Above The Law isn't about being outside the law, it's about being superior
to it mentally. With their third release, Uncle Sam's Curse, on
Ruthless/Relativity Records they prove that their hoodside brio is beyond legal
procedure - it's about exceeding the limits set by the system.
Above The
Law is Hutch a.k.a. Cold 187um, KMG and Total K-Oss. Together they have paved a
road of constructive ideals for their peers by tearing others down. As 187um
puts it, "turning a negative into a positive." They began as gangsta
rappers, telling stories about the lifestyle they knew best on their debut LP
Livin' Like Hustlers. "The whole idea behind the album was: a black man in
this country with money is untouchable - it scared the shit out of people. The
industry wasn't ready for a group that powerful." The album was talked
about, their reality comin' from the Pomona hood- livin' like hustlers to get
ahead, to get up out of their situation. Then came Black Mafia Life, which,
after a taste of success on their own terms, showed them that there could be a
better system - a system that empowered brothers and sisters with their own
businesses. "We were trying to unite black people together as businessmen,"
says 187um. "I graduated from school and it was like, `You gotta get a
job.' When I couldn't find a job, I sold dope. That's what we did. We took our
dope money to a studio and made a demo. We enterprised. Now, we don't have to do
that anymore. We tried to take a negative and make a positive."
To
this end, ATL has always tried to give back to the community they come from. "We
try to educate brothers who are on the streets or coming out of jail, and say
there is more you can do. The thing about this system is they never tell you
that. We try to educate our own people." And on their third release they
continue their ideals. Uncle Sam's Curse is one more step in the evolution of
187um, KMG and Total K-Oss. Uncle Sam's Curse is what ATL calls the ghetto. A
curse the government has laid on impoverished people in every big city in
America. "We have to start realizing that the system we have is not the
right system," says 187um. "We have to learn to create our own
systems." ATL shows they are tighter and heavier at their game and more
tenacious in their approach. Uncle Sam's is the most biting commentary of their
careers, because they step away from being reckless thugs and deliver rhymes as
successful young black men out to beat the system - Black Supermen. About the
first single: "Black Superman is the black man in America," says
187um. "Black Superman is the hustler, the man who goes to work and busts
his ass for fifteen cents for a family of eight. He's the person who works hard
for everybody in the ghetto, doing what he's got to do to beat the system."
The rest of the album is like a roll call of ATL's funky madness. 187um says
"Concrete Jungle" is about everyday life in the ghetto, giving the
oft-used title some validity. "Rain Be for Rain Bo" says "you
always got to go through some bad shit before there's good shit." "Gangster
Madness" is proof that someday we've all got to pay for what we do. Some
of the others are titles to bump on the long ride home or out on the boulevard.
"The G In Me" is about every day chasing girls, having fun. "Return
of the Real Shit" and "Kalifornia" are about chillin' in ATL's
sunny home state, California. "We're just showing we can clown, we're
people too."
The tracks on Uncle Sam's Curse are funky and tight,
production provided by 187um himself. Unlike the g-funk bandwagoneers, 187um
chooses to employ a gang of influences and styles. "Set Free." For
instance, relies on his jazz background. In fact, 187um delivers scat over a
sing-song rhyme pattern. He studied jazz for six years and fronted his own group
in high school, an experience that influenced much of his eclectic tastes. "I
gear to a wide spectrum of musics, because when I studied jazz, it showed me
all the facets of different musics. It taught me how all music relates to all
music - classical relates to jazz and jazz relates to country." His
education also helped to develop his composition skills. Instead of simply
centering on drum breaks and basslines, he pays added attention to the little
things. "I use a lot of strings and horns and harmony." As far as the
MCs go, ATL is also evolving as a group. Rapper KMG, who took a lesser role on
the last two albums is coming forward, adding depth Iyrically. Ruthless artist
Kokane, an honorary member of the group, appears on this album. Tone Loc makes a
guest appearance on "Who Ride," about being on the darkside backed by
an ominous bassline groove.
The result of these elements is a
passionate, funky and strong commitment to rap music and the community that made
Above The Law. Uncle Sam's Curse serves as an appropriate backup to ATL's
trilogy. Their legacy of ideals and knowledge can create stronger black minds. "Don't
get caught up by the curse."