N.W.A's MC Ren and Ice Cube in 1990
Photo: MTV News

Stop us if you've heard this one before.

A rapper releases an enormous hit record, fans go crazy, the song skyrockets into the greater pop stratosphere ... and then everyone the song wasn't intended for — from politicians to school principals to talk-show hosts to religious activists to social-rights organizations — decries hip-hop as a virus attacking civilization's immune system.

And no, we're not just talking about the Don Imus incident (see "Hip-Hop On The Defensive After Imus Incident; Sharpton Calls For 'Dialogue' With MCs" and "Hip-Hop Hits Back At Imus, Critics: T.I., Snoop, Fat Joe, Common Weigh In"). Sure, the recently fired shock jock stirred up the latest controversy over hip-hop's lyrical content as he attempted to defend his insensitive remarks aimed at the mostly black Rutgers women's basketball team.

Imus told his listeners that rappers routinely "defame and demean black women" and if his remarks had been in a song, it would more than likely have been a hit.

Probably not, I-Man.

Still, major dust-ups over hip-hop lyrics seem to occur every four years or so — whether it's the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination taking Eminem to task over what it believed were homophobic lyrics or Ice-T and his rock band, Body Count, tangling with Time Warner over perceived endorsements of violence against police. And through it all, MTV News has been there — when Luke Skyywalker exited a Florida courthouse after his First Amendment case, sitting down with Tupac to discuss Congress analyzing his songs, and getting the word from Young Jeezy about his banned Snowman T-shirts.

Now, with Russell Simmons, Oprah Winfrey, the Reverend Al Sharpton and anyone with a blog weighing in on what rappers should and shouldn't say, we look back — in this exclusive MTV News video timeline — on the artists, the songs and the words that have stirred up such strong emotions.

(For an even more in-depth examination, watch "Hip-Hop Lyrics Under Fire: A Look Back in Anger.")

1989: N.W.A vs. the FBI

» Offending line: "F--- tha police, coming straight from the underground/ A young n---a got it bad 'cause I'm brown," from N.W.A's "F--- Tha Police."
» History: These five Cali natives gave just about everyone the middle finger on their debut LP, Straight Outta Compton, but saved the biggest kiss-off for the Los Angeles Police Department. The FBI and Secret Service even sent a certified letter informing N.W.A's label of the authorities' displeasure with the song.
» Defense: Ice Cube and MC Ren claimed they were just writing about reality as they saw it in their neighborhood.
» Outcome: "F--- Tha Police" helped push their largely underground album — with little video or radio play — into a double-platinum success. However, the controversy led to many show cancellations and even greater scrutiny from legal authorities.

1990: 2 Live Crew vs. the American Family Association, the State of Florida and the Supreme Court

» Offending line: "I'm like a dog in heat, a freak without warning/ I have an appetite for sex, 'cause me so horny," from 2 Live Crew's "Me So Horny."
» History: 2 Live Crew hit it big with the massively raunchy track "Me So Horny" from their As Nasty as They Wanna Be LP. But a lawyer with ties to the AFA filed a motion with Florida's then-governor calling for the album to be deemed "obscene" and any sale of it a crime — which led to the arrest of a Florida record-store owner and, later, three members of 2 Live Crew.
» Defense: Luke invoked his First Amendment rights and even noted Harvard Professor Skip Gates testified the song had merits based on oral African traditions.
» Outcome: Luke took the case to the Supreme Court, where it was eventually dismissed. Luke went on to record his solo debut, Banned in the U.S.A., featuring the popular title track.

1992: Ice-T and Body Count vs. Time Warner

» Offending line: "I got my 12-gauge sawed off/ I got my headlights turned off/ I'm 'bout to bust some shots off / I'm 'bout to dust some cops off," from Body Count's "Cop Killer."
» History: Ice-T had a successful rap career but had garnered little attention for his hard-rock side project, Body Count, until they released the highly controversial "Cop Killer." Their label at the time, Warner Bros., and its parent company, Time Warner, denounced the track, threatening to drop the group from its recording contract. A group of police responded by recording "Role Model," a dis track (of sorts) aimed at Ice and his crew.
» Defense: Ice rallied against the corporation over what he claimed were censorship issues.
» Outcome: Ice-T eventually removed the track — by his own choice, he has said — and eventually parted ways with Time Warner.

