On this day, February 7, 1989, 2 Live Crew released their third studio album, As Nasty As They Wanna Be, a record that would go on to make music history—not just for its success, but for the controversy it sparked. The album became a major hit, reaching number 29 on the Billboard 200 and an impressive number 3 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart, making it one of the most successful hip-hop albums of its time.
Known for its explicit lyrics and provocative themes, As Nasty As They Wanna Be pushed the boundaries of free speech in music. It became the center of a landmark legal battle when it was ruled obscene by a Florida court in 1990, making it the first album in U.S. history to be legally declared obscene. The ruling was later overturned, solidifying the album’s place in hip-hop’s fight for artistic expression.
Despite the controversy, the album was a commercial powerhouse, driven by hits like Me So Horny, The Funk Shop, and C'mon Babe. 2 Live Crew’s unapologetic style made them pioneers in the Miami bass scene and helped pave the way for future generations of explicit rap artists.
Fun fact: Due to the obscenity ruling, record stores in some areas refused to sell As Nasty As They Wanna Be, leading 2 Live Crew to release a censored version called As Clean As They Wanna Be.
Trivia question: What famous legal organization helped defend 2 Live Crew during their obscenity trial?
Known for its explicit lyrics and provocative themes, As Nasty As They Wanna Be pushed the boundaries of free speech in music. It became the center of a landmark legal battle when it was ruled obscene by a Florida court in 1990, making it the first album in U.S. history to be legally declared obscene. The ruling was later overturned, solidifying the album’s place in hip-hop’s fight for artistic expression.
Despite the controversy, the album was a commercial powerhouse, driven by hits like Me So Horny, The Funk Shop, and C'mon Babe. 2 Live Crew’s unapologetic style made them pioneers in the Miami bass scene and helped pave the way for future generations of explicit rap artists.
Fun fact: Due to the obscenity ruling, record stores in some areas refused to sell As Nasty As They Wanna Be, leading 2 Live Crew to release a censored version called As Clean As They Wanna Be.
Trivia question: What famous legal organization helped defend 2 Live Crew during their obscenity trial?
