It was a time of turbulence and strife, when a disenfranchised population found themselves at odds with oppressive law enforcement and a disinterested political system. It was against this backdrop that a musical force emerged to present a threat to the status quo. Rising quickly to the top, a divisive artist garnered legions of fans, while alienating millions who were unable to accept the message, the musicality, even the artistic legitimacy of the act in question.