Record Shop’s Owner Seized in Rap Album Sale

A record store operator was arrested today for selling the rap album “As Nasty As They Wanna Be” to an undercover detective, the first such arrest since a federal judge declared the 2 Live Crew album obscene.

A Broward County sheriff’s spokesman said Charles Freeman, 31, the operator of E.C. Record Shop just outside Ft. Lauderdale, was targeted by undercover agents after he publicly thumbed his nose at Wednesday’s court ruling, telling the news media he would continue to sell the recording.

U.S. District Judge Jose Gonzalez ruled Wednesday that the album is obscene. The judge said his ruling applied in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

If convicted, Freeman faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Meanwhile, the Hollywood, Fla., City Council considered stopping the Miami group’s two shows Saturday night at Club Futura but backed off when the city attorney advised cancellation would amount to illegal prior restraint on free speech.

Club owner Kenneth Gerringer told council members the opening show will be a tame performance for all ages, and he will ask the rappers to refrain from sexually explicit lyrics in the later adults-only show.

Ten uniformed police officers will work at the 600-capacity club in Hollywood, about 15 miles north of Miami, said Paul Dungan, administrative assistant to the police chief.

He said the police detail is deployed primarily for crowd control.

“We’re handling this as if Michael Jackson were coming to town, or Dean Martin or any of the top stars,” he said.

Mayor Sal Oliveri gave Gerringer a stern warning to pass along to 2 Live Crew: “Artist or no artist, I don’t want Hollywood to have the reputation, in my opinion, that we have obscene entertainment.”