL Cool J, Brad Paisley, "Accidental Racist"

After stepping clumsily into the often-heated national discourse about race, Brad Paisley isn’t backing down.

Yesterday, social media buzzed with mockery of Paisley’s new collaboration with LL Cool J, “Accidental Racist,” which, admittedly is a horrendously awkward attempt to reconcile “Southern pride” with our enduring national shame of slavery. But while the song is, as SPIN’s Brandon Soderberg notes, a goopy serving of “country-fried, hip-hop-tinged, status quo-affirming condescension,” Paisley has defended himself in a series of tweets. He concludes: “I wouldn’t change a thing. This is a record meant to be FAR from easy listening. But fun. Like life. Have a ball, ya’ll.” He fails to explain why LL Cool J starts his verse with “Dear Mr. White Man” and ends his appearance by saying, “RIP Robert E. Lee / But I’ve gotta thank Abraham Lincoln for freeing me, know what I mean.” Ugh.

Anyway, as writer and editor Maura Johnston points out, “Accidental Racist” haters are going to really love another song from Paisley’s Wheelhouse album: “Those Crazy Christians.”