I'm driving, so I control the radio

I remember when my dad used to drive me around all the time. Whether it was to school, shopping at Ann & Hope or just driving us kids one place or another, he had one rule. "I am driving, so I control the radio". This persistent rule led me to have a strong appreciation for classic rock (since my dad was a big fan of the genre). This has got me thinking, can I enjoy the great music of my childhood, while driving my child around? Or is that inappropriate?

One of the major issues with this, is the difference in my dad listening to the tunes he grew up to, and me listening to mine. I grew up during an era when hip-hop music was breaking into mainstream radio and Rock and Roll was splitting off into to sub genres like alternative and hardcore. I enjoyed artists from Run DMC, Cypress Hill, Snoop Dogg to Nirvana and Nine Inch Nails. I also am part of the original MTV generation, that group watching, imagine this, music videos playing on MTV. That being said, some of the greatest songs of my time, may not be something I really want to explain the meaning of to my child. To make things worse, I have been blessed with the invention of digital music downloads and a music player in my car with uncensored songs and no commercials!

Let's dive into an example. One of my favorite songs to enjoy in my vehicle as I drive to work is Snoop Doggy Dogg's Gin & Juice. This song literally starts with the audible sounds of some one taking what sounds like a drunken piss. The song is a classic Dr. Dre beat, with a showcase of what made Snoop famous. A classic. However, how do I play this song in my car with my child, and then explain to them that it really is not okay to go cruising down the street, smoking and drinking!

I suppose it will take a few years before Junior to understand these lyrics. I was actually thinking of introducing Junior to some music while he/she is in the oven, but I think it will be edited to classical music.