2 Live Crew Is What We Are '86 Vinyl LP XR-100 Explicit Lyrics Stamp Variant VG+
$
40
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Description
The 2 Live Crew - 2 Live Is What We Are (1986, Luke Skyywalker Records XR-100)
– Explicit Lyrics Stamp Variant – VG+ Condition
For sale is a strong original pressing of The 2 Live Crew’s landmark debut album 2 Live Is What We Are (1986).
This is the desirable transitional/second pressing variant that includes the printed album title “is what we are” on the front cover plus the custom explicit lyrics stamp in the upper right: “THIS ALBUM CONTAINS EXPLICIT LYRICS… YOU MUST BE 18 OR OLDER” (dedicated close-up photo shows it clearly).
This early warning distinguishes it from the plain first pressing (no title, no stamp) and the more common later sticker reissues.
Historical Significance:
Dropped independently on Luke Skyywalker Records in 1986, this album put Miami bass on the map and cranked up the controversy around explicit rap lyrics with stand-out tracks like “We Want Some Pussy,” “Throw the ‘D’,” “Check It Out Y’all (Freestyle Rappin’),” and “Get It Girl.”
It arrived years before the group’s high-profile 1989–1990 obscenity trials over As Nasty As They Wanna Be (which resulted in arrests, federal court rulings on free speech in music, and the introduction of the official RIAA Parental Advisory sticker starting with Banned in the U.S.A. in 1990).
Already in 1986–87, the raw content drew heat—leading to at least one reported arrest of a Florida store clerk for selling it to a minor—and prompted the label to add this custom stamp as an early defensive move against censorship pressure from groups like the American Family Association.
The stamp on this pressing is a direct artifact of that moment: one of the first visible signs of the culture war over rap lyrics, artistic freedom, and Southern hip-hop’s rise.
It’s not just music—it’s a documented piece of hip-hop history that helped pave the way for everything from 2 Live Crew’s legal battles to the broader evolution of explicit-content warnings in the industry.
Condition
• Cover: VG+ — light edge and ring wear from normal age/handling, no splits, tears, or writing; stamp is prominent and authentic.
• Vinyl: VG+ — clean with strong shine, plays through smoothly with only light surface noise expected for the era; no deep scratches, warps, or skips.
• Labels: Classic yellow Luke Skyywalker design with full production credits, thanks list (including the famous “ALL FEMALES SEND PICTURES!!!”), old Miami fan club address/phone, and dedication to Malcolm X.
• Matrix/runout etchings consistent with 1986–87 originals (XR-100-A / XR-100-B variants).
All photos show the exact record you will receive: full front/back, dedicated stamp close-up, both disc labels, and additional detail shots.
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