Livin' Like Hustlers

Last updated
Livin' Like Hustlers
Livin' Like Hustlers.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 20, 1990
Recorded1989
Genre West Coast hip hop
Length45:52
Label
Producer
Above the Law chronology
Livin' Like Hustlers
(1990)
Vocally Pimpin'
(1991)
Singles from Livin' Like Hustlers
  1. "Murder Rap"
    Released: February 8, 1990
  2. "Untouchable"
    Released: 1990
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Livin' Like Hustlers is the debut album by American hip hop group Above the Law. [2] [3] It was released on February 20, 1990, via Ruthless Records; an advanced promo cassette version was released two months earlier. The ten track record was produced entirely by Dr. Dre and Above the Law and featured a guest performance from N.W.A on the track titled "The Last Song". In addition, Eazy-E served as executive producer of the album. It peaked at number 14 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 75 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Contents

The album included two hit singles "Murder Rap" and "Untouchable", which both charted at number one on the Hot Rap Songs. The album's lead single, "Murder Rap", also peaked at number 41 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums Ever. [4]

Track listing

All songs produced by Dr. Dre and Above the Law.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Murder Rap"4:14
2."Untouchable"3:45
3."Livin' Like Hustlers"
  • G. Hutchinson
  • K. Gulley
  • B. Cosby
  • Q. Jones
5:45
4."Another Execution"
4:21
5."Menace to Society"
  • G. Hutchinson
  • A. Stewart
  • A. Goodman
  • K. Gulley
  • G. Burton
  • J. Constantino
  • T. Martin
4:33
6."Just Kickin' Lyrics"
4:22
7."Ballin'"
4:19
8."Freedom of Speech"
4:20
9."Flow On (Move Me No Mountain)"
3:57
10."The Last Song" (featuring N.W.A.)
6:21
Total length:45:52

Sample credits [6]

Personnel

Charts

Singles

YearSingleChartPosition
1990"Murder Rap" Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales 41
1990"Murder Rap" Hot Rap Singles 1
1990"Untouchable" Hot Rap Singles 1

Related Research Articles

<i>Black Mafia Life</i> 1993 studio album by Above the Law

Black Mafia Life is the second studio album by American hip hop group Above the Law. This album is what would be considered the blueprint of the G-Funk sound similar to Dr Dre's The Chronic. The album was recorded in 1991 into 1992 but was held back due to legal issues with Epic And Dr. Dre's Departure from Ruthless Records. It was released on February 2, 1993, via Ruthless Records. The album peaked at number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 37 on the US Billboard 200. Rolling Stone gave the album 4.5 stars of 5.

G-funk, short for gangsta funk, is a sub-genre of gangsta rap that emerged from the West Coast scene in the late 1980s. The genre is heavily influenced by 1970s psychedelic funk sound of artists such as Parliament-Funkadelic.

<i>Murder Was the Case</i> 1994 soundtrack album by Death Row Records

Murder Was the Case is a 1994 short film and soundtrack album starring and performed by Snoop Doggy Dogg. The 18 minute film was directed by Dr. Dre and Fab Five Freddy and chronicles the fictional death of Snoop Dogg and his resurrection after making a deal with the Devil. The film's title comes from Snoop's song of the same name from his debut album, Doggystyle, which had been released a year earlier.

Above the Law was an American hip hop group from Pomona, California, founded in 1989 by Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, Go Mack, and DJ Total K-Oss.

<i>The Documentary</i> 2005 studio album by the Game

The Documentary is the debut studio album by American rapper the Game. It was released on January 18, 2005, by Aftermath Entertainment,G-Unit Records, and Interscope Records. The record serves as his major-label debut, preceded by his independently released debut Untold Story in 2004. In 2001, while the Game was in hospital recovering from a shooting, he decided to pursue a career in music. He released the mixtape, "Q.B. 2 Compton" under his then record label "Get Low Recordz" in 2002, which was later was discovered by Dr. Dre and led to him signing the Game to his label, Aftermath Entertainment. The album includes production from high-profile producers such as Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Scott Storch and Timbaland, among others, and guest appearances from 50 Cent, Eminem, Nate Dogg and Faith Evans, among others. This would be the Game's only album on Aftermath and G-Unit Records, as he left the label later in 2006 after a feud began between him and fellow G-Unit label-mate 50 Cent.

<i>2001</i> (Dr. Dre album) 1999 studio album by Dr. Dre

2001 is the second studio album by rapper and hip hop producer Dr. Dre. It was released on November 16, 1999, by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records as the follow-up to his 1992 debut album, The Chronic. The album was produced mainly by Dr. Dre and Mel-Man, as well as Lord Finesse, and features several guest contributions from fellow U.S. rappers such as Hittman, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Xzibit, Eminem, and Nate Dogg.

Ruthless Records was an American record label founded by Eric "Eazy-E" Wright and Jerry Heller in Compton, California in 1986, where all of the Ruthless trademarks have been owned by Comptown Records, Inc. since 1997. Several artists on the label such as N.W.A, Eazy-E, MC Ren, The D.O.C., Michel'le, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony have released RIAA certified albums.

Gregory Fernard Hutchison, known as Big Hutch and Cold 187um, is an American rapper and producer, and leader of the rap group Above the Law. He currently records for his self-founded label.

