Explicit 'Lynching Song' 'Good vs Evil' Sparks Content Accessibility Debate on X

A recent social media post by Deva Hazarika has drawn attention to the availability of highly controversial music on X (formerly Twitter), specifically referencing a "new lynching song" that is reportedly difficult to find in its full version. The tweet, dated September 22, 2025, highlights a perceived paradox between the platform's stated free speech principles under Elon Musk and the scarcity of such extreme content. This discussion emerges amid ongoing debates about content moderation and the boundaries of expression on major social media platforms.

The song in question, "Good vs Evil" by pro-Trump rapper Forgiato Blow (Kurt Jantz) and country singer JJ Lawhorn, released in September 2025, has ignited widespread outrage for its explicit lyrics. The track reportedly features a banjo riff and a chorus calling for public lynchings, stating, "hang ‘em up high at sundown" with references to "a big tall tree and a short piece of rope." Critics have condemned the song as a direct call for violence and a glorification of racist practices historically associated with "sundown towns."

Under Elon Musk's ownership, X has adopted a "Freedom of Speech, Not Freedom of Reach" philosophy, aiming to reduce content moderation and prioritize broad expression. This approach has led to significant changes in the platform's policies, including the disbandment of its Trust and Safety Council and a reduction in moderation staff. While X maintains policies against violent speech and incitement, the focus has shifted towards limiting the visibility of problematic content rather than outright removal, reserving bans for "severe violations."

Despite X's stated commitment to free speech, numerous studies and reports indicate a surge in hate speech and other harmful content on the platform since Musk's acquisition. Researchers have observed a significant increase in homophobic, racist, and transphobic rhetoric. This context makes the tweet's observation—that it is "very hard to find the full version of this new lynching song" even on X—particularly noteworthy, suggesting a potential tension between policy and practice, or the extreme nature of the content leading to its suppression across various channels.

The difficulty in accessing the full version of "Good vs Evil," as noted by Hazarika, raises questions about the practical application of X's content policies when faced with content that explicitly advocates for violence. It suggests that even a platform championing maximal free speech may draw a line at direct incitement to illegal acts like lynching, or that the song's extreme nature has led to its limited distribution and removal by other platforms, making it generally hard to locate. The incident underscores the complex challenges social media companies face in balancing free expression with the prevention of harm.