Livin' Like Hustlers

1. Murder Rap

2. Untouchable

3. Livin' Like Hustlers

4. Another Execution

5. Menace to Society

6. Just Kickin' Lyrics

7. Ballin'

8. Freedom of Speech

9. Flow On (Move Me No Mountain)

10. Last Song

Livin' Like Hustlers,Above the Law,Sony,G-Funk,Gangsta Rap,Hip-Hop,Pop,Rap & Hip-Hop,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,West Coast Rap

Average customer rating: An Unhearalded Classic great murder album Old school cool. CLASSIC!!!! The original g-funksters

Livin' Like Hustlers Above the Law Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music West Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Rap & Hip-Hop General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Rap & Hip-Hop General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 R&B | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rap & Hip-Hop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Black Mafia Life No One Can Do It Better Music to Driveby Straight Checkn 'Em We Come Strapped ASIN: B000002728 Release Date: 1990-02-22

Tracks:

1. Murder Rap
2. Untouchable
3. Livin' Like Hustlers
4. Another Execution
5. Menace To Society
6. Just Kickin' Lyrics
7. Ballin'
8. Freedom Of Speech
9. Flow On (Move Me No Mountain)
10. The Last Song

Customer Reviews:

An Unhearalded Classic.......2005-09-23

When I saw that there were so few reviews for Livin' Like Hustlers, I couldn't resist putting my two cents in. The debut album of Cold 187um aka Big Hutch, KMG, Total Kaos, and Go Mack is a true gangsta rap classic in the same vein as Straight Outta Compton, Rhyme Pays, and It's a Compton Thang. While not as well known as these predecessors, Livin' Like Hustlers is one of those rare albums that both pushes the production envelope to new heights and takes risk in it's delivery with almost perfect results.

To truly appreciate this album, several historical and technical facts must be stated. First, this album was not, I repeat NOT, produced exclusively by Dr Dre despite what liner notes may indicate. The majority of the production and sample selection on this album was in fact done by ATL themselves and the result is a smoother, more "pimpish" quality to their beats. While the production definately had the clear influence of Dre, the overall sound does not reflect Dre's production at the time. Because of 187's silky high-pitched delivery and KMG's gravelly monotone, samples from both jazz and smooth r&b sources worked particularly well and set ATL in a class entirely their own.

Second, ATL are NOT from Compton like their other Ruthless labelmates. They're from Pomona and their attitude was far less of a "gang" mentality than NWA in their lyrics, despite the association. These guys clearly had their own identity and vision for what they wanted to do. And while songs like "Murder Rap" and "Another Execution" certainly represent the more violent side to street life, they are more in the vein of "someone tested me so I had to show him who's boss" rather than killing everybody in sight. In fact, the opening ramblings of KMG on Murder Rap are spoken to 187 stating "Yo 187 they tryin' to get you for a Murder Rap and you ain't even like that". Another difference in content is the clear attempt to try to win the ladies over by sweettalking them rather than calling them out their names. In truth, compared to other Ruthless releases, there is very little profanity from the emcees.

Finally, this album was released early in 1990. At the time, the personnel problems in the NWA camp were unknown to the general public. Livin Like Hustlers was released prior to the announcement of Ice Cube leaving. When fans noticed Cube did not appear on the supremely impressive posse cut "The Last Song", the official word became that Cube was working on his solo album. No one really knew that "Cube solo" meant that he was no longer with NWA. In fact, it may not have been clear to even NWA or ATL at the time. This uncertainty meant that this was the last true project released from Ruthless prior to the NWA breakup.

