April 3rd 2024.
In the world of hip-hop, there are few names that hold as much weight as Jermaine Dupri and Uncle Luke. These two iconic artists are known for their contributions to the genre, but they also played a pivotal role in shaping the Black community's love for strip clubs. This lesser-known history is now being brought to light in Hulu's new documentary, "Freaknik: The Greatest Story Never Told," where Dupri and Uncle Luke reflect on the evolution of hip-hop and its influence on Black culture, especially in Atlanta.
According to Dupri, it was Uncle Luke who first introduced strip club culture into his music, sparking a movement that would soon take over Black communities. In an interview with Ebro Darden on Apple Music, Dupri shared, "The story of strip clubs in Atlanta goes so deep that for me, that's all I know. Atlanta is a city where strip clubs are a way of life." He went on to explain that Uncle Luke was ahead of his time, going to strip clubs before it was even a thing for Black people to do. "He invented Black people going to strip clubs in Miami, and it's something that we never really talked about in hip-hop before," Dupri added.
Uncle Luke himself confirmed this, reminiscing about a time when strip clubs were only for white people. "In the '80s, there were no [Black] strip clubs. It was only white strip clubs," he recalled. But then, everything changed when he discovered a small club next to a skating rink in Miami. The bouncers urged him to check it out, and he was blown away by what he saw. "I wasn't interested at first because I heard white bikers were there, but then I went and saw all these beautiful Black women. And I said, 'We gotta do this in Miami,'" he shared.
And that's exactly what they did. Uncle Luke and his crew brought the party culture of Miami to Atlanta, transforming the city's street party scene from a college-focused event to a wild, anything-goes experience. "The only club that stayed open late in Atlanta was 112, and they eventually closed that down when Freaknik got big," Uncle Luke explained. "So we just brought the party there, our way of partying, and it became something."
For Uncle Luke, it was an opportunity to share Miami's party spirit with the rest of the world. "Miami is the party capital of the world. We don't go to sleep," he proudly stated. "We go all night long to the next day." And with their contributions, they helped turn Atlanta into the strip club oasis it is today.
The "Freaknik" documentary sheds light on this often overlooked history, celebrating the impact that hip-hop and strip club culture have had on the Black community. It's a story that Dupri and Uncle Luke are proud to share, and one that will surely have everyone dancing along to the beat.
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