1993: Tupac Shakur/ Snoop Dogg and Death Row/ Interscope vs. Congress

» Offending line: "Cops on my tail, so I bail till I dodge 'em/ They finally pull me over and I laugh, 'Remember Rodney King?' and I blast/ On his punk ass," from Tupac's "Souljah's Story."
» History: Born into the Black Panthers, 'Pac had a strong sense of anti-establishment long before Vice President Dan Quayle and activist C. DeLores Tucker targeted his and Snoop's work. Quayle, meanwhile, made ripples in the media while campaigning with President George H.W. Bush and said that Tupac's words have "no place in society."
» Defense: Tupac turned the tables on politicians by explaining they also played a role in creating the reality his lyrics depicted.
» Outcome: After protests and considerable public uproar, Time Warner eventually dropped both Interscope and Death Row Records. The two labels immediately entered into a partnership with Universal; Death Row fell apart in the wake of founder Suge Knight's legal problems, but Interscope's relationship with Universal thrives to this day.

1996: Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown vs. social activist groups

» Offending line: "I used to be scared of the d---/ Now I throw lips to the sh-- / Handle it like a real b---h," from Lil Kim's "Big Momma Thang."
» History: Sex sells, yes, but these two Brooklyn, New York, beauties upped the ante with their explicit expressions of sexuality (to put it mildly) and a get-it-by-however-means mentality. Decency groups heavily targeted Kim and Foxy over the messages they felt the rappers were sending to teen girls.
» Defense: Kim and Fox claimed they were empowering women with their message.
» Outcome: Both rappers weather that particular storm but have suffered significant legal setbacks over other incidents.

2000: Eminem vs. the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the National Organization for Women

» Offending line: "My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge/ That'll stab you in the head whether you're a f-- or les," from Eminem's "Criminal."
» History: Em burst on the scene in the late '90s, but when his sophomore project, The Marshall Mathers LP, was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2001 Grammy Awards, GLAAD and NOW protesters rallied outside the venue for days (see "Eminem Protesters Few But Passionate"). In a display of solidarity and support with the rapper, Elton John angered many in the gay community by performing Eminem's "Stan" with the mercurial MC during the awards show (see "Eminem: Performance With Elton Was Statement Enough").
» Defense: Em claimed his lyrics were misunderstood.
» Outcome: Although Em didn't win the Album of the Year Grammy, in his interview with Kurt Loder immediately following the broadcast, the rapper said he felt vindicated after performing alongside John and braving the controversy.

2002: Ludacris vs. Bill O'Reilly

» Offending line: "I'm DUI, hardly ever caught sober/ And you about to get ran the f--- over," from Luda's "Move B---h."
» History: Ludacris' raunchy sense of humor garnered the multiplatinum rapper thousands of fans and even an endorsement deal with Pepsi. But after O'Reilly got wind of a few of Luda's lyrics, he mounted a protest from his cable-news program to call for the soda giant to drop the "Gangsta" rapper from its ad campaign.
» Defense: Luda, with the help of Russell Simmons, trumpeted his notable charity work and pointed out O'Reilly's detachment from the culture.
» Outcome: O'Reilly's viewers mounted pressure on Pepsi, and eventually the company dropped Luda (see "Ludacris Barks Back At Pepsi, O'Reilly; P-Roach Antics Not An Issue For Soda Giant"). Ludacris' career has continued to thrive, although he hasn't landed an endorsement deal since and he's remained a target for O'Reilly as well as Oprah, largely because of his high profile after winning a Grammy Award and appearing in the Oscar-winning film "Crash."

2004: Nelly vs. the women of Spelman College

» Offending line: "I said it must be ya ass 'cause it ain't ya face/ I need a tip drill, I need a tip drill," from "E.I. (The Tip Drill remix)."
» History: Propelled largely by its video play on the now defunct late-night show "BET Uncut," Nelly's "Tip Drill" video stirred up the female students on Spelman's campus, largely owing to the image of Nelly swiping a credit card through the buttocks of a female stripper in the video.
» Defense: Nelly claimed the women in the video participated willingly.
» Outcome: Spelman student leaders removed Nelly's affiliation from a bone-marrow drive at the school.

