The U-Krew, an American hip-hop group from Portland, Oregon, was formed in October 1984 by Kevin Morse, Larry Bell, Lavell Alexander, James McClendon, and Hakim Rashad Muhammad. The quintet gained local attention through rap battles and performances. Their breakthrough came when they were approached by Enigma Records after an opening slot for the band Shock in Portland. In 1989, they released their self-titled debut album, reaching number 92 on the Billboard 200. The album featured three singles: "If U Were Mine", which peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100; "Let Me Be Your Lover" and "Ugly". The group toured nationally, opening for bigger acts and appearing on MTV's Downtown Julie Brown. However, Enigma Records began to fold due to financial mismanagement, leading to the group's breakup in 1990. Following their disbandment, members pursued various careers: McClendon became a restauranteur, Muhammad a music teacher and producer, Alexander a designer for Adidas sneakers, and Morse passed away on February 4, 2014. Bell tragically took his own life after murdering his girlfriend on the same date in 2011. The surviving members briefly reunited to play a show in their hometown and were inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in 2012.