2 Live Crew

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• Genre: Miami Bass
• Hometown: Miami

About

Hip-hop's most infamous booty-rap squad, 2 Live Crew came together in Miami in the mid 1980s. Founded by emcee/promotor/label-head Luther Campbell (aka Luke Skyywalker), they are best known for their over-the-top, scandalous sex rhymes and trunk-shaking, bass-heavy beats perfect for the jeep and strip club alike. Their first LP, 2 Live Crew Is What We Are, featured potent XXX jams like "We Want Some Pusy" and "Get It Girl," flexing hardcore lyricism not heard since the likes of Blowfly. Already superstars in Miami, they took the world by storm with 1989's ultra-controversial As Nasty As They Wanna Be, an album that featured the smash hit "Me So Horny," incited protests from numerous social and political groups, and got Luke convicted (though later cleared) of obscenity charges. Stores were ordered to pull the record from shelves, but it was too late, the media frenzy only increased sales. They carried on through much of the 90s, but never really had another large-scale single. Luke went on to a successful career as record producer, strip club owner, adult-film magnate, and general big baller. His label also discovered many talented artists, including JT Money and the Poison Clan.