Third studio album by Above the Law, rap group from Pomona, California, at their swan song. After the previous album, released the year before, Go Mack leaves the group, which remains formed by three elements: Cold 187um, DJ K-oss, and KMG. Cold 187um is the unique producer and affiliate Kokane is the main guest, often contributing with sung performances. Tone-Loc is the other host on the CD.
Above the Law takes a few steps forward from the previous tape, making a musically robust and excellent album: Cold 187um creates a fantastic, raw, dirty and dark g-funk soundscape, placing melodic, deep and sometimes annoying g-funk synths, midtempo drums and great relaxed mobb and funky samples that pay homage to George Clinton. On these beats, the guys seem to be inspired, releasing gangsta bars, but also socio-conscious, political and pro-black, performers with a good, slow and effortless rapping style.
Released by Ruthless and distributed by Sony (via RED), the album reaches the top 15 on the rap chart. Above the Law are unable to distance themselves from the NWA, making a record that presents musicality close to those that made Dr. Dre popular, who stole the patent from Cold 187um, and lyrics similar to those proposed by Ice Cube in the same period: the record seems to be strikingly close to debut, with amazing quality, however, it doesn't reach those levels and offers rare highlights when mobb samples emerge ("Black Superman" and "Gangsta Madness" both shine). Released by Ruthless and Relativity, is one of the best-selling gangsta rap albums of the season, peaking #15 on the rap chart. Consisting of 12 long songs (the shortest doesn't go beyond four and a half minutes) and an hour of listening, is a recommended album for g-funk fans.
Rating: 7.5/10.
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