(AllHipHop News) 2 Live Crew front man, Uncle Luke, now one of Miami’s most renowned community service heroes, recently wrote an open letter in the Miami New Times to Maybach Music Group founder Rick Ross.
As part of his series with the Miami New Times called, “Luke’s Gospel,” Luke warned Rick Ross about the dangers that accompany touting a gangster lifestyle.
Recalling Ross’ most recent scare after being shot at in Ft Lauderdale, Florida just a few weeks ago, Luke recommended that Ross ends all his beef with the Gangsta Disciples and pointed out that record labels are steering away from artists surrounded with security issues.
“You have the Gangster Disciples breathing down your neck because you’ve named-dropped Larry Hoover, the gang’s founder, in your music.” Uncle Luke said of Rick Ross’ track “BMF.”
The two have a brief history both being from Miami and on French Montana’s song “Pop That” Rick Ross shouts out Uncle Luke saying, “Shout out to Uncle Luke, we the 2 Live Crew.”
Despite the shout out, Luke also questions Rick Ross’ past with respect to drug trafficking and the authenticity of his street credibility.
“Hip-Hop has a rich history of college guys who never committed a crime rapping about moving kilos of cocaine and taking out snitches. Every gangster rapper takes on the role of a real hood legend to build up street cred. But I don’t want you to fall into the trap of believing you are really a gangster,” Luke said.
Check out the whole letter below:
Dear Rick Ross:
As someone who survived several rap beefs, I’m going to give you some advice. You need to seriously address the threats and attempts on your life. You have worked hard to become a big name in hip-hop. You’ve paid your dues and you’ve grown lyrically since the release of your debut album, Port of Miami, in 2006. You’ve arrived, buddy.
But all this gangster b####### is jeopardizing your career. No club or arena is going to risk people getting shot. You can forget about doing any tours or CD signings. And if you can’t make money, watch how fast Warner Bros. Records turns on you. I know from experience how venues and the music industry would like to black ball you.
You have the Gangster Disciples breathing down your neck because you’ve named-dropped Larry Hoover, the gang’s founder, in your music. Unlike the record and book publishing industries, these bad dudes don’t understand the concept of public domain. They see you getting rich forever by rapping about their leader, and they don’t like it. That’s why they’re on YouTube talking about how you need to go see them and cut a check.
It’s a shame you can’t enjoy life without spending part of your earnings on heavy security or risking your freedom by purchasing an arsenal. Remember, that’s what landed T.I. and Lil Wayne in prison. You don’t want that to happen to you. However, those are the consequences of rapping about being something you’re not.
Hip-hop has a rich history of college guys who never committed a crime rapping about moving kilos of cocaine and taking out snitches. Every gangster rapper takes on the role of a real hood legend to build up street cred. But I don’t want you to fall into the trap of believing you are really a gangster.
Trust me, you don’t want to go out like Biggie Smalls or Tupac. It’s time you squash your beefs.