2005: Young Jeezy vs. public schools

» Offending line: "Get it, I'm Jeezy the Snowman/ I'm iced out, plus I got snow, man," from Gucci Mane's "Icy" (featuring Jeezy).
» History: Jeezy's trademark ad libs may have caught on quickly, but his Angry-Snowman T-Shirts took the 'hood by storm. From Harlem to Hotlanta, kids could be seen rocking the menacing Snowman tees, even in school.
» Defense: In interviews, Jeezy claimed the Snowman was just a cool dude and the character represented upward mobility (see "Young Jeezy Explains Symbolism Of The Snowman").
» Outcome: His response didn't satisfy school administrators, who deemed his Snowman a blatant endorsement for kids to sell drugs. The Snowman controversy has cooled down, but Jeezy is still hot.

2005: Cam'ron's "Stop snitchin' " stance vs. the police

» Offending line: Nothing.
» History: Cam angered police and public officials when he refused to cooperate with authorities — a tacit endorsement of the "stop snitchin' " attitude — following his 2005 shooting in Washington, D.C. (see "Cam'ron Says He's Not Sure Incident Was A Failed Carjacking After All"). The murder of Busta Rhymes' bodyguard Israel Ramirez at a video set in February 2006 followed a similar pattern (see "Busta Rhymes Issues Statement On Bodyguard Shooting").
» Defense: Cam said business interests and the way he was raised prevent him from speaking with authorities and revealing further information.
» Outcome: Critics say Cam's silence speaks volumes; they feel he's encouraging inner-city residents to continue their stance against cooperating with police. The MC recently appeared on "60 Minutes" to further explain his stance.

Amid all the controversies of the past three decades, one thing is certain: Hip-hop lyrics will continue to enthrall fans and enrage critics for many years to come.

• Hip-Hop Lyrics Under Fire: A Look Back In Anger

• Tupac
• N.W.A.
• Snoop Dogg
• 2 Live Crew
• Lil' Kim

Lil' Kim arrives at her perjury trial in 2004
Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

Earlier this week, in a lasting (if not especially prompt) display of loyalty, a pair of Doors fans sent a letter to Florida Governor Charlie Crist, asking him to pardon the late Jim Morrison, who was arrested nearly 40 years ago on charges of indecent exposure after a concert in Miami.

See, on March 1, 1969, Morrison and the Doors were playing a show at the Dinner Key Auditorium when the iconic — and, on this night, reportedly very intoxicated — lead singer berated the crowd, encouraged them to "take [their] clothes off and love each other" and, in a moment that lives on in rock and roll infamy, shouted, "There are no rules!" and allegedly exposed himself. (This scene is re-enacted, doubtless with a keen eye toward historical accuracy, in Oliver Stone's 1991 film "The Doors.")

A public outcry ensued — including a "Rally for Decency" at the Orange Bowl stadium — and within a few days, the city of Miami issued a warrant for Morrison's arrest on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior, indecent exposure, public profanity and public drunkenness (phew!). More than 18 months later, Morrison was convicted on the profanity and indecent-exposure charges and sentenced to six months in jail. He was released pending an appeal, but died in his Paris apartment in on July 3, 1971, before that appeal could be heard.

Many Doors fans argue that the Miami incident marked the beginning of Morrison's downward spiral and see it as a permanent scuff on his legend. Of course, whether Governor Crist actually will pardon Morrison — something that requires the approval of two-thirds of the Florida Cabinet — remains to be seen. And while the appeal is no doubt a noble one, there is a sense of "Um, why now?" If the matter is so important, shouldn't have the speedy wheels of justice been greased decades ago?

But it did get us thinking: if we had the power (and weren't slaves to that most unforgiving mistress, time), which of music's most felonious would we pardon — and why.

In our court of clemency, things like "evidence" and "alibi" carry just as much weight as a truly awesome mug shot or a completely epic flame-out — and as such, our verdicts are not necessarily legally airtight, nor are we in any way advocating such behavior. But hey, we're the judges here, so whatever we say, goes!

Court is in session, and we're ready to rule ...

