In 1989, the group signed with Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. While there, the group became an additional influence in pioneering with N.W.A. Their first album on Ruthless, 1990's Livin' Like Hustlers, featured a guest appearance from N.W.A and production from Dr. Dre. Above the Law member Cold 187um worked closely with Dre on production, and the two greatly influenced each other. The songs "Murder Rap" and "Untouchable" became minor hits from the album. "Murder Rap" appeared in the 2008 film Pineapple Express. The song "Freedom of Speech" was featured in the 1990 movie Pump Up the Volume and its soundtrack album. In September 1990, members of Above the Law clashed with Ice Cube and his posse, Da Lench Mob, during the annual New Music Seminar conference.
The group's first full-length album, Livin' Like Hustlers, was released in 1990. This album, which came out before Dr. Dre's The Chronic, featured a similar G-Funk sound. Cold 187um has claimed that he was the first to pioneer the G-Funk style and that Dr. Dre's new sound was largely inspired by his work on that album. In 1994, the group released Uncle Sam's Curse, their last album on Ruthless Records. It included the minor hit "Black Superman".
Shortly after Eazy-E's death, the group signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1996. There, they released Time Will Reveal in 1996 and Legends in 1999. In the same year, the group signed with Suge Knight's Death Row Records, but they left the label in 2002. Above the Law was also part of the West Coast Rap All-Stars, contributing to "We're All in the Same Gang," a 1990 collaboration of West Coast hip-hop artists promoting an anti-violence message.
On the morning of July 7, 2012, multiple sources confirmed that emcee KMG the Illustrator had died. Longtime Above the Law affiliate Kokane announced the rapper's death on his Twitter account the same day. While the cause of death remains officially unknown, Big Hutch stated that he died of a heart attack while taking a shower. He was 43 years old.
Four of the group's most popular music videos, "Black Superman," "Call It What U Want" featuring 2Pac, "V.S.O.P.," and the long-form music video "V.S.O.P. REMIX" were written and directed by Marty Thomas, Eazy-E's longtime Ruthless Records film director. Thomas also wrote and directed the controversial and ultimately banned Uncle Sam's Curse album television commercials. These commercials featured disturbing imagery, including the KKK chasing Above the Law past a church with burning torches and a white "Uncle Sam" pulling a newborn African-American baby from its mother's arms. The commercial won several prestigious international awards.
According to Kokane, a new Above the Law album was recorded before KMG's death. Cold 187um has stated that over 30 unreleased tracks were recorded while KMG was still alive, with the rumored title Victims of Global Politics. However, no release date has been announced.
Above the Law claims to have invented the "G-funk" sound, which was later popularized by Dr. Dre's The Chronic.
Studio albums
Livin' Like Hustlers (1990)
Black Mafia Life (1993)
Uncle Sam's Curse (1994)
Time Will Reveal (1996)
Legends (1998)
Forever: Rich Thugs, Book One (1999)
Sex, Money & Music (2009)
Pomona Love (2024)
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 say what's up fool, I'm kickin it with my partners
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.
@BihorPanaMor
Every goddamn time I hear the piano in the beginning it's like the first time. 30 goddamn years later! And then KMG drops with his unique voice and flow. I could go on and on and on about this song. Thank you, ATL!
@lmando4209
R.i.p KMG 🕊
@quincyyoungbloodakajudah4-486
Facts
@10toesdwn
Nuthin from nothin leaves nothin frfr
@eudarius1771
Maestre Ciurar, mai scoate un album, te rog mult!!
@UHNWIRECORDINGS
5th time in a row listen and counting bro. Uncle Sam Curse is a CLASSIC and EAZY E - "Any Last Werdz" song on his EP could've been on this Album.
@reymondmiramontes8916
This album is a classic
@rodneygee6140
This album takes me back to my youth...Above The Law was that deal. We were bangin that shit in Detroit. You were fuckin up if you didn't have an Above The Law CD
@TheIbo187
One of the best rap songs of all time for me...
Ruthless 4 life. RIP Eazy-E
@smily426
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 music
🔥🎙🔗🪖🦾🫡🇭🇷