right Uncle Luke: My life has always been a segue-way. I’m just going to once again put all my efforts into the adult industry, the great empire that I believe I’ve built.
So what’s next for you?
I want to put out an album collaborating with some of the hottest artists in Miami that people have yet to hear. I’m also releasing an audio book, followed by a paperback. It’s time to sum up my life and role in the music industry. For the future, I want to add a chain of adult clothing line, pictorial magazines and maybe even produce TV shows.
Black Hollywood is hot right now. Any plans of taking it on?
I’ve already done my share of movies. I did Ice Cube’s The Players Club and played Freddy B in Ride. I always wanted to do more movies but with my time and schedule, it just didn’t seem possible. I love acting and I’ve pursued it. I even went as far as getting an agent but sometimes, you have to let go of something big to allow room for something larger.
As far as your music, do you feel like other artists copy your style?
I hear a lot of remixes using my style and I also hear a lot of my sayings. Every time I look at these videos with the vixens playing into their sexual energy, it’s Luke. I hear the sound of the Ying Yang Twins and Lil Jon. I hear 50 Cent with his “it’s your birthday” chorus and rappers singing “don’t stop get it get it.” This industry is now very successful on something that I created. It’s hard for me to understand how I can be consistently overlooked during awards when I’ve made such a grand contribution. They downplayed my sexy as trivial and now, they celebrate it. I never received any Vibe, Source or BET awards. I simply had to conclude that this industry just doesn’t appreciate me.
Speaking of success, do you think they know the work it takes?
There’s a graveyard full of artists. They come out blazing out and then get hit with the sophomore jinx and the following year, you never hear about them again. They don’t understand the business, being respectful to the radio as well as retail. The artists that are still around are the ones that know how to deal with people in a respectful way. They are loved by everyone in the industry. There’s such a thing as building a rapport. You can’t rub fans in the wrong way. The saddest part is to not see it coming when the love is gone.
You’ve been a great inspiration to a lot of rappers…including Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, Trina. Seems like the women love you!
These ladies are my babies. They are doing their thing. I love the fact that Lil Kim made “Dreams.” Here’s a woman defending her sex. She flipped the script on the fantasy that men have built for them but had never allowed to answer. In the beginning, a lot of women had problems with me. The MC Lyte's of the world claiming political correctness couldn’t realize that hip hop is what it is. No one ever said it was meant to be correct.
So who are your favorite rappers right now?
My favorite rapper right now is Jeezy and T.I. These are my boys who have things to say. They don’t just cater to the average consumer. I respect people like Common and all the serious rappers. They do their thing, I do my thing. That’s why we live in America. Above them all, Jay Z. He’s like the Rolling Stones. Always moves up with some hot shit and is extremely consistent. The younger guys still have about eight albums to go before they achieve that icon status.
Any advice to the new guys?
Use the business as a stepping stone. Learn the business or it will beat you up. I never thought I would own the first independent record label. I never thought I would have an R&B group under my label go platinum.
What motivates Luke?
Being the president or CEO of a music label run in the south by people of the south. Too many southern artists come and go. Someone like Lil Kim is still vibrant without a record; someone from New York has a record company that is fully behind them, with someone always trying to look out for their interest. Record companies don’t understand us in the south, they only know how to make us sell records and move on.
One last question, in the spirt of Uncle Luke…panties or thongs?
Neither. No draws-production.
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