The movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens is on pace to become the United States’ highest-grossing film ever.
One person who won’t be included in the tally of ticket sales is Uncle Luke, the 2 Live Crew rapper who went by the nickname Luke Skyywalker, a play off the name of one of the franchise’s main characters, Luke Skywalker.
In an interview with Vulture, Uncle Luke explains why he and his family will not be watching the newest installment of Star Wars.
“Every time I see a trailer, or an ad, for that movie,” he says, “all I can think is I want that motherfucker George Lucas to give me my money back.”
Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, sued the Miami rapper in 1990 for $300 million over his then-stage name. Lucas said that the association of the name with the explicit music that 2 Live Crew was known for making would compromise the brand and image of Star Wars and the character.
Uncle Luke, born Luther Campbell, says that he was not modeling his moniker after the movies at all. He says that he has gone by the name “Luke” since he was little and the “Skywalker” surname came from New York Knicks basketball player Kenny “Sky” Walker.
When the rapper’s lawyers informed him of the possible trademark infringement as many as three years prior to the lawsuit, he says he didn’t believe a case was possible.
“My name is Luke Skyywalker and I’m rapping about how I want some pussy,” he says. “How can anyone say that is infringing on a character in a movie that doesn’t feature any Rap music?”
Uncle Luke and Lucas settled out of court for $300,000 and the rapper dropped the stage name, being known from then on as “Luke” and changing his record company to “Luke Records.”
“I respect the fact that people love the movie,” he says. “George Lucas made a helluva movie and a brand. People love it. But he took nearly a half a million dollars from me.”
Idiot
It’s amazing how someone so successful can still be so stupid.
Money and successs don’t automatically equal intelligence.
I never seen the movies and dont wanna see em. Fuck George Lucas. Only Skywalkers i ackowledge are Kenny and Uncle Luke
That is the dumbest shit Ive ever read. Can I come out with a new soup brand called Campbell’s because I used to like the name Colonel Campbell from the Metal Gear Solid game? That game doesnt have anything to do with soup so what’s the problem? Have you ever heard of copyright infringement? What if every motherfucker named McDonald started a restaurant called McDonalds? George Lucas has had the name Luke Skywalker set up since 1977 and you think you can just use the same name like its all sweet? Come on bro. If I came out as a House DJ and decided to call myself Uncle Luke you would damn sure sue me. Its just dumb man.
I’m from Miami and grew up on 2Live Crew and Uncle Luke! Luke sound real DUMB,your lawyers already warned u that u could be sued! Secondly didn’t u just try to sue Diddy and French for sampling your voice on “Pop That” but u didnt own the record anymore? Luke my boy, but in the words of Trick Daddy,Luke needs 2 “Shut Up” !!
He salty as fuck. But star wars fucking sucks
Maybe he hasn’t heard, but Lucas doesn’t own anything related to Star Wars anymore. All he’s doing is robbing his kids of seeing a good movie.
Fuck the white man keeping a black man from using a nick name! How you gonna say no one can use a name and shit?! But Rick Ross lost his case to fat Rick Ross, white white man Lucas wins. Fuckin racism.