Defendant: Ozzy Osbourne

The Charge: Back in the day, Ozzy was like the Michael Jordan of public intoxication and bad behavior. Take, for example, his infamous intoxicated incidents of 1982, when he bit the head off of a dove in a record-company meeting, and the Alamo incident later in the year, when Osbourne urinated on the Texas landmark, was booked on public-intoxication charges and subsequently banned from ever appearing in San Antonio again. Or his 1984 arrest in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was popped by police officers after "staggering drunk" — those words are from the police report — down Beale Street, and perhaps for showing his allegiance to the St. Louis Blues.

Our Verdict: Totally pardoned! Ozzy has sorta mellowed over the past two decades — so much, in fact, that we're willing to forgive all his past indiscretions (except "Close Your Eyes Forever"). Plus, anyone who can appear on consecutive album covers as a blood-spattered Mr. Hyde and a savage, tree-bound wolfman — as the Ozzman did on 1981's Diary of a Madman and '83's Bark at the Moon — can do no wrong in our book.

Defendants: The Beastie Boys

The Charges: The most serious legal ramification from the band's unhinged 1987 License to Ill tour was Ad-Rock (Adam Horovitz) being arrested in England for allegedly hitting a female audience member in the face with a beer can he'd batted into the crowd. But you kinda get the feeling that the Beasties have spent the last 20 years trying to live down the events of that raucous worldwide trek, which saw them work a giant inflatable (and, according to some reports, motorized) phallus into their stage shows, invite female fans onstage to dance in cages, trash more hotel rooms than Led Zeppelin and — allegedly — lob insults at leukemia patients in the U.K. They've since traded in their hell-raising ways for retro obsessing, unsuccessful business diversification (Grand Royal Records and magazine) and, uh, Buddhism.

We Say: No harm, no foul (well, aside from the beer-can incident, which, if true, sounds unintentional). The B-Boys were just borrowing the whole inflatable-donger thing from the Rolling Stones' 1975 tour anyway, and we're pretty sure the hard partying suited the guys well: Ever since he went all "clean livin'," Mike D has started to look like the Crypt Keeper.

Defendant: Jack White of the White Stripes and Raconteurs

The Charge: In December 2003, White got into an altercation with Von Bondies frontman Jason Stollsteimer at a Detroit rock club (see "Jack White Brawls With Fellow Garage Rocker At Detroit Club"), an incident that allegedly stemmed from disagreement over production credits on the Bondies' 2001 album Lack of Communication. White took full credit, while Stollsteimer said he felt engineer Jim Diamond, who later unsuccessfully sued White over White Stripes royalties (see "White Stripes Win Royalties Lawsuit"), did most of the work. Regardless of what caused the scrap, it's clear who the winner was: White emerged unscathed, despite being able to brawl with only one hand (he'd recently broken his left index finger), and Stollsteimer ... well, he didn't fare quite as well. White was subsequently charged with aggravated assault, but ended up pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery. He was fined $500 and ordered to attend anger-management classes.

We Say: Pardoned. After all, White totally whooped ass with only one hand — and he might do it to us if we don't pardon him.

Defendants: 2 Live Crew

The Charges: Geez, where to start? The bootymasters' 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be got a lot of people all hot and bothered (not in the good way) thanks to its highly explicit content, drawing the ire of the American Family Association and eventually being classified as obscene — and therefore illegal to sell — in Broward County, Florida. In June 1990, a local record store clerk was arrested for selling a copy of Nasty to an undercover police officer, and a few days later, three members of the Crew — Luther "Luke Skyywalker" Campbell, Chris "Fresh Kid Ice" Wong Won and Mark "Brother Marquis" Ross — were arrested on charges of obscene conduct after performing songs from the album at a nightclub in Hollywood, Florida. But none of the charges stuck, and in 1992, a Court of Appeals overturned the obscenity ruling.

We Say: Even though their convictions were all thrown out, we feel like the whole incident is a blemish on the group's otherwise sterling reputation, so we're granting the Crew clemency. Anyone responsible for a tune as excellent(ly terrible) as 1999's Bill-Clinton baiting "Bill So Horny: The Presidential Remix" is clearly worthy of a presidential-style pardoning.

