Luther Campbell, aka 2 Live Crew MC Luke Skywalker, might not be the first person you think of as the perfect political candidate. Back in the '80s, his raunchy rap group was lambasted by critics, stodgy politicians and even the Supreme Court of the United States over their sex-crazed rhymes. But maybe that's what makes him ideal: he's a crusader, albeit a nasty-ass one. With that in mind, Campbell has announced he will be running for mayor of Miami-Dade County in Florida.
In an interview with the Miami New Times [via RapRadar], Campbell revealed his plans to run for office against current mayor, Carlos Alvarez, who is facing a recall vote March 15. The rapper's platform includes putting a tax on strippers, amongst other things.
"Even though all my stripper friends are gonna be mad at me, I think we can stimulate the economy with a tax on strippers," Campbell said. "They make all this money and don't pay taxes."
The rapper has put his hat in the ring to represent the people of Miami, who he feels aren't having their voices heard.
"I am mad frustrated. I have always been involved in politics, going back to my battles in the city of Miami Beach, dealing with the city commissioners and the mayor," he said. "Officers and residents are still getting killed in the community I grew up in. I go to a city like Atlanta that has sensible affordable housing, and no one is being murdered. I go to Miami International Airport and see the same construction that has been going on for like a hundred years. All of that frustrates the hell out of me. Why aren't we getting it right in Miami-Dade? Why is our government only serving one set of people? That's what is pushing me to run."
Campbell also believes he can tap the Latino vote in his community because he discovered rapper Pitbull.
"No African-American politician has had the bond with the Hispanic/Latino community like I do," he said. "When I discovered Pitbull, everyone told me there was no way a Cuban rapper could make it. My response was, if I can discover Trick Daddy and put all my effort into promoting and marketing the Miami he represented, why can't I do the same for Pitbull? Cubans and other Latinos in Miami-Dade get up and dance to my music just like African-Americans."
You can read the rest of his platform, which includes plans to build affordable housing and stimulating the slumping economy, here.
In an interview with the Miami New Times [via RapRadar], Campbell revealed his plans to run for office against current mayor, Carlos Alvarez, who is facing a recall vote March 15. The rapper's platform includes putting a tax on strippers, amongst other things.
"Even though all my stripper friends are gonna be mad at me, I think we can stimulate the economy with a tax on strippers," Campbell said. "They make all this money and don't pay taxes."
The rapper has put his hat in the ring to represent the people of Miami, who he feels aren't having their voices heard.
"I am mad frustrated. I have always been involved in politics, going back to my battles in the city of Miami Beach, dealing with the city commissioners and the mayor," he said. "Officers and residents are still getting killed in the community I grew up in. I go to a city like Atlanta that has sensible affordable housing, and no one is being murdered. I go to Miami International Airport and see the same construction that has been going on for like a hundred years. All of that frustrates the hell out of me. Why aren't we getting it right in Miami-Dade? Why is our government only serving one set of people? That's what is pushing me to run."
Campbell also believes he can tap the Latino vote in his community because he discovered rapper Pitbull.
"No African-American politician has had the bond with the Hispanic/Latino community like I do," he said. "When I discovered Pitbull, everyone told me there was no way a Cuban rapper could make it. My response was, if I can discover Trick Daddy and put all my effort into promoting and marketing the Miami he represented, why can't I do the same for Pitbull? Cubans and other Latinos in Miami-Dade get up and dance to my music just like African-Americans."
You can read the rest of his platform, which includes plans to build affordable housing and stimulating the slumping economy, here.