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)
Uncle Sam's Curse
Above the Law Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now, I'm listening you communists, niggaz and jews
Tell all your bodies to spread the news
Cause their judgement will soon been alight
As the lord in this wisdom looks down from height
Well, it's better be lost my mixing the races
We want beautiful babies, not ones with brown faces
Never, never, never, never, I say Cause the Ku Klucks Klan is here to say:
Never, never, never, never, I say
Cause the Ku Klucks Klan is here to say:
Here's two clunches are bitter with lynches in their lyrics
(Song's Intro:)
(Cold 187Um:) Nineteen ninety flow
(K.M.G:) The return of Above The Law
(Cold 187Um:) And we bring to you, you, you...
(Kokane) Uncle Sam's Curse
(Cold 187Um:) The name of the album is...
(Kokane) Uncle Sam's Curse
(Cold 187Um:) Uncle Sam's Curse
(K.M.G:) The return of Above The Law
(Cold 187Um:) And we bring to you, you, you...
(Cold 187Um:) The name of the album is...
(Kokane) Uncle Sam's Curse
(K.M.G:) The return of Above The Law
(Cold 187Um:) Ugh
(KM.G:)
When you're ballin' in the neighborhood
And you have to fade your strap, cause it's like that
That's Uncle Sam's Curse
(Kokane:)
Uncle Sam's Curse, uncle Sam's Curse
(KM.G:)
If you're a rebel and you're moving the product
And everybody hates you, that's Uncle Sam's Curse
(Kokane:)
Uncle Sam's Curse, uncle Sam's Curse
Uncle Sam's Curse, uncle Sam's Curse
(KM.G:)
If you're workin' from nine to five on the old plantation
In this U.S. nation, that's Uncle Sam's Curse
(Kokane:)
Uncle Sam's Curse, uncle Sam's Curse
Uncle Sam's Curse, uncle Sam's Curse
(KM.G:)
And if you're prayin' on a fool to jack
And you don't care about the colour
Even if he's black, that's Uncle Sam's Curse
(Kokane:)
Uncle Sam's Curse, uncle Sam's Curse
Uncle Sam's Curse, uncle Sam's Curse
(KM.G:)
If the mailman's late with your Government cheque
And they cut it, the motherfuckers, that's Uncle Sam's Curse
(Kokane:)
Uncle Sam's Curse, uncle Sam's Curse
Uncle Sam's Curse, uncle Sam's Curse
(KM.G:)
And if you're walkin' in the mall and you're wearin' blue
And there's a nigga wearin' red starin' at you
That's Uncle Sam's Curse
(Kokane:)
Uncle Sam's Curse, uncle Sam's Curse
Uncle Sam's Curse, uncle Sam's Curse
(Hook: Cold 187Um)
Hell yeah, ugh, since we in here, man,
Why don't you set some shit off man before we get the fuck out of here?
(KM.G:)
Awww shit, we're wicked
I swear, I'll sweat your ass
Yeah, the Clinic came to blast
We're lookin' for them fake gangsters
They're handin' out the murder raps
Yeah, they're shakin' suckers like craps
Shit comes to pass, nigga
I hope you're not the victim of a raper
And let a nigga take your paper
And run, and live life swell
While you're rottin' and rhymin' in a cell
Now break yourself, nigga, how the hell you figure?
You used to need gas money home
Yeah, I guess the Gs are full grown
(Cold 187Um:)
Yeah, now it's time to play, the motherfuckin' clone
(KM.G:)
You're actin' all stupid like you don't know where we been
We buyin' a gang of gats, so tell a friend "Tell them"
That God put us here, to innovate first
Now the world's given, uncle Sam's Curse
(Cold 187Um:)
See, I don't trust man, nigga, only trust God
So when it's on, bow down to the Black Mob
I be the dark skinny nigga representin' from Pomona
In the Rag-Top-Trey, on them dark corners
Yeah, cause I'm a floss for mine, and I'm a toss for mine
To let you know, that it costs for mine
Yeah, cause I'm a come like a true nigga
And for lunch, I think I won't fly twice, nigga
Awww shit, aww shit, we're goin' off the deep end
We're all off the hook and we're flowin' like the wind
I'm a take off on your ass like a LearJet
And if the shit gets deep, you gonna get wet up
And out of the luck, tryin' to fuck with the original
I used to slang dope, but now I get residuals
(Hook:)
(Kokane:) What's your name?
(Cold 187Um:) One eighty seven
(Kokane:) What's your name?
(Cold 187Um:) One eighty seven
(Kokane) What's your name?
(Outro: Cold 187Um)
One eighty seven
If I hear you diss my crew, it's on, forever!
The opening skit of the song Uncle Sam's Curse by Above the Law features a crooked patrol cop who sings about his racist beliefs. He mentions how it's better to avoid mixing races as the Ku Klux Klan is there to support his ideology. The rest of the song then talks about how different situations are examples of Uncle Sam's curse, such as having to carry a gun in the neighborhood or working a thankless job on a plantation. The lyrics also talk about being distrustful of people and only trusting in God, as well as being willing to fight anyone who disses the crew.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the struggles and curses that people face in America due to systemic racism and economic inequality. It highlights the violence and hardship people face, including the violence perpetrated by the police and the inherent distrust of others that comes from living in such a tough environment.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're ballin' in the neighborhood
And you have to fade your strap, cause it's like that
That's Uncle Sam's Curse
Getting into a conflict and having to use your gun to defend yourself in your own neighborhood because of the lack of law enforcement is the curse imposed by the government.
If you're a rebel and you're moving the product
And everybody hates you, that's Uncle Sam's Curse
If you're an entrepreneur, defying the rules, and making profits and engendering envy, being hated and persecuted by a jealous crowd is also a consequence of the government's curse.
If you're workin' from nine to five on the old plantation
In this U.S. nation, that's Uncle Sam's Curse
Working long hours for low wages, like the slaves on an old plantation, in a wealthy nation is a direct consequence of the government's curse.
And if you're prayin' on a fool to jack
And you don't care about the colour
Even if he's black, that's Uncle Sam's Curse
If you're engaging in criminal activity such as robbery or thievery, and specifically targetting African Americans with no remorse, this is yet another representation of the government's curse.
If the mailman's late with your Government cheque
And they cut it, the motherfuckers, that's Uncle Sam's Curse
Being dependent on government support for basic needs, and facing delays or cuts in payments, is also part of the curse caused by the government's faulty policies.
And if you're walkin' in the mall and you're wearin' blue
And there's a nigga wearin' red starin' at you
That's Uncle Sam's Curse
Being judged by the color of your clothing or skin and facing hate, intimidation, or physical aggression due to it, again reflects the negative influence of the government's curse on society.
You're actin' all stupid like you don't know where we been
We buyin' a gang of gats, so tell a friend "Tell them"
That God put us here, to innovate first
Now the world's given, uncle Sam's Curse
Mocking people who fail to recognize that the systematic oppression imposed by the government has forced people in downtrodden areas to resort to arms and violence as a coping mechanism. They believe that God sent them to innovate and survive in the harsh circumstances, a top-down government, that forced upon them, the curse of terror and violence.
I used to slang dope, but now I get residuals
While once being involved in illegal activities, the artist now explains that he has turned his life around and has started making money legally.
Contributed by Lucy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.