Their first record deal was on Eric "Eazy-E" Wright's Ruthless Records, the independent label owned by Wright that featured major acts like N.W.A., The D.O.C., and Eazy-E himself.
In 1990 they released their debut album Livin' Like Hustlers. Critically acclaimed on release, the album was produced by the group alongside casual member Laylaw and Dr. Dre, and featured a guest appearance by N.W.A.. Despite the strong material, the album was a commercial flop. However, in their 1998 "100th issue," The Source magazine listed Above the Law's debut as one of the 100 Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time.
A 1991 EP was released to promote the groups sophomore album. However, by the time Vocally Pimpin was released, it had received mixed reviews. With only a scant few new songs and mostly remixes, the EP did not perform well.
It was during this time Dr, Dre was involved in a messy break up with Eazy E and Ruthless Records, and was (according to Ronin Ro's Have Gun Will Travel) contractually obliged to produce two more songs for the group. Although these songs were recorded, they were never released. It is possible the changing times at the reocrd label were responsible for the average quality of the EP.
In 1993, the group released the critically acclaimed Black Mafia Life. Go Mack was now gone, as was Laylaw, and Cold 187um took on the bulk of production. The group reinvented themselves with a fresh new sound which they referred to as G-funk. Dr. Dre's The Chronic released at the end of 1992, may or may not have adopted this sound, although it was released several months before Black Mafia Life, and sparked a long-standing debate between Dre and ATL over the originator of the sound.
Here is a snip from an interview explaining how the G-Funk sound came about.
Big Hutch (Cold 187um): Well here is the real. Weather people wanna believe it or not, I donβt know, it doesnβt really matter to me. G-Funk was actually created as a type of sound. It wasnβt like βthis is gonna be our soundβ. When we came to Ruthless, we were more like Funky melodic and NWA was more like matally sound. Like metalβ¦ like hard head break beatish. We brought the funky, vibey, groovey shit to the table. We were cutting βBlack mafia lifeββ¦ actually we was cutting βFor the funk of itβ, the EP which was between βLivinβ like hustlersβ and βBlack mafia lifeβ. I started mixing up a lot of Clinton shit and real funky shit and do it melodic. Melody styleβ¦ You know youβve got to remember the melody of βLondon bridgeβ before you remember the wordsβ¦ Thatβs how a melody is so intriguing and so step-on. So I was doing a lot of melodic stuffβ¦ but we was talkinβ about ghetto shit. You know straight gutterβ¦ And we was cutting βCall it what you wantβ and at the time people was like βYour shit is kinda different. What do you call your shit?β and we was like βYou know this is some G shit mixed with some funkβ. We would call it G-Funk or some shit like that.
Okβ¦
At the time, Warren G was sleeping on my floor in my apartment and he was like βWow thatβs kinda coolββ¦ and so we cut βCall it what you wantβ and even Pac, this was before The Chronic, if you listen to βCall it what you wantβ you can hear Pac saying βIβm pumpinβ G-Funk but you can call it what you wantβ. This was before The Chronic or anythingβ¦ So the first time you hear the term βG-Funkβ on record itβs from 2pacβs mouth. So go do your research and thatβll tell you the truth about that. Itβs on record. It has nothing to do with Warren G. It has nothing to do with Dr Dre because none of those records were cut with none of those guys. They werenβt even in the building.
The album featured cameos by Tupac, Money-B, MC Ren, and Eazy E, as well as a quirky fresh new talent named Kokane (Cold 187um/ Big Hutchs cousin). The single VSOP proved to be popular, but once again the album failed to achieve success.
In 1994 the group were back with the hit single Black Superman, later cited as one of the 100 Greatest Hip Hop Singles of All Time in The Source magazine, 1999. The single preceded their third album Uncle Sams Curse, introducing a harder, more heavy and ominous twist on the G-funk they previously presented. Again Cold 187 took on the production and Kokane featured heavily throughout.
In 1995 label boss Eazy E died quickly of AIDs related illness, and the majority of the remaining roster at Ruthless Records began to jump ship from the waning label.
Above the Law would find themselves signed to Tommy Boy in 1996, where they released their fourth album Time Will Reveal.
In 2004 Murder Rap appeared on popular videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on West Coast hip hop radio station Radio Los Santos.