<i>Vocally Pimpin</i> 1991 EP by Above the Law

Vocally Pimpin' is the debut extended play by American hip hop group Above the Law. It was released on July 16, 1991 via Ruthless Records. The first five songs on this nine track record are newly recorded material, while the rest four are remixes or edited versions of their previously released material. The album peaked at number 120 on the US Billboard 200 and number 37 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

<i>South Central Madness</i> 1992 studio album by South Central Cartel

South Central Madness is the debut studio album by American rap group South Central Cartel. It was released on January 22, 1992 through Pump Records with distribution via Quality Records.

<i>To Hell and Black</i> 1990 studio album by CPO

To Hell and Black is the debut and only studio album by American hip hop group Capital Punishment Organization. It was released through Capitol Records on August 7, 1990, and featured its two lead singles "Ballad of a Menace" and "This Beat Is Funky". The album peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<i>Friday</i> (soundtrack) 1995 soundtrack album by various artists

Friday is the soundtrack to F. Gary Gray's 1995 stoner film Friday. It was released on April 11, 1995 through Priority Records and consists of hip hop and R&B music.

<i>Planet of da Apes</i> 1994 studio album by Da Lench Mob

Planet of da Apes is the second studio album by American hip hop group Da Lench Mob. The group's final album, it was released on November 1, 1994, via Street Knowledge/Priority Records. Its title is a reference to Planet of the Apes. Audio production was handled by Ice Cube, Mr. Woody, Dr. Jam, Madness 4 Real, Quincy Jones III, and 88 X Unit. It featured guest appearances from K-Dee, Mack 10 and Yo-Yo. The album peaked at number 81 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Addictive Hip Hop Muzick</i> 1991 studio album by Who Am I?

Addictive Hip Hop Muzick is the debut studio album by American recording artist Kokane, and the only one released under his 'Who Am I?' alias. It was released on July 2, 1991 through Ruthless Records and Epic Records. Recording sessions took place at the Edge Recording Studio in Inglewood, California. Production was handled by Cold 187um and fellow Above the Law members with executive production by Lay Law and Eazy-E. It was mixed by Dr. Dre and Cold 187um at Audio Achievements in Torrance, California. The album features contributions from DJ Total K-oss, Funkette, Go Mack, KM.G, Lay Law, Lillian, Mz Kilo and Tha New Funkateers on vocals, Cold 187 um on vocals and keyboards, Stan "The Guitar Man" Jones on bass and guitar.

<i>Not Just a Fad</i> 1990 studio album by J.J. Fad

Not Just a Fad is the second studio album by the American female rap group J.J. Fad. It was released in 1990 via Ruthless Records. The album spawned three singles: "We in the House", "Gold", and "Be Good ta Me". Neither the album nor the singles registered on any major music chart. Although the group never officially broke up, they have not released an album since Not Just a Fad.

<i>Are U Xperienced?</i> 1991 studio album by Yomo & Maulkie

Are U Xperienced? is the debut and only studio album by American hip hop duo Yomo & Maulkie. It was named after the Jimi Hendrix 1967 album Are You Experienced. It was released on September 17, 1991 via Eazy-E's Ruthless Records, and was produced by DJ Yella. Though the album was met with some positive reviews, it was a commercial failure and did not appear on any album charts. Three singles were released: "Mama Don't", "Mockingbird", "Glory"/"Are U Xperienced?", but the only single "Glory" made it to the Billboard charts, peaking at number 7 on the Hot Rap Songs. Labelmates Jimmy Z and Jewell Caples were featured on the album.

<i>Livin in a Hoe House</i> 1990 studio album by H.W.A.

Livin' in a Hoe House is the only studio album by American female rap group H.W.A. The album was released in 1990 via Drive-By Records and was produced by Dangerous D and Ronnie Vann. The record was mildly successful, reaching #38 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. No singles made it to the Billboard charts.

<i>Michelle</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Michelle

Michel'le is the self-titled debut studio album by American singer Michel'le. It was released on October 23, 1989, on Ruthless Records, Atco Records and Atlantic Records. The album was produced by Dr. Dre of N.W.A. The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America five weeks after its release.

Murder Rap is a song by American gangsta rap group Above the Law, released as a single on February 8, 1990. It was written by Cold 187um, Dr. Dre, Go Mack, Laylaw and Total Kaos.

Convicts is the only studio album by American hip hop duo the Convicts, consisted of rappers Lord 3-2 and Big Mike. It was released in 1991 through Rap-A-Lot Records. It features guest appearances from James Prince, Kim "Choice" Davis and Geto Boys. The album peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

References

  1. Henderson, Alex. "Livin' Like Hustlers – Above the Law". AllMusic . Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  2. "TrouserPress.com :: Above the Law". www.trouserpress.com.
  3. "The Quietus | Features | Anniversary | Is Above The Law's Livin' Like Hustlers The Best Gangsta Rap Album?". The Quietus.
  4. "100 Best Rap Albums". The Source. New York (#100). January 1998. ISSN   1063-2085 . Retrieved November 24, 2007.
  5. "Soundtracks". "Pump Up The Volume". imdb.com. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  6. "Above the Law on WhoSampled". WhoSampled . Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  7. "Above The Law, TLP" . Billboard . Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  8. "Above The Law, BLP" . Billboard . Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  9. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2021.