The Defendant: R.E.M. Guitarist Peter Buck

The Charges: In April 2001, Buck boarded a British Airways flight in Seattle, bound for London. Somewhere in between, he began downing glass after glass of red wine and, according to British court documents, Buck "behaved ... like the transmogrification of Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde," getting stuck between seats, wandering around the first-class cabin bellowing "I am R.E.M.!," trying to sit next to a woman he inaccurately claimed was his wife, threatening the cabin crew with a tub of yogurt and a spoon, attempting to insert a CD into a drinks cart and — in the piece-de-resistance — smashing a trolley of breakfast crockery for no apparent reason (see "Peter Buck Arrested For Busting Up First Class"). He was charged with two counts of common assault on the cabin crew, one count of being drunk on a plane and one count of damaging British Airways cutlery. At trial, his defense claimed the wine he had drank had reacted adversely with some sleeping pills, which caused him to lose control; Buck said he remembered nothing between closing his eyes in his first-class seat and waking up in the Heathrow Airport police station. After some heartfelt testimony from Bono and R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, Buck was cleared of all charges on the grounds of "non-insane automatism," which essentially means his actions were not considered intentional.

We Say: Sure, the British court may have already cleared him, but if we were in charge, this whole thing would've never even got to trial. After all, who among us hasn't mistaken a cart loaded with alcohol for a stereo? And who doesn't hate crockery?

Defendant: Lil' Kim

The Charges: In 2005, Kim was convicted on charges of perjury and conspiracy for lying to investigators and a federal grand jury about her involvement in a 2001 shooting at New York radio station Hot 97 (see "Lil' Kim Gets A Year And A Day In Prison"). She served 366 days in a Philadelphia prison, then departed "wearing sunglasses, carrying a bouquet of white roses ... blowing kisses and [telling fans] 'I love you,' " according to The Associated Press, which sort of proves that there is no situation she can't glamorize. Since then, she's kept her nose clean (unlike chronic-antagonizer-of-beauty-salon-employees Foxy Brown) and logged time as a "stern-yet-fair" judge on the CW's "Search for the Next Doll."

We Say: The Queen Bee is pardoned. She paid her debt to society via a stretch in the slammer (which is more than we can say for just about anyone else on this list) and has behaved ever since — although her dedication to the whole "Stop Snitchin' " ethic isn't particularly admirable.

The Defendant: Trey Anastasio

The Charges: The former Phish frontman faced a seven-count indictment that included a felony charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of drugs, and misdemeanor drug possession, stemming from a late-night traffic stop in rural Whitehall, New York, last December — charges that could have gotten him 14 years in prison. Police reportedly pulled Anastasio over after he was seen "swerving" between lanes, and then found a quantity of heroin, prescription painkillers and anti-anxiety medication in his car. Anastasio allegedly also told police that he had been smoking hashish and taking pills prior to his arrest (whoops!). According to AP, Anastasio accepted a plea deal on Friday (April 13) that spares him time in prison but involves community service, drug testing and weekly appearances in New York's drug court program for 12 to 15 months.

We Say: Despite the fact that he pleaded guilty to a lesser drugs charge, we'll pardon him. Because not only is Anastasio's "aw-shucks" mug shot beyond cute, we don't know how anyone could survive 20 years of Phish without some serious painkillers.

• Ozzy Osbourne
• Beastie Boys
• The White Stripes
• Lil' Kim
• R.E.M.

Jay-Z
Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

Former 2 Live Crew member Marquis Ross (a.k.a. Brother Marquis) filed suit against Jay-Z and Ice-T in New York on Monday, claiming that he wrote a song with similar beats and lyrics to "99 Problems."

According to The Associated Press, the lawsuit filed by Ross in U.S. District Court in Manhattan requests royalties from the song, which appears on Jay-Z's 2003 release, The Black Album. Jay-Z holds a copyright on the track, which was based on a song of the same name released by Ice-T on his 1993 album, Home Invasion. The earlier version credits Ice-T and DJ Aladdin as songwriters.

Ross alleges that the chorus of Jay-Z's song is similar to the lyrics and beats he wrote for the Ice-T song, for which he was not credited. He claims in the suit that Ice-T refused to pay him royalties on the tune until 2005, when he made a "partial payment" of $10,000. Ross is requesting back royalties and punitive damages.

Representatives for Ice-T and Jay-Z could not be reached for comment at press time.

