It's Uncle Luke's Birthday!!
The Godfather of Hip-Hop in Florida Luke began his historic career in Miami Beach, as a concert promoter.
In 1984, he noticed a single coming from California named "Revelation" by a new group call The 2 Live Crew, which consisted of Fresh Kid Ice, Amazing V and DJ Mr. Mixx. The single was a hit in South Florida, and he brought them from California to Miami and began managing them.
In 1986 he started Skyywlker records and dubbed himself Luke Skyywalker. He replaced Amazing Vee with Borther Marquis, and 2 Live Crew then recorded "Throw the D" with "Ghetto Bass" on the B-side, officially naming the style of hip-hop that would define the South Florida sound.
They exploded on the local scene with their gold-selling debut album, The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are in 1986.
In 1988, the group released their second album, Move Somethin', which was certified Gold and featured "Move Somethin'" and "Do Wah Diddy Diddy". The album made it to #68 on the Billboard 200.
Their third album As Nasty As They Wanna Be became the group's largest seller, certified double platinum which caused the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida to rule that the album was legally obscene, making It the first in history.
This would lead to the release of Banned in the U.S.A., by Luke who would change his name to Uncle Luke and featured the 2 Live Crew. The album included "Do the Bart" and was also the very first release to bear the RIAA-standard Parental Advisory warning sticker. It peaked at number 20 on the Hot 100.
The group's first and only live album, was released under the Effect subsidiary label of Luke Records, and peaked at number 46 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
Sports Weekend: As Nasty as They Wanna Be, Pt. 2 would come in 1991 and would be the last studio album by all original members of the 2 Live Crew.
In 1992, I Got Shit on My Mind was his first official solo album and peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200. The album spawned the hit single "I Wanna Rock", which became Campbell's signature song charted at 73 on the Hot 100.
In 1993 his third solo album In the Nude reached #54 on the Billboard 200. Luke would reunite with Fresh Kid Ice, and local rapper Verb and made an album under the banner The New 2 Live Crew. The album peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200 and produced two charting singles, "Hell, Yeah" and "You Go Girl".
Freak for Life is Campbell's fourth album, with the single "It's Your Birthday" which peaked at #33 on the Hot Rap Singles and #91 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.
Luke Records, Inc. went bankrupt in 1995 and and he sold their catalogs to Joseph Weinberger and Lil' Joe Records, Inc. in 1996. Uncle Luke was released in 1996, was a success, peaking at #51 on the Billboard 200, with the single, "Scarred", which made it to #64 on the Billboard Hot 100. Changin' the Game came in 1997, and spawned the single "Raise the Roof" which peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Rap Singles.
In 2010, he briefly reunited with Fresh Kid Ice, Brother Marquis, and Mr. Mixx as the 2 Live Crew were honorees winners at the 2010 VH1 Hip-Hop Honors.
Happy Birthday Uncle Luke you defined hip-hop in South Florida.