Uncle Luke Comes Clean

Twenty years ago, Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell was known as the dirtiest man in America. His pioneering independent releases with his Miami group 2 Live Crew sparked so much controversy that one song, "Me So Horny," was almost banned by the United Startes Supreme Court. But behind the explicit lyrics and booty-shaking videos was a clever entrepreneur who never stopped grinding. Now a newly married suburban dad, Luke is finally inviting us inside his real life with his new VH1 show Luke’s Parental Advisory, which premieres tonight. In this exclusive Q&A, Luke talks about his recent nuptials, his child-rearing techniques, and which New Jack Swing star’s tongue is doodoo brown.

Complex: With everyone under the sun coming out with a reality show, what made you want to do Parental Advisory?

Luke: Well, Luke Campbell is pretty much only known as Uncle Luke, and I want to let people know who Luke Campbell really is. People only know me for the girls in the videos, so I want to let ‘em know what fun we have at home, or at my office with my company, or dealing with my kids, or going out and doing shows or whatever.

Complex: How long has it been in the works?

Luke: For about a year now. Some people tried to get me to do reality shows before, like "find the next adult star." I didn’t want to do anything like that because I just wanted people to see me for who I really am. There has always been a question like, “You always do that kind of music, but what do you say to your kids?” The show gives people the opportunity to see that.

Complex: It seems like America has moved towards you in the past 20 years or so. You used to be “Banned in the USA,” now you’re on cable television.

Luke: That’s the beautiful part. I’m pretty much typecast and a lot of people don’t know that I’m a business person. Industry people know that I’m the guy that started his own record company in his backyard, that promoted and marketed and sold records and distributed them and manufactured them and all that. My true fans know me almost like they know the history of Barry Gordy.