Banned in the U.S.A.

The 2 Live Crew, 2 Live Crew

About Banned in the U.S.A.

"Banned in the U. S. A." is a song recorded by the American hip hop group 2 Live Crew. It was released in May 1990 as the lead single from its album of the same name. It peaked at number 20 on the U. S. Billboard Hot-100 chart and is the group's highest-charting song on that chart. It reached number-one on the U. S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.


Year:
1990
4:24
434 
#2

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Government of the people
For the people
By the people

Earlier today a Broward County appellate court judge has
Upheld the previous ruling to ban the sale of Miami rap group 
The 2 Live Crew's double-platinum album, "Nasty As They Wanna Be," in Broward County

We think it's the banning of free speech
First Amendment protects material, presumptively

We don't talk about, uh, harassing and sexually brutalizing women in my music, man!
We don't do that in my music, man, I'm tired of you saying that!

We've got white-collar people trying to grab our style
Saying we're too nasty and we're 2 Live
Corrupted politicians playing games
Bringing us down to boost their fame
They must be joking, thinking we will fall
But they're like flies movin' the wall
We stand tall from beginning to end
With the help from fans and all our friends
Freedom of speech will never die
For us to have, our ancestors died
Don't keep thinking that we will quit
We'll always stand and never sit
We're 2 Live, too black, too strong
Doing the right thing, and not the wrong
So listen up, y'all, to what we say
We won't be banned in the U-S-A!

Banned in the U-S-A, I was
Banned in the U-S-A, I was
Banned in the U-S-A, I was
Banned in the U-S-A, I was

Luke's concerts are for adults
If it's an adult show you have to be 18
Luke's concerts are for adults
If it's an adult show you have to be 18
Our record is a year old, but with all the publicity
There's a lot of people, curiosity is aroused
We're selling records to a totally different audience
I take a precaution that nobody else has
I stickered my album
I made two versions, two versions, two versions

The First Amendment gave us freedom of speech
So what you sayin', it didn't include me?
I like to party and have a good time
There's nothin' but pleasure written in our rhymes
I know you don't think we'll ever quit
We've got some people on our side who won't take your lip
We're gonna do all the things we wanna do
You can't stand to see a brother get as rich as you
This is the 90's and we're comin' on strong
Sayin' things and doin' things that you're sayin's wrong
Wisen up, cause on Election Day
We'll see who's banned in the U-S-A!

Banned in the U-S-A, I was
Banned in the U-S-A, I was
Banned in the U-S-A, I was
Banned in the U-S-A, I was

The United States of America
Government of the people
The United States of America
For the people
The United States of America
By the people
By the people
The show in Hollywood, those were 21-and-older people
They had police out there
Cardin' the people coming in the club
And they still arrested us for performing in front of adults!

What is this? Is this not America?
This is not China, this is not Russia!
This is not the place where they brought down the wall
This is America!
We have the right to say what we want to say
We have the right to do what we want to do
And what I do in my house, you might not do in your house
So what I do in my house is my business
And the simple fact of it all is that we are bonded by the First Amendment!
We have the freedom of expression!
We have the freedom of choice!
And you, Chinese, black, green, purple, Jew
You have the right to listen to whoever you want to
And even the 2 Live Crew! (2 Live Crew, 2 Live Crew)
So all you right-wingers, left-wingers
Bigots, Communists, there is a place for you in this world!
Because this is the land of the free, the home of the brave
And 2 Live is what we are!

Banned in the U-S-A, I was
Banned in the U-S-A, I was
Banned in the U-S-A, I was
Banned in the U-S-A, I was

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2 Live Crew

2 Live Crew was a hip hop group from Miami, Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the sexual themes in their work, particularly on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be. more »

6 fans

Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Legal Controversy
"Banned in the U.S.A." by 2 Live Crew was a significantly controversial track when it was released in 1990 due to its explicit lyrics, which resulted in legal troubles for the Miami hip hop group.
First Amendment Debate
The controversy surrounding the song and the album it came from helped ignite a national debate over the First Amendment and content-control in music, touching on issues of censorship and artistic freedom.
Bruce Springsteen Connection
"Banned in the U.S.A." samples part of "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen. Interestingly, Springsteen agreed to the use of his song for 2 Live Crew's parody, going against his management's initial dismissal.
Obscenity Case
The album that included "Banned in the U.S.A.," was ruled obscene by a U.S. district court in Florida. However, this ruling was overturned by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, which deemed that the album had artistic or political value.
Cultural Impact
The song's title and its music video document and criticize the censorship that 2 Live Crew and other artists faced. It has been described as an important cultural moment in the national conversation about music, obscenity, and freedom of speech.
U.S. First
"Banned in the U.S.A." was the first song ever to be labeled as legally obscene by the United States Federal Court.
Luke Records
This song was released under Luke Records, the record label owned by band member Luther Campbell. The label was influential in the Miami bass genre, a type of hip hop music with a fast beat and heavy bass.
Parental Advisory
The controversy surrounding "Banned in the U.S.A." and the overall explicit content of 2 Live Crew's music was one of the key factors leading to a more widespread use of the Parental Advisory sticker on music with explicit lyrics.
Album Title
"Banned in the U.S.A." was the title track for the first album released by 2 Live Crew after their original mainstream success with the album "As Nasty As They Wanna Be."
Chart Success
Despite the controversy, or perhaps because of it, "Banned in the U.S.A." was successful on the charts. It peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest-charting single by 2 Live Crew.
Music Video
The music video for "Banned in the U.S.A." includes footage of fans supporting the group, TV reports covering their arrest, and lawyers discussing the case, highlighting the group's ongoing battles against censorship.

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    Banned in the U.S.A.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1990

    Billboard #20


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