Biography
No rap act, aside from perhaps N.W.A, has generated comparable outrage or sparked such intense public arguments as the 2 Live Crew. Their 1989 album As Nasty as They Wanna Be, with its explicit sexual themes in party-oriented rhymes, helped turn rap into a lightning rod for cultural clashes and a ready target for self-styled protectors of morality. Legal challenges to the group’s First Amendment protections left supporters in a difficult spot, defending free expression while often seeing scant artistic value in the music itself. The Crew’s rhymes were blunt, vulgar, and frequently demeaning toward women; although they followed a lineage of risqué Black comedic traditions that included Redd Foxx, Rudy Ray Moore, and Blowfly, many writers and scholars dismissed the sexual outlook as childish and distasteful, and few felt comfortable admitting any amusement in public. Yet the same notoriety that drew condemnation also fueled popularity, at least initially, before repetition dulled the impact. Setting aside the furor, the 2 Live Crew shaped Miami bass through its loud, aggressive production and helped launch a dance-focused rap style built on straightforward, explicit chants and fast, body-moving beats that came to be labeled booty rap.
Although forever tied to Miami, the group began in California with Fresh Kid Ice (born Chris Wong Won in Trinidad), DJ Mr. Mixx (born David Hobbs), and Amazing V. Their first single, “Revelation,” appeared in 1985; its strong response in Florida prompted the remaining members, now without Amazing V, to relocate there. After “What I Like,” Brother Marquis (born Mark Ross) joined. Local figure Luke Skyywalker (born Luther Campbell in Miami) signed them to his label, first as manager and later as performer and leader. Campbell’s influence brought a stronger emphasis on lewd material, evident on the 1986 debut The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are through tracks such as “We Want Some Pussy” and “Throw the D.” The record spread by word of mouth and eventually earned gold certification.
Obscenity concerns surfaced early; in 1987 a Florida clerk was cleared of felony charges for selling the album to a 14-year-old. Campbell responded by offering both explicit and cleaned-up editions so younger listeners had a choice. Move Somethin’, released in 1987 in that dual format, outsold its predecessor underground, partly because of cuts like “One and One,” an adult retelling of the Kinks’ “All Day and All of the Night” that highlighted the group’s habit of direct sample use. A 1988 Alabama store was fined for selling Move Somethin’ to an undercover officer, though the conviction was later reversed, foreshadowing larger battles at home.
As Nasty as They Wanna Be arrived in 1989 and became the group’s strongest seller; “Me So Horny” reached the Top 40 with almost no radio support. The American Family Association, objecting to the album’s content beyond its parental-advisory sticker, prompted lawyer and activist Jack Thompson to urge Florida governor Bob Martinez to investigate possible violations of state obscenity statutes. A local prosecutor directed action at the county level, leading Broward County sheriff Nick Navarro to obtain a court ruling from Judge Mel Grossman that probable cause existed to deem the album obscene. After Navarro warned retailers, the 2 Live Crew sued; in June 1990 Judge Jose Gonzalez declared the record obscene and therefore illegal to sell. Retailer Charles Freeman was arrested for selling a copy to an undercover officer, and the three rappers were charged with obscenity for performing material from the album locally. They were acquitted months later, aided by testimony from Duke professor Henry Louis Gates, and Freeman’s conviction was overturned on appeal.
As Nasty as They Wanna Be sold more than two million copies amid the publicity, and additional store owners faced arrest for stocking it. The attention also drew George Lucas’s successful trademark suit against Campbell over the Luke Skyywalker name, forcing a shortening to Luke. Campbell secured a distribution agreement with Atlantic and assembled the semi-political Banned in the U.S.A., licensed the title track from Bruce Springsteen, and released it as Luke Featuring 2 Live Crew; the album moved briskly and the single became the group’s second Top 40 hit. In 1991 they issued Live in Concert, the first live rap album, and the official follow-up Sports Weekend, though sales were modest compared with prior notoriety. These proved to be the final recordings by the original quartet. Luke Records later paid MC Shy D $1,600,000 in royalties after losing a lawsuit.
In 1992 the Atlanta Court of Appeals reversed Judge Gonzalez’s obscenity finding, citing his dismissal of expert testimony and the fact that Sheriff Navarro had offered no evidence beyond the album itself; the Supreme Court let the decision stand. Meanwhile the members went separate ways. Luke and Fresh Kid Ice each issued solo projects—I Got Shit on My Mind and The Chinaman—while Ice and Mr. Mixx recorded Deal with This as the Rock on Crew. Luke maintained a solo career through the rest of the decade.
