The beginning of a new year is a great time for music. The internet is laden with “Best Of” countdowns from the previous year, and the Grammys (while not always a consummate barometer for music quality) offers the most diverse popular music showcase of the year. Unfortunately, the new year is also a time to reflect on the shortcomings of some musicians. Particularly those musicians who may have once made great strides in the biz and don’t seem to know when to call it quits. Many a rap mogul (I’m looking at you, Snoop Dogg) were once visionaries in the nineties rap scene, only to succumb to the pitfalls of terrible movies (read: Soul Plane). Check out some artists that don’t know when to stop after the jump.

Lou Reed
Lou Reed is a veritable chameleon; he has been a glam rocker, an avant-garde noise rocker, a dilapidated junkie, and an immensely important figure in punk rock. He’s most well known for being The Velvet Underground’s principal songwriter, and has also had a distinguished solo career. Basically, the guy is just cool. As such, it pained me to witness his gruesome team-up with Metallica last year for their collaborative album, Lulu. The random partnership proved to be fruitless for everyone involved—Reed’s atonal, partly spoken poetry failed to complement Kirk Hammett’s metal riffs. In an apparent disregard for their respective fans (and people with ears), Reed and Metallica chose to go ahead with their fascinatingly terrible album anyway. So, some advice to Lou Reed and any future ill-inspired collaboration he may have up his sleeve: please stop.

Liz Phair
In 1993, Liz Phair released what has come to be known as an indie rock classic. The aptly titled Exile In Guyville, with all of its lo-fi flourishes and impeccable pop sensibilities, was ultimately a middle finger to the boys’ club that was the music industry in 1990s Chicago. Since 1993, however, Phair’s career has entered something of a downward spiral. Although Exile in Guyville won general acclaim, her subsequent records failed to live up to its expectations. By the time Phair released her self-titled album in 2003, she had all but eschewed her former empowering, feminist ethos — as evidenced by the album cover, on which a naked, airbrushed Phair is seen straddling a guitar. Although most of Phair’s songwriting tends to be somewhat crass, her sexuality on Guyville was smart and empowering, as opposed to the vapid, degrading lyrics on her newer material. (Those who dare can look up her song “HWC”). In 2010, Phair dropped an album online for $5.99, which critic Tom Brelhan described as “batshit weird.” The article was endearingly titled “Liz Phair: WTF.” If that doesn’t make Liz Phair stop, I don’t know what will.

Ice Cube
Like Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube has fallen down similar pitfalls following his successful rap career. Once a member of the gangsta rap group N.W.A., Ice Cube went on to pursue a solo rap career as well as roles in film and television. Cube’s lyrics, which were once violent and provocative like “Fuck tha Police,” got softer as his rap career began waning. As did his films—he went from starring in flicks like “Boyz n the Hood” to heartwarming family comedies that will not for the love of god stop churning out sequels. (Are We There Yet? is now a TV show. Really, TBS?) Ice Cube, one of rap’s elder statesmen, needs to stop and return to his Raiders-cap-wearing, 40s-drinking, gun-toting days.

Nickelback
What hasn’t been said about Nickelback? Need I say more? All right, Nickelback. Cut it out already. I’m sorry it’s come to the point of personally replying to haters on Twitter.