Luke Albums (9)
'My Life & Freaky Times'
Release Date 3/7/2006
Tracks 48
Label Virgin
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What The Critics Say
Unhappy with the lack of respect the hip-hop community has given him, Luther Campbell decided 2006 was the year he'd stop being a recording artist and move on to his true calling, porno magazines and XXX films. Saying goodbye with the three-disc My Life & Freaky Times won't earn him any more respect, since the audio book portion of the collection -- two discs out of the three -- spends a lot of time gossiping, often sounding like a sloppier version of Karrine Steffans' tell-all book Confessions of a Video Vixen. Course, My Life & Freaky Times comes from the other side of the casting couch and Luke isn't a so much a victim as he is a carnival huckster with a shocking product that got less and less shocking as hip-hop got harder. When Uncle Luke stops whining about his place in hip-hop history and focuses on his two real loves -- sports and sex -- the audio book portion of the set is actually fun and often funny. The music CD contains some new material and some old, but numerous lawsuits have made sure that none of the classic 2 Live Crew material is included, at least not in the versions everyone is familiar with. Instead there's a trying reggaeton remix of "Pop That Pussy," some leftovers and unreleased numbers, and new tracks with Trick Daddy, Pitbull, and Petey Pablo. While nothing here is necessary for hip-hop heads, anyone fascinated by sleazy characters that live on the fringe will find the audio book portion of the set entertaining. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Believe it or not, Changin' the Game is a title filled with meaning -- it signals that Luke, a rapper obsessed with the juvenile (particularly sex), is making a change and becoming mature. Of course, mature is a relative term. For some, it means cool, relaxed jazz or gentle folk songs. For others, it may mean soothing new age soundscapes or highly polished blue-eyed soul. For Luke, mature means he's not singing about asses all the time. That, and his new obsession with proving his material worth, are the primary differences on Changin' the Game. Musically, he hasn't changed at all, but you wouldn't want him any other way. Luke without Miami bass music is unthinkable, and he doesn't disappoint here. Working with producers Tony Galvin, Aaron Hall and So So Def's Lil John, Luke has created his best album in years, a collection of deep bass grooves that are funky, freaky and infectious. Lyrically, Changin' the Game is another matter -- there are less sex rhymes, but he's as profane and inane as ever -- but anyone who wants a Luke record isn't going to care about that in the first place. What they'll care about are the beats and the bass, and Changin' the Game delivers that in excess. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'I Got Sumthin' on My Mind'
Release Date 1/1/1992
Tracks 10
Label Luke
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What The Critics Say
Really a production rather than performance showcase, this resembled most bass music discs. If you owned a subwoofer or had an equalizer or separate bass controls and cranked them up, you'd appreciate the thick waves of sound and pounding rhythms. Otherwise, there's little point to this or any other bass album. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
A decent parody of Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The U.S.A." helped turn the debut by 2 Live Crew founder Luther Campbell into a mini-event. Campbell didn't show any great rapping or rhyming skills on the microphone, but did speak frankly about those he considered fake "gangstas" in between the constant sexual innuendos, invitations, admonitions and declarations. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