In 1994 Luke, Fresh Kid Ice, and newcomer Verb (born Larry Dobson) reunited as the New 2 Live Crew for Back at Your Ass for the Nine-4. That same year the group faced another lawsuit, this one from the publishers of Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman,” who claimed the parody on As Clean as They Wanna Be harmed the original’s image. The case reached the Supreme Court, which ruled the parody qualified as fair use and sided with the group. The New 2 Live Crew dissolved when Luke refocused on solo work. Luke Records declared bankruptcy in 1995 amid mounting debts; both Campbell and the remaining members moved to Lil’ Joe, the label started by former partner Joe Weinberger. In 1996 Fresh Kid Ice, Brother Marquis, and Mr. Mixx reformed the 2 Live Crew without Campbell and released Shake a Lil’ Somethin’. Brother Marquis soon departed, leaving the two original California members to issue The Real One in 1998. Luke continued releasing solo material and compilations highlighting South Florida artists.
Although forever tied to Miami, the group began in California with Fresh Kid Ice (born Chris Wong Won in Trinidad), DJ Mr. Mixx (born David Hobbs), and Amazing V. Their first single, “Revelation,” appeared in 1985; its strong response in Florida prompted the remaining members, now without Amazing V, to relocate there. After “What I Like,” Brother Marquis (born Mark Ross) joined. Local figure Luke Skyywalker (born Luther Campbell in Miami) signed them to his label, first as manager and later as performer and leader. Campbell’s influence brought a stronger emphasis on lewd material, evident on the 1986 debut The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are through tracks such as “We Want Some Pussy” and “Throw the D.” The record spread by word of mouth and eventually earned gold certification.
Obscenity concerns surfaced early; in 1987 a Florida clerk was cleared of felony charges for selling the album to a 14-year-old. Campbell responded by offering both explicit and cleaned-up editions so younger listeners had a choice. Move Somethin’, released in 1987 in that dual format, outsold its predecessor underground, partly because of cuts like “One and One,” an adult retelling of the Kinks’ “All Day and All of the Night” that highlighted the group’s habit of direct sample use. A 1988 Alabama store was fined for selling Move Somethin’ to an undercover officer, though the conviction was later reversed, foreshadowing larger battles at home.
As Nasty as They Wanna Be arrived in 1989 and became the group’s strongest seller; “Me So Horny” reached the Top 40 with almost no radio support. The American Family Association, objecting to the album’s content beyond its parental-advisory sticker, prompted lawyer and activist Jack Thompson to urge Florida governor Bob Martinez to investigate possible violations of state obscenity statutes. A local prosecutor directed action at the county level, leading Broward County sheriff Nick Navarro to obtain a court ruling from Judge Mel Grossman that probable cause existed to deem the album obscene. After Navarro warned retailers, the 2 Live Crew sued; in June 1990 Judge Jose Gonzalez declared the record obscene and therefore illegal to sell. Retailer Charles Freeman was arrested for selling a copy to an undercover officer, and the three rappers were charged with obscenity for performing material from the album locally. They were acquitted months later, aided by testimony from Duke professor Henry Louis Gates, and Freeman’s conviction was overturned on appeal.
As Nasty as They Wanna Be sold more than two million copies amid the publicity, and additional store owners faced arrest for stocking it. The attention also drew George Lucas’s successful trademark suit against Campbell over the Luke Skyywalker name, forcing a shortening to Luke. Campbell secured a distribution agreement with Atlantic and assembled the semi-political Banned in the U.S.A., licensed the title track from Bruce Springsteen, and released it as Luke Featuring 2 Live Crew; the album moved briskly and the single became the group’s second Top 40 hit. In 1991 they issued Live in Concert, the first live rap album, and the official follow-up Sports Weekend, though sales were modest compared with prior notoriety. These proved to be the final recordings by the original quartet. Luke Records later paid MC Shy D $1,600,000 in royalties after losing a lawsuit.
In 1992 the Atlanta Court of Appeals reversed Judge Gonzalez’s obscenity finding, citing his dismissal of expert testimony and the fact that Sheriff Navarro had offered no evidence beyond the album itself; the Supreme Court let the decision stand. Meanwhile the members went separate ways. Luke and Fresh Kid Ice each issued solo projects—I Got Shit on My Mind and The Chinaman—while Ice and Mr. Mixx recorded Deal with This as the Rock on Crew. Luke maintained a solo career through the rest of the decade.
In 1994 Luke, Fresh Kid Ice, and newcomer Verb (born Larry Dobson) reunited as the New 2 Live Crew for Back at Your Ass for the Nine-4. That same year the group faced another lawsuit, this one from the publishers of Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman,” who claimed the parody on As Clean as They Wanna Be harmed the original’s image. The case reached the Supreme Court, which ruled the parody qualified as fair use and sided with the group. The New 2 Live Crew dissolved when Luke refocused on solo work. Luke Records declared bankruptcy in 1995 amid mounting debts; both Campbell and the remaining members moved to Lil’ Joe, the label started by former partner Joe Weinberger. In 1996 Fresh Kid Ice, Brother Marquis, and Mr. Mixx reformed the 2 Live Crew without Campbell and released Shake a Lil’ Somethin’. Brother Marquis soon departed, leaving the two original California members to issue The Real One in 1998. Luke continued releasing solo material and compilations highlighting South Florida artists.
Singles
