Livin' Like Hustlers is the debut album by American hip hop group Above the Law. It was released on February 20, 1990, via Ruthless Records; an advanced promo cassette version was released two months earlier. The album was produced by Dr. Dre and Above the Law and featured a guest performance from N.W.A on "The Last Song". Eazy-E served as executive producer. It peaked at number 14 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 75 on the U.S. Billboard 200.
The album included two hit singles "Murder Rap" and "Untouchable", which both charted at number one on the Hot Rap Songs. The album's lead single, "Murder Rap", also peaked at number 41 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums Ever.
Contents
Critical reception
The Los Angeles Times opined that "Cold 187um and KMG are defeated by their unimaginative writing and sloppy rapping."
In popular culture
"Murder Rap" was featured in the 2009 film Pineapple Express, the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, and the 2018 film City of Lies.
"Freedom of Speech" appeared on the soundtrack to the 1990 film Pump Up the Volume.
Track listing
All songs produced by Dr. Dre and Above the Law.
Sample credits
"Murder Rap" contains elements from "Ironside" by Quincy Jones (1971), "Hook and Sling - Part I" by Eddie Bo (1969), "Keep Your Distance" by Babe Ruth (1976), "Funky Drummer" by James Brown (1970) and "Sister Sanctified" by Stanley Turrentine & Milt Jackson (1972)
"Untouchable" contains elements from "Light My Fire" by Young-Holt Unlimited (1969), "Ironside" by Quincy Jones (1971), "Funky Drummer" by James Brown (1970), "Fuck tha Police" by N.W.A (1988)
"Livin' Like Hustlers" contains elements from "Hikky Burr" by Quincy Jones & Bill Cosby (1971), "The Champ" by The Mohawks (1968), "Hot (I Need to Be Loved, Loved, Loved, Loved)" by James Brown (1975), "Comm. 2" by The D.O.C. (1989) and "The Big Beat" by Billy Squier (1980)
"Another Execution" contains elements from "Do Your Thing" by Lyn Collins (1972), "Good Old Music" by Funkadelic (1970) and "Afro-Strut" by the Nite-Liters (1972)
"Menace to Society" contains elements from "Let a Woman Be a Woman, Let a Man Be a Man" by Dyke and the Blazers (1969), "I Got You (I Feel Good)" by James Brown (1965) and "Once You Get It", "This House Is Smokin'", "Do You Like It" by B.T. Express (1974)
"Just Kickin' Lyrics" contains elements from "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" by Isaac Hayes (1969), "More Peas" by Fred Wesley & the J.B.'s (1973), "Papa Was Too" by Joe Tex (1966)
"Ballin'" contains elements from "Why Have I Lost You" by Cameo (1977)
"Freedom of Speech" contains elements from "The Message from the Soul Sisters" by Myra Barnes (1970) and "Funky Drummer" by James Brown (1970)