The Book of Luke
My Fight for Truth, Justice, and Liberty City
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
Born in Miami's notorious Liberty City, Luther Campbell witnessed poverty, despair, and crime firsthand. His uncle Ricky did not want him trapped by the "invisible chains" of systemic racism, so Ricky schooled him on the necessity of a black man running his own life, controlling his livelihood, and owning property.
Embracing these lessons, Campbell discovered his gift for entrepreneurship: He created one of the first hip-hop record companies, Luke Records, which started out of a shed in his mom's backyard and grew into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. As a rapper on his own label, Luke became known as the "King of Dirty Rap" and helped pioneer the worldwide phenomenon of Miami Bass. He went on to become the front man and manager for the rap group 2 Live Crew, and was key to the success of the group's controversial platinum recording As Nasty As They Wanna Be.
His hugely popular and provocative music infuriated the Man, and Luke was marked as public enemy number one when hip-hop crossed the color line into white America. Campbell would spend more than a million dollars of his own money fighting cops and prosecutors, and he went all the way to the Supreme Court to protect his—and every other artist's—right to free speech, setting landmark legal precedents that continue to shape the entertainment industry to this day.
In Campbell's clear and honest voice, he shares unforgettable stories of his rise to celebrity status, including illicit tales from his raunchy concerts. He also breaks down how he lost his fortune, but in the process gained a better perspective on life. His father taught him to be responsible for his actions and to be proud of himself. Campbell expressed this by being cocky and holding his head up high, but, as he acknowledges, "America has never been an easy place for a black man who doesn't know how to apologize."
Touching on some of the most pressing issues of our time, The Book of Luke is a raw and powerful memoir of how one man invented southern hip-hop, saved the First Amendment, and became a role model for the disenfranchised people of the city he calls home.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Campbell, the rich and rude businessman and founder of "Dirty Rap," presents himself as an unlikely achiever of the American dream. Raised in Miami's infamous Liberty City, Campbell used his West Indian work ethic to soar above a string of odd jobs, Jim Crow segregation, crime, and poverty to create a raunchy brand of Southern hip-hop as leader of 2 Live Crew. Campbell sees the exodus of high-end entertainment from South Florida to Las Vegas, the influx of rich Cubans rising to key city posts, and the twin plagues of guns and drugs take a lethal toll on the black population. Despite a crowded field of hip-hop bands, he created a winning formula for his rap group, stressing catchy hooks, outrageous blues lyrics, and big-bottomed eye candy. The price of success was police harassment and a much-publicized obscenity trial. After Campbell's fame ebbed, he became a football coach and mentor to at-risk students, a newspaper columnist, and a spokesman for revitalizing Liberty City. Profane yet practical, "Uncle Luke" writes persuasively of making America more tolerant via one funky beat and a Constitutional challenge.
Customer Reviews
Pooh Bear229
Great read, never judge a book by its cover. The love for his community is unmatched. They is so much more to Uncle Luke than expected. Motivational!!!
Very compelling
I love this book and it really hit home being I was born in Miami at Jackson hospital. I remember the McDuffie riot as kid. Thank you Mr. Campbell for writing Miami story
Great Book
This book was very supportive and I will tell everybody about it Thanks Luke .