Above the Law - Uncle Sam's Curse
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Free Music Notes for Uncle Sam's Curse
Free Music Review: West Coast Hip-Hop
Hit: 4 Stars
This is a very solid album. Lyricallly, it isn't The Chronic or Doggystyle, but if you're a fan of 90s West-Coast rap or hip-hop this has to be part of your library. Not worth $27.00 or whatever they charge for it when you see this review. You'll be able to come across it for free if you know where to look.Free Music Review: "It'll Cost You A Grip, To Live In Kali Yall..." (Rating: 9 out of 10- -4.5 stars)
Hit: 4 Stars
Is it just me, or do I believe that every Above The Law album has been slept on? Majority of the tracks on all their albums bang, but yet the masses refuse to turn their heads to realize what it is that their missing. Not even with the backing of NWA on their 1990 debut album Livin' Like Hustlers. Although they headed a different direction with their style on their 1992 sophomore album Black Mafia Life (which is my favorite out of the group), people still missed out on what they had to offer (judging by the reviews, I don't think anyone picked up their 1991 Vocally Pimpin' EP). Now here come their 1994 album Uncle Sam's Curse, and still no one paid attention, and thats unfortunate, because this album is great. What I've noticed out of ATL, is that the albums I own they switch their style up. On their debut, they were sort of gangstas. On their sophomore LP, they were pimps and kicking game over some fly production. Here, they become sort of political with their rhymes (they were still pimpin' but not like their previous album). Cold 187um and KMG (as well as Total Koss) wern't heavily political, like Paris, Kam, and other west coast artists, but just gave you enough to know what the deal was.
On the majority of these tracks, there are snippets of speeches (possibly from movies) which people express their urban political views. "Return Of The Real" starts the album off of what it is to expect from this album. One of my favorites is the single "Kalifornia" which is dope and features a hot verse from Kokane (he was actually good back then people). Another favorite of mine would be "Everything Will Be Alright", an upbeat track about what they do to women, that also features Kokane. "Black Superman" is a standout in my opinion. "'G' In Me" is a great song with Cold 187um's smooth vocals going to work on the hook. "Uncle Sam's Curse" and "One Time Two Meny" are standout political songs about how everyday activities can affect someone. "Who Ryde" is another great standout that features Kokane. And the album closes off with a deep "Gangsta Madness" which dedicated to people who died at an early age.
Majority of the songs standout here on this album. Above The Law really lays it down and gets their point across here on their third full length LP. People who haven't heard this album will be impressed. Like I said, this album was slept on, and those should wake up and check this out. Then to top it off, it's out of print, causing this to not be as accessable as their other albums. Chances are you can track this album down for around 30 bucks (thats how much I paid for this album), maybe even less. Either way, this is one you would want to have in your hands. Peace.
Lyrics: A-
Production: A-
Guest Appearances: A-
Musical Vibes: A-
Top 5 Tracks:
1. Kalifornia (featuring Kokane)
2. Everything Will Be Alright (featuring Kokane)
3. Gangsta Madness
4. Black Superman
5. Return Of The Real
Honorable Mention:
1. Uncle Sam's Curse
2. One Time Two Meny
Free Music Review: Remember When Rap Was This Good?!?
