"Rape Me" began as a literal anti-rape song, written before Nirvana's breakthrough success. However, its meaning evolved to also reflect the struggles with media attention that Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love faced after the band became famous. The song's title and lyrics created controversy, leading to MTV blocking a performance and initial sales resistance from major stores. It appeared on the band's final studio album, In Utero. At its heart, the song plays like a raw expression of violation, both personal and public.