11 Dumb, Ignorant, or Stupid Songs | Playlist 🎧

1. Lady Gaga, “Stupid Love”

Chromatica • Interscope • 2020

Lady Gaga brings fun and energy on “Stupid Love”, the promo single from Chromatica.  “Stupid Love” served as the first indication that Gaga was putting her dance-pop shoes back on –a good look. Vocally, she’s assertive, showing off her powerful pipes through driving, ‘in your face’ production – synths, pummeling drums – and quick tempo.  Her energy shines brightest on the simple, but potent chorus: “I want your stupid love, love / (Oh-oh-oh…).”

 Love centric, on the verses, Gaga makes it clear she’s found ‘a mighty love,’ so much so that on the second verse she asks, “Could this love protect me from the pain? / I would battle for you (Even if I break in two).” #Dedication.  That said, she “freaks out” on the refrain, prior to the pre-chorus where “All [she] ever wanted was love.” Fair enough! “Stupid Love” is actually pretty ‘intelligent,’ all in all.

2. Ashnikko, “STUPID”

Ft. Yung Baby Tate

Hi, It’s Me (EP) • Ashnikko • 2019

“Stupid boy think that I need him / I go cold like changin’ seasons / I go red hot like a demon / I go ghost for no damn reason.” Ashnikko is, well, ‘one of a kind.’ In a 2019 Billboard article, Kirsten Spruch, characterizes Ashton Casey as follows: “Blending genres like rap, alternative, and pop, Ashnikko is on a different trajectory than most.” On “STUPID,” assisted by Yung Baby Tate, listeners definitely get the hip-hop vibes with some truly unapologetic bars.

“I know you think about me in the shower,” Casey spits on the first verse, continuing, “Pornhub in your browser, fantasize about the pussy power.” Yikes! She doesn’t stop the hyper-sexed-up vibes there, adding specifically, “I know you salivating over me, sir, nipples through the t-shirt…” Yung Baby Tate provides support for this sleek, risqué, attitude-filled banger on the second verse: “Stupid-stupid, you dumb, you goofy-goofy / This pussy juicy-juicy, ooh yummy, wanna do me?”

3. Polo G, “Go Stupid”

Ft. Stunna 4 Vegas, NLE Choppa & Mike WiLL Made-It

THE GOAT • Columbia • 2020

“Got the feds on my ass in the hood ‘cause they think I’m the one who been buyin’ up Glocks and shit / I’m just focused on music, they say my last tape was a classic, but I got some hotter shit…” Polo G had a very successful year in 2020 with his sophomore album, The Goat, which spent numerous weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.  Furthermore, critics have praised the album. Even so, the 21-year old rapper couldn’t refrain from stupidity, well, at least regarding the banger, “Go Stupid.”

Polo G gets ‘first blood’ on “Go Stupid,” but he’s not the only rapper ‘doing the damn thing.’ Stunna 4 Vegas segues, dropping a tough second verse that closes with the brilliant, “Them n***as talk, but they won’t play / We let them guns sing like the choir on Sunday.” NLE Choppa can’t be left out either on the third verse, if for nothing else than “Give a n***a ‘temptation’ like he David Ruffin,” an awesome pop cultural reference.  Of course, Mike WiLL Made-It and Tay Keith stitch up some banging production that’s totally fitting for a banger.

4. Bad Bunny & Sech, “Ignorantes”

YHLQMDLG • Rimas Entertainment • 2020 

“Ignorantes” (“Ignorant”), featuring Panamanian singer Sech, is a bop from YHLQMDLG – Yo Hago Lo Que Me De La Gana (“I do what I want”), the second studio album by Bad Bunny. The production is quite impressive.  Dimelo Flow and Soltedo Beats do a magnificent job of providing a great backdrop to ‘do work’ with; the music sounds as if they never even had to break a sweat creating it.  The beat packs a fair amount of punch, while the keyboards and synths are kinder and gentler in sound. Ultimately, the sound complements the performing artists.  Part of the reason why the sound of the production is so effective is because “Ignorantes” encompasses matters of the heart, specifically heartbreak and a failed relationship.

Bad Bunny and Sech capture their feelings regarding the ended relationship well.  Naturally, as they reminisce, matters of the bedroom come into play, evidenced on the chorus performed by Bunny.  Translated into English, a portion of the chorus reads as follows, “Normal, I know that sometimes peleamo [we fight] / But how delicious when chingamo [fucking] / And I don’t know why we left / If you love me and I love you.”  Sech also recollects intimacy on the first verse, while on the bridge to the chorus, regrets sleeping with her, but knows it was, well, muy bueno. You don’t understand the language to dig “Ignorantes.” With some basic background, the record is quite relatable. Furthermore, shout out for the LGBTQ inclusive music video.

5. Jazmine Sullivan, “Dumb”

Ft. Meek Mill

Reality Show • RCA • 2015

Reality Show, the third studio album by Grammy-nominated R&B singer/songwriter, Jazmine Sullivan commences with a bang.  Worth noting, Sullivan is one of the most gifted voices in music, though also incredibly underrated.  Regardless, Reality Show is a brilliant album, and the bang that initiates it, “Dumb,” which is anything but dumb.  

Sullivan bring in Meek Mill for the assist, only upping the ante. Within the context of the song, Jazmine just calls him like she sees him – “I know you know you ain’t right.” Later, she finds security in her own intellect and read on her man’s utter dumbness.  Maybe it sounds simple, but the soap opera – Reality Show – that Sullivan delivers is spot-on and brilliant opener.  She’s not dumb, but he is!