Hit: 5 Stars
1994 certainly was an awesome year on all coasts (west, east, south), and up north. Uncle Sam's Curse was horribly slept on, and thanks to the internet and a much more commercialized hip-hop scene, now everybody wants to buy this one. Cold 187um serves you with some experimental and original beats drawing upon that G-Funk sound that the Pomona Playas helped popularized a few years ago (Was it Dr. Dre or Cold 187um who started G-Funk? The debate remains) Many of the beats are hella different than the other G-Funk of the time, and some are different period (but in a lovable way)!! Lyrically, the album is less pimpin and more political. "Uncle Sam's Curse," the title track is prime example, analyzing the plight of the brotha and sista in the U.S. "Black Superman" is definitely the joint here. I love the lyrics depicting a brotha getting his mother out of the ghetto and trying to make a better life. It is moving when they dropped a line about a mother calling her son her black superman! They discuss the gang truce and drug dealing and hustling from a much different perspective than most rappers do. The beat is hot with a slick whiny synth and a tight vocorder. I also love "One Tyme Two Meny." The beat is bouncy, and the hook features a wierd, but dope vocal. Listen to the dude's hella raspy voice as he recites "you don't know why one time's always trippin." They bring up a scenario where a homie has a hot girl in his car and he brags about the drugs he and his cuddies has, and to his surprise, she is an undercover cop, and he is busted. They take on a social stance on how police officers always assume the worst about black folks, and how it upsets these Pomona playas (hence the slang term for police (one time)). Above The Law kills each track with relentless flows and spits discussing social issues. Definitely, this is a lyrical album. They discuss the proverbial fork in the road in "Rain Be For The Rain Bo." They rap about choices in people's lives and discuss the trappings in the hood life and make references to the government as having a part in that cycle, and Kokane adds his moany hook vocals as he does in much of the album. Tone Loc steps in with ATL on "Who Ryde." "Concrete Jungle" is a little more gangsta with some harder lyrics. There is a couple of pimpin type songs though, like "The "G" In Me" with a nice old-school inspired funky beat. Definitely more of a lyrical album than many other G-Funk albums. The beats are different, and a few may take some time to get used to, but they will grow on you and you will recognize Cold 187um's real talent.Free Music Review: Classic rap songs....
Hit: 5 Stars
but holy smokes, over $100 for a used cd...cmon people who really wants to pay that? Good thing I still have the ripped songs I liked off it from about 10 years ago. Too bad the studio doesn't remaster and re-release it...I'd definately buy it again.Free Music Review: Lyrical and experimental g-funk (4.5/5)
Hit: 4 Stars
Above the Law is one of the best and most underrated rap groups from the west coast, and "Uncle Sam's Curse" may be their best album. Both the group and the album have been totally slept-on for years, so much that this album has gone out of print. Ruthless dropped this in 1994, and it really was a level above the other gangsta rap being released at the time. "Uncle Sam's Curse" is some really lyrical hip hop, sometimes politically fueled and very socially conscious. Musically it is very experimental. Producer Cold 187um, one of the west coast's best beatmakers, uses some electronic instrumentals with his usual heavy bass and whiny synths to create an almost futuristic sound, aided by frequent movie samples. Kokane sings hooks on lots of the songs, and this adds to the experimental feel, Kokane is the weirdest and most entertaining hookmen in hip hop. The Pomona trio of Total K-Oss, KMD, and Cold 187um don't really make any tracks worth skipping on this release either. I highly recommend "Uncle Sam's Curse," it is really multiple steps above the vast majority of west coast rap, and it's disgustingly slept-on.
The album starts with an intro that sets the scene for the album, oppressed and hungry people ready for a change in the city. This goes into the entertaining "Return of the Real...," a funky start to the album announcing the return of Above the Law. The next song is the soulful, well-produced "Set Free," which has a great chorus and wishful, sad lyrics. "Kalifornia" is a straight west coast anthem, with a beat laced with horns and a whiny synth, and a good chorus. "Concreat Jungle" is lyrically one of the highlights, discussing the pitfalls of living in the ghetto. "Rain Be for Rain Bo" has a head-nodding beat and good lyrics and hook. "Everything Will Be Alright" is a happy, upbeat, funky track, and a showcase for Kokane. "Black Superman" is my favorite song on the album, an absolute classic. The beat is awesome, perfect to ride to, and the lyrics are some of the best, exploring being a "black superman" for poor people in urban life. "Uncle Sam's Curse" is a middle finger to America, talking about the struggles and inescapable trials of poverty, it's very powerful. "One Time Too Meny" and "Who Ryde" are both wild, laidback kinds of g-funk tracks. "Gangsta Madness" may be the most stunning track on the album, speaking of judgment and death, and the beat and Kokane's chorus match it perfectly.
"Uncle Sam's Curse" is a very unique album and one of the best from an era of strong hip hop from California. I highly recommend it to fans of g-funk artists but also to fans of strong lyricists, because this album has both. Unfortunately, this release is nearly impossible to find now, but if you come across it do yourself a favor and make the purchase.