Concreat Jungle
Above the Law Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
WALZ, I gotta give a shout out to my homegirl, Mimi
She just broke up with her man
Hey I always say if you can't break a nigga, then shake the nigga
This next song is goin out to all the players
Somethin new from Above the Law called concrete jungle
[KMG]
I'm checkin with my homies and we movin shit proper
I peep a magnum bitch, I'm wonderin' what she thinkin
She say what you lookin at pimp, I'm wonderin what this hoe was drinkin
As she greased that ass in the place
And then the pimp clinic recognized the face
It's the same old bitch with the jack move
Real smooth, with nothing to prove
[Cold187um]
So here comes the 5-7 sniper
Bitches can't dance if they can't pay the piper
Tryin to make a G like every single day
I'm sippin on some Alazai, rollin in the rag top trey
Yo, a young nigga tryin to have it
Doin it like I'm doin it, is an everyday habit
Do I do I lick, or do I call a caper
Cause I'm like sprung off the motherfuckin paper
[KMG]
Now, now, now niggaz wanna know where we get it from
We play dumb, then they ask can we get some
No, you gotta step and if you can't bring the funk
And if I gave you a chunk you'd probably skip town punk
And run and tell your motherfuckin bitch or two
Or your hoe, cause you thought the clinic had no clue
Now scandalous motherfuckers get broke to they knees
As the click run in ya like the AIDS disease
[CHORUS x2]
Nothin from nothin leaves nothin
In the concrete jungle
Everybody wanna know, how you get that cash flow
[Cold187um]
Now I'ma get straight to the point cause I'm here
And just like Shaq I'ma slam the pill
On the real, so chill, cause fools be tryin to loc up
Fuckin around with my they only get they ass broke up
Or broke down, cause niggaz be tryin to clown this shit
But find out that I don't play the bitch
Yo, the last nigga tried to play me like a hoe
Got popped with my motherfuckin 4-4
[KMG]
So now you know what its like to get clipped to the otherside
We rowdy when we in the G ride
We dumpin out the window K-Oss blaze the indo
Suckas at the door, nah, it's Nina Flow
Back up off me we about to wreck shop, take shop
It's niggaz on the list that might get mobbed up
If they don't cut with the quickness
Cause we always strappin 9's to help with the thickness
[Cold187um]
Cause if you're soft, you'll never ever get no fuckin props
You're funky on the block, snitchin to the fuckin cops
Like KMG say you better back up
Cause when you play the pussy boy, you get fucked
Cause I'm cold, leave you ass stuck like Subzero
Jump that ass out, and rip out your torso
See that's the price when you're fuckin with the real
So take my advice and just chill
[CHORUS]
How you get that cash flow
Everybody wanna know, how you get that cash flow
Jungle
Everybody wanna know, how you get that cash flow
Yeah, I told you it would be the bomb, right now
I wanna give a shout out to everybody on the westside kickin it
Everybody on the eastside doin they thang, I gotta message for Tyrone
Dede say she don't wanna be wit you no more, damn it's a cold world
And Pam, GQ's from the east side said that ain't his baby
Girl, you better check that nigga, or check yourself
Oh Shawn, Pea just called in, she said that was fucked up
The way you played her last night at the club
Said everything's all right, she just wanna know
Who that ugly bitch was you left with, anyway
I gotta get out, the word for the day is paper
If you ain't got none, you better get some
And if you don't know how you get it
You better learn
The song "Concrete Jungle" by Above the Law is a gangsta rap track from the 1994 album "Uncle Sam's Curse." The opening scene of the song includes a shoutout to a woman named Mimi who recently broke up with her man, and the song moves on to lyrically explore the rough, violent life of the streets, with rappers KMG and Cold187um describing their experiences with women, money, and violence. They warn that "nothin from nothin leaves nothin" in the "concrete jungle," and that the only way to get ahead is to focus on making cash flow. Throughout the song, they reference guns, drugs, and violence and acknowledge that they face serious risks every day. Despite the harsh reality of their lives, the rappers maintain a sense of pride and bravado, flaunting their toughness and resilience in the face of danger.
One interesting fact about "Concrete Jungle" is that it was released during a time when gangsta rap was growing in popularity, but was also facing increased criticism for its violent and misogynistic content. Above the Law was one of the pioneering groups in the genre and helped establish the West Coast gangsta rap sound. Another noteworthy aspect of the song is its use of sample from Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man," which adds a jazzy, funky vibe to the track. Additionally, Above the Law was known for the way they incorporated live instruments and musical elements into their tracks, and "Concrete Jungle" is no exception - the song features live drums, bass, and guitar alongside samples and electronic beats. The song's lyrics are full of references to street life, from names of specific drugs to mentions of various neighborhoods and districts in Los Angeles. On a deeper level, the song reflects the struggles and challenges faced by many people living in poverty and trying to survive in a world that feels stacked against them.
