Murder Rap

1990 single by Above the Law

"Murder Rap"

Single by Above the Law
from the album  Livin' Like Hustlers
Released| February 8, 1990[1]
Recorded| 1989
Genre|

* West Coast hip-hop
* gangsta rap
* G-funk
* hardcore hip-hop

Length| 4:14
Label|

* Ruthless
* Epic

Songwriter(s)|

* Cold 187um
* Dr. Dre
* Go Mack
* Laylaw
* Total Kaos[2]

Producer(s)|

* Dr. Dre
* Eazy-E
* Laylaw

Above the Law singles chronology
|  | "Murder Rap"
(1990)  | "Untouchable"
(1990)

|
|

Music video
"Murder Rap" on YouTube

"Murder Rap" is a song by American gangsta rap group Above the Law, released as a single on February 8, 1990.[1] It was written by Cold 187um, Dr. Dre, Go Mack, Laylaw and Total Kaos.[2]

## Music and lyrics

[edit]

The music of "Murder Rap", as produced by Dr. Dre, consists of an ominous siren sound, and backwards, looped drum beats.[3] Allmusic's Alex Henderson says that the song's lyrics "let listeners know exactly what life in South Central was like."[4]

## Reception

[edit]

In his Allmusic review, Alex Henderson wrote that "The imaginative Dre's input as a producer is consistently beneficial", saying that the music "comes alive" as a result of Dr. Dre's input.[4] Regarding Above the Law's lyrical content, Henderson wrote, "the Angelenos had some freshness."[4] A review of the song by Frank Owen in Spin praised Dr. Dre's production, saying that the producer "has a remarkable talent for making noise funky, and he shows it to great effect".[5] However, Owen criticized Above the Law as lyricists, writing, "they present this hardcore life without any of the dandy charm that Big Daddy Kane or Oran 'Juice' Jones bring to it."[5] Vibe praised the song as "a breathtaking assembly", complimenting the music and Cold 187um's raps.[3]

## Legacy

[edit]

In 1998, the song was included on the compilation Ruthless Records Tenth Anniversary: Decade of Game.[2] In 2002, Insane Clown Posse released a cover of the song on their album The Wraith: Shangri-La.[6] This version of the song appeared as the B-side of ICP's single "Hell's Forecast". In 2004, the song was added in the game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which is used for Radio Los Santos station. In 2006, ICP's cover was remixed for The Wraith: Remix Albums by Filthee Immigrants.[6] Insane Clown Posse's cover of the song led to a professional relationship between ICP and Cold 187 um, and he later signed to Psychopathic Records as a solo rapper.[7]

## Track listing

[edit]

1. "Murder Rap"
2. "Murder Rap" (Instrumental)
3. "Another Execution"
4. "Another Execution" (Instrumental)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Murder Rap - Above the Law | Credits | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
2. ^ a b c "Murder Rap - Above the Law | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
3. ^ a b Vibe. Vibe Media Group. August 2008. p. 76\. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
4. ^ a b c "Livin' Like Hustlers - Above the Law | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
5. ^ a b SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. May 1990. p. 84\. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
6. ^ a b "Murder Rap - Insane Clown Posse | Listen, Appearances, Song Review | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
7. ^ "Big Hutch Interview - 3/9/12 on Vimeo". vimeo.com. Retrieved 2014-10-24.

* v
* t
* e

Above the Law

* Cold 187um
* DJ Total K-Oss
* KMG the Illustrator
* Go Mack

Studio albums|

* Livin' Like Hustlers
* Black Mafia Life
* Uncle Sam's Curse
* Time Will Reveal
* Legends
* Forever: Rich Thugs, Book One
* Sex, Money & Music

Extended plays|

* Vocally Pimpin'

Singles|

* "Murder Rap"
* "Call It What U Want"
* "Black Superman"

Related articles|

* Discography
* Ruthless Records
* Tommy Boy Records
* Death Row Records
* Eazy-E
* Kokane

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template