6. Jon Bellion, “Stupid Deep”

Glory Sound Prep • Capitol • 2018

In the context of Glory Sound Prep, the sophomore album by Jon Bellion, the arrival of “Stupid Deep” provides contrast – thoughtful balladry. The production is bright and optimistic, characterized by its use of keyboards and synths.  Vocally, Bellion sounds beautiful, nuanced, and incredibly tender in his execution, that is until he grows grittier and more dynamic towards the end.  The chorus is the centerpiece, followed by an instrumental feature.

“What if who I hoped to be was always me?
And the love I fought to feel was always free?
What if all the things I’ve done
Were just attempts at earning love?
But the hole inside my heart is stupid deep, oh, stupid deep.”

“Stupid Deep” previously appeared on Stupid…5ive Songs No. 22 and 13 Deep Songs Where the Depth is Real.

7. Father John Misty, “Just Dumb Enough to Try”

God’s Favorite Customer • Sub Pop • 2018

Heavy piano chords at the onset serve as the backdrop for Father John Misty on stunning ballad “Just Dumb Enough to Try” from God’s Favorite Customer (2018). Tillman delivers beautiful, nuanced vocals, firmly in command as always. After a short span as a piano ballad (verse one), drums and rhythmic guitar join the piano (verse two). On the first verse, he sings about being aloof regarding love.  On the second, he sings about his ability to write a song and compel his audience, but he knows very little about ‘her.’ On the third and final verse, he ‘knows women,’ but sort of suggests he’s ‘easy’ and simple.

The chorus, which first follows the second verse, is the centerpiece.

“Oh, but I’m just dumb enough to try
To keep you in my life
For a little while longer
And I’m insane enough to think
I’m gonna get out with my skin
And start my life again.”

“Just Dumb Enough to Try” is another triumph for Tillman, though it doesn’t eclipse one-two punch of the opening duo.

8. Rihanna, “Stupid in Love”

Rated R • The Island Def Jam Music Group • 2009

“This is stupid, I’m not stupid / Don’t talk to me, like I’m stupid…” Rated R served as an important, transitional album in discography of pop/R&B standout, Rihanna.  Following the horrific Chris Brown abuse incident, she’d drop edgy music that embodied being risqué AF.  Although “Stupid in Love” is a tamer number within the context of Rated R, it’s still incredibly potent and powerful.

Although written prior to Rihanna’s abuse, the song’s topic of an unhealthy, toxic relationship was a prime fit for Rated R, given the events that unfolded prior to its release. The chorus is excerpted above, and continues perfectly capturing the stupidity of a love where the risk is far greater than the reward:

“...I still love you, but I just can’t do this
I may be dumb, but I’m not stupid.”

9. Green Day, “Too Dumb to Die”

Revolution Radio • Reprise • 2016

On “Too Dumb to Die,” Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong reminisces back to his past, particularly his childhood. “I was a high school atom bomb / Going off on the weekends,” he sings on the first verse, continuing, “Smoking dope and mowing lawns / And I hated all the new trends.” He’s definitely honest, and that’s only a brief excerpt! It isn’t the first time he reminisces on the band’s 2016 album, Revolution Radio. Also, worth noting, on the second verse, he speaks about his father being on strike (“He said that ‘Everything will be alright…/ Not every Sunday can be Easter’”).

Armstrong characterizes his dreams as ‘dumb,’ so much so they won’t die. One of the cleverer, recurring lyrics from the chorus is a reference to the song “Over the Rainbow”:

“I feel like a cello
Lost somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high, too scared to dream
But too dumb to die.”

10. Khalid, “Young Dumb & Broke”

American Teen • RCA • 2017

“I’m so high at the moment / I’m so caught up in this / Yeah, we’re just young, dumb and broke / But we still got love to give.” “Young Dumb & Broke” arrives as the second track on American Teen, the Grammy-nominated, debut album from R&B singer Khalid.  In the context of the album, “Young Dumb & Broke” keeps the momentum rolling. Khalid’s vocals are robust, characterized by utter distinctiveness – who sounds like this kid?

Contextually, compared to the album opener “American Teen”, Khalid serves up a more biting, grittier sound vocally.  He doesn’t deliver gospel histrionics mind you – he’s cool and chill – but there’s a bit more oomph you might say. “Young Dumb & Broke” superbly balances old- and new-school, featuring production cues from both.  Ultimately, it’s an irresistible record that is infectious from the jump.

“What’s fun about commitment?
When we have our life to live
Yeah, we’re just young, dumb and broke
But we still got love to give.”

11. Tyrese, “Dumb Shit”

Ft. Snoop Dogg

Black Rose • Voltron • 2015

“I ain’t even smooth with my bullshit, I do it right in her face.” That’s just dumb! What better way to conclude 11 Dumb, Ignorant, or Stupid Songs than with some totally dumb shit? Of course, “Dumb Shit” is the second track off of Black Rose, the 2015 studio album by Tyrese.  Helping to further ‘dumb shit’ down is none other than Snoop Dogg. So, there’s a contradiction between ‘higher’ education and ‘dumb shit’ – makes perfect sense to me!  Okay, okay – enough puns!

The title of “Dumb Shit” speaks volumes, further evidenced by the Tyrese quote from the first verse. But honestly, the repetitive hook just says it all as he admits to “doing dumb shit.” He loves her, but he still messes up – apparently on the regular.  As expected, Snoop Dogg goes hella dumb, so much so that after a night of – wait for it – ‘dumb shit,’ “I woke up in the morning on TMZ, ooh wee.” Oh, and did I mention that Black-Ty appears as well (Tyrese’s rap Alter Ego)?

“Baby, I’m sorry I embarrassed you
Walking in a room full of bitches I didn’t touch and they ain’t even banished
Your voicemail full but the text said read
I pray to God our love ain’t dead baby I swear.”

Yeah, these men have definitely been doing some “Dumb Shit.”