Livin' Like Hustlers

Updated on Nov 19, 2023

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Recorded 1989 Livin' Like Hustlers (1990) Vocally Pimpin' (1991) Release date 22 February 1990 Producers Eazy-E, Dr. Dre		Length 45:52 Artist Above the Law Label Ruthless Records

Released December 1989 (advanced promo cassette version) February 22, 1990 Genres Hip hop music, Gangsta rap, West Coast hip hop Similar Above the Law albums, West Coast hip hop albums

Livin' Like Hustlers is the debut album by American hip hop group Above the Law. It was released in February 1990 via Ruthless Records, and an advanced promo cassette version was released two months earlier. The ten track record featured guest performing appearance from N.W.A on "The Last Song", as well as audio production was delivered by Dr. Dre alongside with the group, and Eazy-E served as executive producer of the album. 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 was charted number one on the Hot Rap Songs. Its lead single, "Murder Rap", also peaked at number 41 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales and later was featured on the fictional radio station Radio Los Santos in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as well as the 2009 film Pineapple Express. "Freedom Of Speech" appeared on the soundtrack to the 1990 Christian Slater film Pump Up The Volume

In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums Ever.

Above the law murder rap livin like hustlers

Track listing

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)

"Flow On" contains elements from "Move Me No Mountain" by Love Unlimited (1974) and "Paid in Full" by Eric B. & Rakim (1987)

"The Last Song" contains elements from "Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)" by The Detroit Emeralds (1972) and "Gangsta Gangsta" by N.W.A (1988)