As Nasty As They Wanna Be | ||||
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Studio album by 2 Live Crew | ||||
Released | February 7, 1989 | |||
Recorded | 1988 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 79:30 | |||
Label |
Luke, Atlantic Records 91651 |
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Producer | 2 Live Crew | |||
2 Live Crew chronology | ||||
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Singles from As Nasty As They Wanna Be | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
Robert Christgau | C |
As Clean As They Wanna Be | ||||
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Studio album by 2 Live Crew | ||||
Released | 1989 | |||
Recorded | 1988–1989 | |||
Genre | Miami bass | |||
Length | 47:37 | |||
Label |
Luke/Atlantic Records 91652 |
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Producer | Luther Campbell, Mr. Mixx, 2 Live Crew | |||
2 Live Crew chronology | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic |
As Nasty As They Wanna Be is the third album by Miami bass group 2 Live Crew. It was released on February 7, 1989 and became the group's largest seller, being certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. In 1990, the 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 "The Rabbit" by Swedish band Miike Snow.
Federal district judge Jose Gonzalez ruled that the album was obscene, making it illegal in certain counties of Florida. Subsequently, on June 9, 1990, three band members were arrested, and their album seized, when they performed some tracks at a local sex club, in Broward County Florida. In the "media circus" attendant on these events, only the Washington City Paper, Tipper Gore's Parents Music Resource Center and The Nation magazine published the offending lyrics. Christopher Hitchens, in a column on the last of these, citing the admonition on the cover of the album—"If you don't like the record, you can kiss our mother fuckin' ass"—commented,