2 Live Crew

Get ready to dive into the wild world of 2 Live Crew, the notorious rap group that pushed boundaries and courted controversy with their explicit and unapologetic lyrics. With their provocative and sexually charged songs, they not only brought pornographic rap into the mainstream but also found themselves embroiled in legal battles and censorship debates. Let's take a closer look at the rise and fall of this groundbreaking group.

About 2 Live Crew

2 Live Crew burst onto the hip hop scene in 1984 as a California-based group consisting of rappers Amazing Vee and Fresh Kid Ice, along with DJ Mr Mixx. Their debut single, "The Revelation," gained popularity in Florida, prompting record label owner Luther "Luke Skyywalker" Campbell to help the group relocate there. Unfortunately, Vee chose not to participate in the move, and the lineup underwent a change with the addition of Brother Marquis.

Their debut album, "2 Live Is What We Are," released in 1986, showcased explicit songs like "We Want Some Pussy" and "Get It Girl," which quickly earned the group an underground following. At a time when music was facing scrutiny from the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) for explicit content, 2 Live Crew unabashedly embraced their reputation for smutty lyrics.

It was in 1988, with the release of their sophomore album, "Move Somethin'," that 2 Live Crew fully embraced their explicit and pornographic image. The album became the first ever to be sold in both explicit and edited versions, leading to clashes with authorities who attempted to penalize record store clerks for selling it. Despite the controversies, the album solidified 2 Live Crew's status as pioneers of the genre.

In 1989, 2 Live Crew released their third album, "As Nasty As They Wanna Be," featuring the crossover pop hit "Me So Horny." The song propelled the pornographic album into the mainstream and attracted the attention of not only the PMRC but also Florida attorney/activist Jack Thompson. Thompson spearheaded a campaign that resulted in the album being labeled as obscene in Lee County, Florida, making it illegal to sell or perform live there.

The legal battles continued as Thompson sent letters with copies of explicit lyrics to governors and sheriff's departments, leading to similar rulings in other Florida counties and six other states. 2 Live Crew members found themselves on trial for performing songs from the album, but ultimately, they were acquitted by a jury in June 1990.

These incidents directly influenced 2 Live Crew's next album, "Banned In The USA," originally released as Luke featuring 2 Live Crew. The album included songs like "Fuck Martinez," targeting then-Florida governor Bob Martinez, and its title track, which sampled Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The U.S.A." with his permission and enthusiastic support. "Banned In The USA" became the group's highest charting album, reaching #21 on the charts in the summer of 1990.

The group's momentum continued with their next effort, "Sports Weekend (As Nasty As They Wanna Be Part 2)," which included the lead single "Pop That Coochie." Although the album achieved gold certification and reached a respectable position on the charts, it marked the beginning of a decline in the group's popularity.

By 1994, 2 Live Crew released "Back at Your Ass for the Nine-4" under the name The New 2 Live Crew, excluding members Marquis and Mr Mixx. This album failed to achieve gold certification and lacked any notable pop crossover hits. Their subsequent release in 1996, "Shake a Lil' Somethin'," saw the classic lineup reunite with a title track that became their last appearance on the Hot 100 chart, peaking at #72. The group's final album, "The Real One," released in 1998, featured a lineup without Mr Mixx and made less impact than its predecessors.

Since then, 2 Live Crew's music output has been sporadic, with occasional releases. In 2010, Luther Campbell revealed that Mr Mixx is prohibited from performing 2 Live Crew songs or acknowledging his former membership in the group due to a settlement agreement.

Despite the controversies, legal battles, and changing lineup, 2 Live Crew's legacy as pioneers of explicit rap cannot be ignored. They fearlessly pushed boundaries, challenging censorship and societal norms, and left an indelible mark on the hip hop industry.

While their explicit and unapologetic lyrics may not be everyone's cup of tea, 2 Live Crew will forever be remembered as a group that dared to be different, challenging the status quo and paving the way for future artists to express themselves freely.

So get ready to take a trip into the wild and controversial world of 2 Live Crew, where x-rated rhymes met legal battles, and pornographic rap met mainstream success.