As Nasty As They Wanna Be
Encyclopedia
As Nasty As They Wanna Be is the third album by Miami rap group 2 Live Crew
. It was released in 1989, and became their largest seller, going 2x Platinum. In 1990, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
ruled that the album was legally obscene; this ruling was later overturned by the Eleventh Circuit
. It is the first album in history to be deemed legally obscene.
It would also be the final album to be released under the Skyywalker Records label. Following a successful lawsuit against Luther Campbell and Skyywalker Records by Star Wars
creator and director George Lucas
, the company was forced to change its name to Luke Records
.
The album is broken down track-by-track by Luke
and Mr. Mixx
in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique
.
In 2010 the album cover and imagery of the record were used in the music video of the song "Rabbit" by Swedish band Miike Snow
.
's third album. The album contains a disclaimer that '"This album does not contain explicit lyrics." The album had notably worse sales than the explicit version. However, it does contain "Pretty Woman", which is not on the explicit version. The song - a parody of the Roy Orbison
hit "Oh, Pretty Woman
" - resulted in a Supreme Court case, Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
, which established that a commercial parody
can qualify as fair use
. Despite the sticker on the album cover claiming "This album does not contain explicit lyrics", the song "Break It On Down" appears in its original, explicit form.
2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was a hip hop group from Miami, Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the sexual themes in their work, particularly on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be.- Early career :...
. It was released in 1989, and became their largest seller, going 2x Platinum. In 1990, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with jurisdiction over the southern part of the state of Florida....
ruled that the album was legally obscene; this ruling was later overturned by the Eleventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Middle District of Alabama...
. It is the first album in history to be deemed legally obscene.
It would also be the final album to be released under the Skyywalker Records label. Following a successful lawsuit against Luther Campbell and Skyywalker Records by Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
creator and director George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
, the company was forced to change its name to Luke Records
Luke Records
Luke Records is the record label formed in 1990 by Luther Campbell, frontman of 2 Live Crew.The label was originally called Luke Skyywalker Records, however because it was not found to be of fair use, Campbell shortened his pseudonym to "Luke" .-Artists:* 2 Live Crew* MC Shy D*...
.
The album is broken down track-by-track by Luke
Luther Campbell
Luther R. Campbell , also known as Luke Skyywalker, Uncle Luke or Luke, is a record label owner, rap performer , and actor...
and Mr. Mixx
Mr. Mixx
David Hobbs, also known as "Treach DJ" and "Mr. Mixx," is the co-creator of the controversial rap group, 2 Live Crew.In recent years, he has created his own website, Collegepeepshowtv.com, and has been on the road as Afroman's tour DJ, as well as making beats and working with other artists.-...
in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique
Check the Technique
Check the Technique: Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies is a book by music journalist Brian Coleman that covers the making of thirty-six classic hip hop albums, based on interviews with the artists who created them, also providing a track-by-track breakdown for each album entirely in the words of the...
.
In 2010 the album cover and imagery of the record were used in the music video of the song "Rabbit" by Swedish band Miike Snow
Miike Snow
Miike Snow is a Swedish indie pop band formed in 2007. The band consists of producing team Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg and Andrew Wyatt.-Early years:Miike Snow was formed in 2007 in Stockholm, Sweden....
.
Track listing
Trivia
- The album cover can be found on the wall of the music store in the comedy film, Next FridayNext FridayNext Friday is a 2000 comedy film, and the sequel to the 1995 film Friday. This is the first film to be produced by producer Ice Cube's film production company Cubevision...
. - As Nasty As They Wanna Be is the first ever southern rapSouthern rapSouthern hip hop, also called Southern rap, is a genre of American music influenced by hip hop that emerged from a late-1980s club-oriented vibe in southern U.S...
album to ever go platinum and the only one from the 80s80s-Significant people:* Titus Flavius VespasianusRoman Emperor * Titus Flavius Domitianus, Roman Emperor...
.
Personnel
- 2 Live Crew - Producer
- Jimmy Magnoli - Guitar
- Mr. Mixx - Vocals, Producer, Performer, Mixing
- Ted Stein - Engineer, Mixing
- Ron Taylor - Engineer, Mixing
- Chris Murphy - Engineer
As Clean As They Wanna Be
As Clean As They Wanna Be is the clean version of 2 Live Crew2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was a hip hop group from Miami, Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the sexual themes in their work, particularly on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be.- Early career :...
's third album. The album contains a disclaimer that '"This album does not contain explicit lyrics." The album had notably worse sales than the explicit version. However, it does contain "Pretty Woman", which is not on the explicit version. The song - a parody of the Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
hit "Oh, Pretty Woman
Oh, Pretty Woman
"Oh, Pretty Woman" is a song, released in August 1964, which was a worldwide success for Roy Orbison. Recorded on the Monument Records label in Nashville, Tennessee, it was written by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees. The song spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100...
" - resulted in a Supreme Court case, Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, 510 U.S. 569 was a United States Supreme Court copyright law case that established that a commercial parody can qualify as fair use...
, which established that a commercial parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
can qualify as fair use
Fair use
Fair use is a limitation and exception to the exclusive right granted by copyright law to the author of a creative work. In United States copyright law, fair use is a doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the rights holders...
. Despite the sticker on the album cover claiming "This album does not contain explicit lyrics", the song "Break It On Down" appears in its original, explicit form.
Track listing
Personnel
- Mr. Mixx – vocals, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, mixing - Ted Stein – engineer, mixing
- Ron Taylor – engineer, mixing
- Milton Mizell – coordination
- Linda Fine – coordination
- Mac Hartshorn – photography
- Mike Holland, aka Mike Bizzo - H.N.I.C.
- Luther Campbell – producer, executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
- Nic Stone, aka Spoon 56 - Mocha Thunder Generation
- Debbie Bennett – coordination
- Mike Fuller – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...