So what does all this information mean in regards to me calling this album an "unhearalded classic?" It sets up the listener with the mindset that they need to have when first embarking on the journey into the minds of Above the Law on their first listen. Whether it's the hardcore rantings of "Another Execution" and "Just Kickin Lyrics" or the political commentary of "Murder Rap" and "Freedom of Speech" or the pimped out mackery of "Ballin'" and "Flow On", the listener is treated to a variety of different subjects and styles that keep on entertaining. And with first time uses of beats like Quincy Jones & Bill Cosby's "Hicky Burr" or the theme from "Ironsides", (which Kill Bill fans will instantly recognize), ATL shows that it wasn't only the East Coast that could dig in the crates. In fact, many of the beats foreshadow future hits such as Lil Kim's "No Time". The album is truly ahead of its time but unfortunatley became overshadowed by the impending supernova breakup of NWA and the eventual arrival of the Lench Mob and Death Row camps.

great murder album.......2005-08-09

this is a great cd thats crueley underrated.and yes its part of that great hip-hop time line of 88 to 98.though unless your a east coast artists you probably wouldn't make a top 40 list.wich is sad cause the east coast aren't the only ones that added to hip-hop.hell as a matter of fact the west,south,and midwest inovated it while the east coast was still doing the same thing over and over again.either way this is a great rap album that should never be forgotten.

Old school cool........2005-04-11

I first heard Above The Law on the "Pump Up The Volume" movie soundtrack, and the track "Freedom Of Speech" was one of the stand-outs on that disc. This is just one of the great forgotten albums of the early 90's, much like Da Lench Mob's "Guerillas In Tha Mist". If you're a fan of N.W.A., checking this out is a must, as Dr. Dre produces and drops a few rhymes of course. The delivery and flow from these guys is excellent. Overall "Livin' Like Hustlers" is dope, right down to the "Last Song".

CLASSIC!!!!.......2004-11-19

Just like I said people. A Classic! This was Dre in is prime fo'real. With the help of DJ Yella... There have always been strength in numbers. ATL was droppin the type of s... that just kept ya in a ZONE. Those beats and ATL's flow was to much to handle str8 up! Though they were talkin' dat GANSTA sh..! All of them have college education!!!!!!

The original g-funksters.......2004-08-10

Above the law are: Big Hutch, Kmg, Go-Mack and Laylaw, who, on their first and best album,"Living like hustlers", told us gang stories about their hood, with an original style. Driven by a funk-filled feeling and mood, the album, with samples taken from old seventies soul records, never got too much attention from the hip-hop audience at that time.

Nevertheless, this was a real good album,which was produced by Hutch and D.R. Dre. And it was released on Ruthless records. It had a great posse cut called "The last song", where all of the old N.W.A members ripped a verse. ( except Ice Cube ) The album had only ten songs, but it was still outstanding with funkt joints like "Untouchable, Living like Hustlers, Another execution and Menace to society".

Some say that the golden years of hip-hop are from 88-93, and only keep their eyes on the eastcoast, they tend to forget about the west. But if you really down with hip-hop you oughta like all kind of styles of rap. Above the law was a group who created the G-gunk and inspired D.R Dre and warren.G to use that funk sound they later would be known for. If you don't have this one in your hip-hop collection, you better do your homework and go out and buy "Living like hustlers", because this is a classic that can't be overlooked.

Dance Music:

1. Man I Used to Be Pt.1 [CD-single] [Import]
2. Man I Used to Be Pt.2 [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]
3. Mood Pieces
4. Music to Driveby [Explicit Lyrics]
5. My Cadillac [CD-single] [Explicit Lyrics]
6. Nellyville [Explicit Lyrics] [Import]
7. Now, Vol. 10
8. Off Da' Hook [Explicit Lyrics]
9. Perfection [Explicit Lyrics]
10. Phrenolog [Import]

Dance Music

dance music

Dance Music

Small Price of a Bicycle [Import]

Viennese New Year Concert

When Lights Are Low

Scat Singing [Import]

Virtual Sun

Why Do Fools Fall In Love (1998 Film) [Soundtrack]

The Howard Fishman Quartet

Stockholm Guitar Trio

Ultimate Aaron Tippin [Original recording remastered]

The Straight Ahead

Waiting Game [Import]

Vol. 3: 1936-1937

The World of Euro Techno [Import]

Brahms: Symphony No. 2; Double Concerto

Anthology