Line by Line Meaning
I say what's up fool, I'm kickin it with my partners
I'm hanging out with my friends
I'm checkin with my homies and we movin shit proper
I'm checking in with my friends and we're doing things the right way
I peep a magnum bitch, I'm wonderin' what she thinkin
I see a woman with a nice body and wonder what's on her mind
She say what you lookin at pimp, I'm wonderin what this hoe was drinkin
She asks me why I'm staring, and I'm wondering if she's been drinking
It's the same old bitch with the jack move
It's the same woman who robbed me before
Real smooth, with nothing to prove
She's very slick and doesn't need to show off
Tryin to make a G like every single day
Trying to make a thousand dollars every day
I'm sippin on some Alazai, rollin in the rag top trey
I'm drinking Alazai and driving in my convertible car
Doin it like I'm doin it, is an everyday habit
Doing what I do is something I do every day
Do I do I lick, or do I call a caper
Should I rob someone or just take the safe route?
Cause I'm like sprung off the motherfuckin paper
I'm addicted to making money
Now, now, now niggaz wanna know where we get it from
People want to know where we get our money from
We play dumb, then they ask can we get some
We act like we don't know, then they ask for some money
No, you gotta step and if you can't bring the funk
No, you have to put in work and if you can't handle it, don't bother
And if I gave you a chunk you'd probably skip town punk
And if I gave you some money, you'd probably leave town like a coward
As the click run in ya like the AIDS disease
We'll come after you like a deadly disease
Nothin from nothin leaves nothin
You can't get anything from nothing
In the concrete jungle
In the dangerous urban environment
Everybody wanna know, how you get that cash flow
Everyone wants to know how we make money
Now I'ma get straight to the point cause I'm here
I'm going to be direct because I'm present
And just like Shaq I'ma slam the pill
And like Shaquille O'Neal, I'm going to succeed with power and strength
On the real, so chill, cause fools be tryin to loc up
Seriously, relax, because people are always trying to compete
Yo, the last nigga tried to play me like a hoe
The last person tried to treat me poorly
Got popped with my motherfuckin 4-4
They got shot by my gun
We dumpin out the window K-Oss blaze the indo
We're throwing joints out the window and smoking weed
It's niggaz on the list that might get mobbed up
There are people on our hit list that we might attack
Cause we always strappin 9's to help with the thickness
Because we always carry guns to help with our strength and protection
Cause if you're soft, you'll never ever get no fuckin props
If you're weak, you'll never get any respect
You're funky on the block, snitchin to the fuckin cops
You're causing problems in the community, telling the police information
Cause when you play the pussy boy, you get fucked
Because when you act weak, you get taken advantage of
Cause I'm cold, leave you ass stuck like Subzero
Because I'm harsh and cold, I'll leave you frozen like a video game character
Jump that ass out, and rip out your torso
I'll make you jump out of your clothes and rip out your abdomen
So take my advice and just chill
So listen to my words and calm down
Yeah, I told you it would be the bomb, right now
I told you it would be great, and it is now
I gotta message for Tyrone, Dede say she don't wanna be wit you no more
I have a message for Tyrone: Dede doesn't want to be with him anymore
And Pam, GQ's from the east side said that ain't his baby
And Pam, GQ from the east side said he's not the father of her baby
Girl, you better check that nigga, or check yourself
Girl, you better make sure he's telling the truth, or make sure you know the truth
Oh Shawn, Pea just called in, she said that was fucked up
Oh, Shawn, Pea just called and said what you did was messed up
Said everything's all right, she just wanna know
She says everything's okay, but she just wants to know
Who that ugly bitch was you left with, anyway
Who was that unattractive woman you were with, anyway?
I gotta get out, the word for the day is paper
I have to leave now, and remember the theme for the day is money
If you ain't got none, you better get some
If you don't have any money, you better make some
And if you don't know how you get it
And if you don't know how to make money
You better learn
You better figure it out and learn how to do it
Contributed by Aiden H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Krunoslav BlaΕ‘koviΔ
when you 40 years and still getting goose bumps from spine to chest even after almost 30 years,man got to mean something else but not fake shit,Respect from Croatia from soldier who struggles his hard way from the hood and all menace together,doing good,my son is 10 years old, he like old school,Thanks God to his dad who passing him only that real good musicπ¦ π₯π€π§±π―π
TheIntrovert83
I'm 38 and ain't nothing like that Nostalgic feeling!
π
Bryon
Patient, steady, nice flow backed with some sinister beats.
I forgot how good they were.
1990's rap is the best
B&R Likova
One of the best rap songs of all time for me...
Ruthless 4 life. RIP Eazy-E
Red Simmons
Shits hits so hard π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯. That Intro βπ½
MoT Kirya
The g funk that make u feel happy
Reymond Miramontes
This album is a classic
badazz disciple
2020 n still dope af!!π―
Mike Vic
Added this to my "Cali Swang" playlist in 2020, timeless record πͺπ½πͺπ½
Dee Vargas
Nothing for nothing,leaves nothing,in the concrete jungle,everybody wanna knoooooow....how you gettin that cash π° flowπͺπΌπππ