Campbell, founder of infamous rap group 2 Live Crew, told XBiz that production already has wrapped on the first ethnic-themed gonzo movie from Luke Adult Entertainment Division (LEAD). Titled, “Luke’s Bachelor Party,” the movie is directed by Ron Hightower and will be distributed by Exquisite Entertainment.
“My hip-hop career has been so sexually oriented, and every time I went to court it was based on content,” Campbell said, “I’ve already lived a life like Larry Flynt. But in the urban adult entertainment business, there is no Larry Flynt or Hugh Hefner on a universal stage.”
“What I bring to the table is that icon status,” he added. “I want people to say, ‘This cat came into the adult business, and now there are three amigos: Hefner, Flynt and Luke, the black brother bringing urban adult entertainment to a higher level.”
Campbell first started testing the waters of adult with his “Freak Show” series of DVDs, which are like a hip-hop version of “Girls Gone Wild.” He said the core of his plan to elevate ethnic-themed hardcore will be using the marketing and branding expertise that launched his music career in order to create black stars.
Campbell pointed out an experience he had walking on the floor of the Adult Entertainment Expo, where he saw long lines of fans waiting to meet black performers. It struck him that while the girl’s have huge fan bases, they are not marketed as well as their white counterparts.
“There’s potential there,” Campbell said. “That’s what I’ll bring to the industry, to help create [black] stars, develop their careers and legitimize urban adult entertainment.”
The company currently is running an online contest to find its first contract girl, Luke’s Ms. Freaky Soul. The winner will receive $10,000 cash and a Rolex watch, as well as the opportunity to perform in LEAD productions. Campbell is filming the entire process, which will conclude with a huge party in Miami.
LEAD will launch several theme-based series this year, according to Campbell, including one based on his experiences in the music industry. He also will provide the music for the soundtracks — an issue that held up the launch of the company for almost four years.
“I had to get out of all my contracts so I could do the music for my movies,” he said. “I wanted to be free and clear.”
Campbell also plans to open a series of urban gentlemens clubs to help promote his contract performers.
“There’s no such thing as a feature [dancer] at a black gentlemens club,” he said. “At white clubs, that's a big part of the revenue for adult stars. It’s possible in the black market, too. It just comes down to organization, doing things that aren’t being done by other companies.
“I like going down highways where there ain’t much traffic,” he added.
In 1990, Florida officials, at the urging of the American Family Association, prosecuted Campbell and his band members for obscenity. Campbell was convicted, but a Court of Appeals overturned the obscenity ruling in 1992, and the decision was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court.