• Jay-Z
• 2 Live Crew
• Ice-T

The insanity is turning out to be even more insane that expected. Insane Clown Posse have hit the road with '80s rap hellraisers 2 Live Crew and Anybody Killa. The Posse will remain on tour through April 26 in Columbus, Ohio, and they're mixing up their formula until it's as explosive as a shaken bottle of Faygo by presenting the public with totally rad new face paint. Instead of standard black-and-white patterns, the Clowns will alter their designs to meet their twizted moods. Crazy. ...

Bay Area punks Rancid are working on their sixth studio album, produced by Epitaph founder and Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The band's first recording since 2000's self-titled album is due for release in June, just in time for their headlining slot on this summer's Warped Tour. ... The girls of T.a.t.u. are back in their native Russia, where Julia Volkova is seeking treatment — possibly surgery — for a throat ailment. As a result of the diagnosis, the group was forced to postpone a few promotional shows in the U.K. last week. ...

Har Mar Superstar, eccentric Midwestern singer/ Kelly Osbourne's date for the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, is in negotiations to play Dancing Ernie in "Starsky & Hutch," director Todd Phillips' big-screen update of the 1970s cop show that stars Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson in the title roles. Snoop Dogg will also appear, as street-informant Huggy Bear. ... Adam Levy, the guitarist in Norah Jones' band, is releasing a solo album, Get Your Glow On, April 8 on his own Lost Wax label. Jones and Memphis soul singer Otis Clay are among the guest performers. ...

American Head Charge keyboardist Aaron Zilch has parted ways with his bandmates due to irreconcilable differences. In a post on the band's official Web site, bassist Chad Hanks said the group will not seek a replacement, and that from now on their other keyboardist, Justin Fowler, will handle all sampling duties. ... Lamb of God's new album, As the Palaces Burn, will come out May 6. The disc, which is being produced by Strapping Young Lad frontman Devin Townsend, will feature appearances by Townsend, ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland and Today Is the Day vocalist Steve Austin. ...

01.27.03

Mariah Carey will perform during halftime at the NBA All-Star Game on February 9 in Atlanta. The game and performance will be broadcast live on TNT at 7:30 p.m. ET. ...

The nefarious Rob Zombie has signed on to direct the video for Black Label Society's new single, "Stillborn," which features guest vocals by Ozzy Osbourne. Black Label Society's new disc, The Blessed Hellride, drops April 22. ... A Perfect Circle, the group that includes Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, ex-Tool guitar tech Billy Howerdel and Queens of the Stone Age's touring guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, reconvened in a Los Angeles studio on January 17 to begin recording their second album. "When it's done, you all will be the first to know," Keenan wrote on the band's Web site. "Actually, the second to know." ...

On February 20 in Somerville, Massachusetts, Bruce Springsteen and his wife Patti Scialfa will play a benefit concert for DoubleTake, a Boston magazine that suspended publishing in December due to lack of funds. Tickets will range between $1,000 and $5,000. ... Power thrash band Shadows Fall will shoot a video for "Destroyer of Senses" on February 16 in Springfield, Massachusetts. The second vid from their latest album, The Art of Balance, will be directed by Zack Merek (Converge, Atreyu), and will feature guest appearances by members of Hatebreed, Lamb of God, Converge and others. ...

Hootie and the Blowfish will release their first studio album in nearly five years on March 4. Don Was (Barenaked Ladies, B-52's) produced the self-titled collection, which will feature the single "Innocence," due at radio outlets in mid-February. ... I'm Staying Out, the second solo album from former Whiskeytown singer and violinist Caitlin Cary, is due April 22. Chris Stamey (Yo La Tengo) once again produced and Mary Chapin Carpenter, cellist Jane Scarpantoni (R.E.M.) and others make guest appearances. ...

• Insane Clown Posse
• 2 Live Crew
• Norah Jones
• Rancid
• Snoop Dogg

Sir Mix-A-Lot
Photo: Columbia

Nostalgia tours don't always have to feature Ringo Starr or hair bands.

More than 20 years after "Rapper's Delight" broke through to radio, hip-hop has its own legends — and nothing befits a legend more than a comeback trek.

A healthy number of the rappers who first brought the genre to radio and video are still touring the country and releasing new music. Here's a rundown of who's doing what and why you should know.

(Tour dates are according to various booking agencies, artists' management and venues.)

Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
Breakthrough single: "It Takes Two" (1988)
Catchphrase: "Don't cheer me, just hear me out, 'cause I got the clout — shout!"
Famous fashion accessory: Big gold chains, lots of 'em.
Forgettable moment: Cover of Edwin Starr's "War."
Most recent record: Break of Dawn (1994)
Current projects: Unknown.
Tour dates:

10/17 - Harrison, AR @ University of Arkansas

Related Artists

• Tone-Loc
• Run-D.M.C.
• Sir Mix-A-Lot
• Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
• 2 Live Crew

]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1445924/20010801/tone_loc.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1445924/20010801/tone_loc.jhtml 1 Aug 2001 06:51:00 EDT
Luther Cambell

Former 2 Live Crew frontman Luther Campbell has been cleared of the assault charges that were filed against him last month as the result of a nightclub brawl in Miami Beach, Florida.

Dade County prosecutors decided to withdraw the aggravated battery charge against Campbell after witnesses to the incident offered conflicting views as to what they had seen, according to the Associated Press.

Campbell was taken into custody on July 5 after he allegedly struck one of the bar patrons in the face with a whiskey bottle -- supposedly because the man was blocking his view of the stage (see "2 Live Crew's Campbell Arrested").

Related Artists

• 2 Live Crew

]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434966/19990817/two_live_crew.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434966/19990817/two_live_crew.jhtml 17 Aug 1999 10:00:00 EDT

Luther Campbell has been charged with aggravated battery after he allegedly attacked a man at a nightclub in Miami Beach on early Monday.

The rapper apparently became upset when a man, Mathieu Fabrice, blocked his view during a show at a local club. Campbell then got into a verbal argument with Fabrice that ended with the rapper striking Fabrice in the face with a whiskey bottle, according to the Associated Press.

Campbell was released from Miami-Dade County Jail on Tuesday morning after being formally charged in the incident.

The rapper and former music promoter is best known for helping found the controversial group, 2 Live Crew, whose profanity-laced lyrics on such records as 1989's "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" and 1990's "Banned in the USA," helped spurn a national debate about censorship.

Campbell has also issued several solo albums in his own right, the most recent of which, "Changing the Game," was released in 1997.

Related Artists

• 2 Live Crew

]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434967/19990706/two_live_crew.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434967/19990706/two_live_crew.jhtml 6 Jul 1999 07:55:00 EDT
Ice-T

2 Live Crew and Ice-T have teamed up to shoot a no-holds-barred video for their song "The Real One," which will be featured in the Jerry Springer film " Ringmaster" and on its soundtrack.

The infamous Crew were brought on board the project when Springer and the film's music supervisor first heard the song, which had been previously recorded for 2 Live Crew's current album, also titled "The Real One." The rap group also recorded two new versions of James Brown's "Living In America" for the picture.

While on the set of "The Real One" video shoot, which took place at the Broadway Boxing Gym in South Central, California, both 2 Live Crew's Brother Marquis and Ice-T jumped at the chance to proclaim their love of the action-packed talk show.

"Everybody loves Jerry Springer whether they want to act like they do or they don't, you know," Ice-T told MTV News of the Springer appeal.

The Crew's Brother Marquis added, "Whenever they're fighting and whenever they've got some like stripper girls on there pullin' off their clothes and you know what I'm saying? Like anytime I can...when I'm at home kickin' back with my girl and everything, we got to watch that. We like that ghetto stuff."

2 Live Crew and Ice-T are featured rapping in a boxing setting with film footage intermixed. Also making an appearance in the video is Nate Dogg, who is not guesting on the track, but can be heard elsewhere on the "Ringmaster" soundtrack on his own as-yet-untitled cut. Nate Dogg has written a song specifically for the film, and is currently in the process of recording it. Other acts on the soundtrack include Monifah, Reel Tight, and even Springer himself singing a country-western tune he wrote called "Dr. Talk."

While the soundtrack won't be out in stores until March, the film premiers on Thursday and will hit theaters nationwide on November 25.

Related Artists

• Ice-T
• 2 Live Crew

]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430249/19981112/ice_t.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430249/19981112/ice_t.jhtml 12 Nov 1998 07:55:00 EST

Controversial and marginal rap group 2 Live Crew are at it once again for two of the most controversial men on TV today: Jerry Springer and President Clinton.

