Black Mafia Life

• Artist: Above the Law
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1993
• Total Time: 71:23
• Type: Contains explicit content
• Genre: Rap

Review

Above the Law's second album had three things working against it. One: over two years had passed since their debut (unless you factor 1991's Vocally Pimpin' EP), which certainly left many with the impression that they were no longer. Two: they had to follow up a strong Dr. Dre-produced debut with in-house production. Three: it was nearly half an hour longer than the debut, leaving it wide open for filler issues. Despite these factors, the members of Above the Law proved with Black Mafia Life that they were more than a one-album wonder. They returned with a record that was both more laid-back and assured, yet the sound was tougher all the same. The tales spun by Cold 187um, KM.G, Big Hutch, and Go Mack are as unrelentingly grim as ever, yet this is -- if anything -- a party record, full of grooves and licks swiped from Bootsy Collins, the Fatback Band, and Curtis Mayfield. Cold 187um's slick sampling work -- almost as accomplished as Dre's on the debut -- combined with live instrumentation more than makes up for the fact that none of the thoroughly convincing MCs are lyrical masters. Lop off a few substandard moments, replace them with one or two big singles (admittedly, nothing here is as hot as the debut's "Untouchable"), and you'd have a West Coast classic. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Black Triangle	Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, Go Mack	Above the Law	(1:50)
Never Missin' a Beat	Bernie Worrell, George Clinton, Cold 187um, Go Mack	Above the Law	(6:58)
Why Must I Feel Like Dat	George Clinton, Gary Shider, Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, Go Mack	Above the Law	(4:08)
Commin' Up	Cold 187um, Go Mack	Above the Law	(5:21)
Pimpology 101	Walter "Junie" Morrison, Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner, M. Jones, M. Pierce, Andrew Noland, Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator	Above the Law	(4:04)
Call It What You Want	2Pac, George Clinton, Money-B, Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, Go Mack	Above the Law	(4:33)
Harda U R tha Doppa U Faal	Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, Go Mack	Above the Law	(4:49)
Game Wreck-Oniz-Iz Game	Eazy-E, Kokane, Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, B. Curtis, Go Mack	Above the Law	(5:12)
Pimp Clinic	Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, Go Mack	Above the Law	(6:20)
V.S.O.P.	Daryl Hall, George Clinton, John Oates, Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, S. Allen, Go Mack	Above the Law	(4:49)
Process of Elimination (Untouchakickamurdaqtion)	Curtis Mayfield, MC Ren, George Clinton, Gary Shider, Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, Go Mack	Above the Law	(5:56)
G's & Macaronies	Sandy Linzer, Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, Go Mack	Above the Law	(4:04)
G-rupies Best Friend	Kokane, Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, Go Mack	Above the Law	(5:30)
Me vs. My Ego	K. Nix, Carole Sylvan, Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, Gerard Victory, Go Mack	Above the Law	(5:20)
Outro	Cold 187um, KMG the Illustrator, Go Mack	Above the Law	(2:21)

Credits

Above the Law (Producer), Above the Law (Main Performer), Digital Underground (Vocals), Eazy-E (Executive Producer), Cartoon (Artwork), Brian Gardner (Mastering), Mark Paladino (Engineer), Mark Paladino (Mixing), Mike Sims (Guitar), Mike Smooth (Guitar), Kokane (Arranger), Cold 187um (Scratching), Cold 187um (Arranger), Cold 187um (Keyboards), Cold 187um (Producer), Mary Ann Dibs (Art Direction), Mary Ann Dibs (Design), Total K-Oss (Scratching), Total K-Oss (Arranger), Julio Estrada (Photography), B-Laid Back Edwards (Keyboards), Go Mack (Scratching)

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