Pop That Coochie: Uncle Luke, 2 Live Crew, and the Supreme Court Battle That Changed Hip-Hop Forever

The General's Briefing · Apr 22, 2026 · 16m

In 1990, a federal judge in Florida declared an album legally obscene for the first time in U.S. history. The album was As Nasty As They Wanna Be by 2 Live Crew. Record store owners were arrested for selling it. Members of the group were arrested for performing it live. The Broward County Sheriff's Office raided stores and confiscated copies.

And Luther Campbell, better known as Uncle Luke—took the case all the way to the Supreme Court. And he won.

In 1992, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that As Nasty As They Wanna Be was protected by the First Amendment. This was a landmark victory…