Currently comprised of rappers Fresh Kid Ice and Brother Marquis -- after founder Luke Campbell left in 1996, the group has recently cut two new versions of James Brown's "Living in America" for a soundtrack to the upcoming Springer film, "Jerry Springer: Ringmaster," which is due out on Thanksgiving.

2 Live Crew, which drew fire when the then Campbell-fronted band released the expletive-laced "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" in 1989, will also have "The Real One," a song from their current record co-written by Ice-T, included on the Springer soundtrack.

The rappers have also remixed its classic single, "Me So Horny," to apply to the president's current political entanglement, re-christening the track "Bill So Horny: The Presidential Remix."

"Bill So Horny" and "Living in America" will be included on a new Crew compilation, "The 2 Live Crew's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2," which is due out in January 1999.

Related Artists

• 2 Live Crew

]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434968/19981021/two_live_crew.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434968/19981021/two_live_crew.jhtml 21 Oct 1998 07:55:00 EDT

October 14 [14:00 EDT] -- A rare 80s nugget pairing 2 Live Crew with Mötley Crüe should see the light of day in the next few weeks on an upcoming 2 Live Crew collection.

The album, "A Decade Of Hits," will compile the offerings that Luther Campbell and the rest of the Crew contributed to various film soundtracks over the years, including "In The Dust" from "New Jack City" and "Hoochie Mama" from "Friday."

The collection will also boast a 1989 collaboration between the Crew and the Crüe that was to appear in the film "Hangin' With The Homeboys." The track remained shelved due to creative friction between Luther Campbell and Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil.

Of course, Campbell isn't the only person that Neil has had friction with over the course of his career. The singer, who went through a nasty split with the rest of the Crüe in 1992 only to reconcile with the band late last year, is now being sued by the lawyers Neil hired after the Crüe fired him in 1992. The attorneys claim they have never been paid for the work they did for the Crüe singer.

Meanwhile, the reunited Crüe are on the road, and will roll into Cincinnati on Tuesday. Here's where else they'll be:

• 10/15 - Rosemont, IL @ Rosemont Horizon
• 10/17 - Milwaukee, WI @ Wisconsin Center Arena
• 10/18 - Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace Of Auburn Hills
• 10/19 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Pittsburgh Civic Arena
• 10/21 - Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Arena
• 10/22 - Cleveland, OH @ CSU Convocation Center
• 10/24 - Philadelphia, PA @ CoreStates Spectrum
• 10/25 - Worcester, MA @ The Centrum
• 10/26 - Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
• 10/28 - Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
• 10/29 - Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Coliseum
• 10/31 - Tampa, FL @ USF Sun Dome
• 11/1 - West Palm Beach, FL @ Coral Sky Amphitheatre
• 11/2 - Orlando, FL @ UCF Arena
• 11/5 - Wichita, KS @ Kansas Coliseum
• 11/7 - San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome
• 11/8 - Dallas, TX @ Starplex Amphitheatre
• 11/9 - Houston, TX @ The Summit
• 11/11 - Mankato, MN @ Mankato Civic Center
• 11/12 - Sioux Falls, SD @ Sioux Falls Arena
• 11/14 - Topeka, KS @ Kansas Expocentre
• 11/15 - Carbondale, IL @ SIU Arena
• 11/16 - Rockford, IL @ Rockford MetroCentre
• 11/18 - Columbus, OH @ Memorial Auditorium
• 11/19 - Indianapolis, IN @ Market Square Arena
• 11/21 - Peoria, IL @ Civic Center Arena
• 11/22 - Des Moines, IA @ Veterans Memorial Aud.
• 11/23 - Madison, WI @ Dane Co. Expo Ctr. Col.

Related Artists

• 2 Live Crew

]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434969/19971014/two_live_crew.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434969/19971014/two_live_crew.jhtml 14 Oct 1997 02:00:00 EDT 2 Live Crew - Yakety Yak

Yakety Yak

• Artist: 2 Live Crew
• Label: Lil' Joe Records, Inc.
• Album: Goes to the Movies: Decade of Hits

]]> Videos http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1264808&vid=262840 http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1264808&vid=262840 1 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EDT 2 Live Crew - Me So Horny

Me So Horny

• Artist: 2 Live Crew
• Label: Skyywalker Records
• Album: As Clean as They Wanna Be

]]> Videos http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1264808&vid=217179 http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1264808&vid=217179 20 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EDT