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{{Infobox song
⚫
#REDIRECT [[Livin' Like Hustlers]]
| name = Murder Rap
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = [[Above the Law (group)|Above the Law]]
⚫
| album = [[Livin' Like Hustlers]]
| released = February 8, 1990<ref name=single>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/murder-rap-mw0001076589|title=Murder Rap - Above the Law &#124; Credits &#124; AllMusic|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2014-10-24}}</ref>
| recorded = 1989
| studio =
| genre =
* [[West Coast hip hop]]
* [[hardcore hip hop]]
* [[G-funk]]
* [[gangsta rap]]
| length = 4:14
| label =
* [[Ruthless Records|Ruthless]]
* [[Epic Records|Epic]]
| writer =
* [[Cold 187um]]
* [[Dr. Dre]]
* [[Go Mack]]
* [[Laylaw]]
* Total Kaos<ref name=Allmusic>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/murder-rap-mt0011964240|title=Murder Rap - Above the Law &#124; Listen, Appearances, Song Review &#124; AllMusic|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2014-10-24}}</ref>
| producer =
* [[Dr. Dre]]
* Eazy-E
* [[Laylaw]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = [[Untouchable (Above the Law single)|Untouchable]]
| next_year = 1990
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|DQz6lvh9dKI|"Murder Rap"}}
}}}}

"'''Murder Rap'''" is a song by American [[gangsta rap]] group [[Above the Law (group)|Above the Law]], released as a single on February 8, 1990.<ref name=single/> It was written by [[Cold 187um]], [[Dr. Dre]], [[Go Mack]], [[Laylaw]] and Total Kaos.<ref name=Allmusic/>

== Music and lyrics ==

The music of "Murder Rap", as produced by [[Dr. Dre]], consists of an ominous [[Siren (noisemaker)|siren]] sound, and backwards, looped drum beats.<ref name=Vibe/> [[Allmusic]]'s Alex Henderson says that the song's lyrics "let listeners know exactly what life in [[South Los Angeles|South Central]] was like."<ref name=Henderson/>

== Reception ==

In his [[Allmusic]] review, Alex Henderson wrote that "The imaginative [[Dr. Dre|Dre]]'s input as a producer is consistently beneficial", saying that the music "comes alive" as a result of Dr. Dre's input.<ref name=Henderson>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/livin-like-hustlers-mw0000204000|title=Livin' Like Hustlers - Above the Law &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards &#124; AllMusic|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2014-10-24}}</ref> Regarding Above the Law's lyrical content, Henderson wrote, "the Angelenos had some freshness."<ref name=Henderson/> A review of the song by Frank Owen in ''[[Spin (magazine)|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".<ref name=Spin>{{cite book|title=SPIN|publisher=SPIN Media LLC|issn=0886-3032|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v28LuIZchkEC|page=84|accessdate=2014-10-24|date=May 1990}}</ref> 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."<ref name=Spin/> ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' praised the song as "a breathtaking assembly", complimenting the music and [[Cold 187um]]'s raps.<ref name=Vibe>{{cite book|title=Vibe|publisher=Vibe Media Group|issn=1070-4701|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lyYEAAAAMBAJ|page=76|accessdate=2014-10-24|date=August 2008}}</ref>

== Legacy ==

In 1998, the song was included on the compilation ''Ruthless Records Tenth Anniversary: Decade of Game''.<ref name=Allmusic/> In 2002, [[Insane Clown Posse]] released a cover of the song on their album ''[[The Wraith: Shangri-La]]''.<ref name=ICPAllmusic>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/murder-rap-mt0013120473|title=Murder Rap - Insane Clown Posse &#124; Listen, Appearances, Song Review &#124; AllMusic|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2014-10-24}}</ref> This version of the song appeared as the B-side of ICP's single "Hell's Forecast". In 2006, ICP's cover was remixed for ''[[The Wraith: Remix Albums]]'' by Filthee Immigrants.<ref name=ICPAllmusic/> Insane Clown Posse's cover of the song led to a professional relationship between ICP and Cold 187&nbsp;um, and he later signed to [[Psychopathic Records]] as a solo rapper.<ref name="vimeo">{{cite web|url=http://vimeo.com/38710769|title=Big Hutch Interview - 3/9/12 on Vimeo|publisher=vimeo.com|accessdate=2014-10-24}}</ref>

==Track listing==
#"'''Murder Rap'''"
#"'''Murder Rap'''" (Instrumental)
#"Another Execution"
#"Another Execution" (Instrumental)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Above the Law}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1990 singles]]
[[Category:Above the Law (group) songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Dr. Dre]]
[[Category:Songs written by Dr. Dre]]
[[Category:G-funk songs]]
[[Category:Gangsta rap songs]]
[[Category:1989 songs]]
[[Category:Ruthless Records singles]]

Latest revision as of 19:53, 18 October 2023

"Murder Rap"
Single by Above the Law
from the album Livin' Like Hustlers
ReleasedFebruary 8, 1990[1]
Recorded1989
Genre
Length4:14
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
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 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.
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