Livin Like Hustlers

Above the Law | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002728
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,259 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Unhearalded Classic, September 22, 2005

By 

Mike J (Central Coast, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Livin Like Hustlers (Audio CD)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Above the law's 1st classic, March 1, 2000

By 

Big Bullet (Bellevue,Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Livin Like Hustlers (Audio CD)

This is a cd that I have bought and lost over and over again.This is one of the best rap records of alltime.. thats nuttin less than real...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Murda Rappin', July 18, 2003

By 

G-BO tha hiphop junkie (New Castle ,Pa Usa tha 724 Eassssssyde) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Livin Like Hustlers (Audio CD)

Lemme break it down like this.Livin' Like Hustlas,ATL's debut LP dropped in 1990 right after NWA's Straight Outta Compton gained mainstream attention with no radio or video play but because of their street tales, slammin west coast gangsta funk beats, and the explicitness and vulgarity used to get their point across. This LP doesn't break any new ground but picks up right where Straight Outta Compton left off,with production handled by Dr Dre and Yella(High Powered Productions),LayLaw,and Cold 187 um. If u like West Coast Gangsta Rhymes and slammin Cali Funk, Livin Like Hustlaz will be sutable medication for your sickness. Also check out Black Mafia Life,Uncle Sams Curse(Which got jacked outta my ride and is now out of print because of Relativity Records combining with Loud Records and pickin up Sony for distribution- Imma holla at Sony and beg them to reissue the whole Relativity Records Catalog but mos definitely Uncle Sam's Curse. Anyway pick up Livin Like... and any other ATL LP. RIP Eazy-E!!!