Above the Law, a part of the post-N.W.A explosion of California gangsta rap, emerged from Pomona, California, led by Cold 187um (Big Hutch). The group's sound blended '70s funk and soul samples with live instrumentation, and they released several well-received albums under Eazy-E's Ruthless Records before moving to Tommy Boy and eventually forming their own label, West World. In 2000, Big Hutch joined Death Row Records as a producer, leading to the release of Above the Law's album "Diary of a Drug Dealer" in 2009.
Tragedy struck in 2012 with the passing of KMG, but Above the Law's impact on West Coast gangsta rap and G-funk production remains significant. Through lineup changes and label shifts, the group persevered, leaving a legacy of influential music that continues to resonate in the hip-hop community.
