KMG of the seminal West Coast gangsta rap group, Above the Law, died on July 6th of a heart attack. On Tuesday, he was laid to rest in his hometown, Pomona, California, with fellow group member Big Hutch aka Cold 187um, Digital Underground’s Money B and more in attendance. Fellow West Coast vet Kokane shared scenes from the funeral and commentary with Futuristic Blogger/HipHopNews247 (watch above).

ATL were early signees of Ruthless Records, and after working with Dr. Dre on the production of their first album Livin’ Like Hustlers, group leader and producer Big Hutch claimed that he pioneered the “G-funk” sound. Whether or not history confirms that statement, Above the Law was a constant presence during the rise of West Coast hip hop in the early 90′s, contemporaries with N.W.A., Compton’s Most Wanted, Spice 1, etc, and famously clashing with Ice Cube’s Da Lench Mob at the New Music Seminar in 1990. (Back when you didn’t hear about a rap fight until it appeared in The Source a month later)

If you’re not familiar with Above the Law’s work, check out a clips and read Big Hutch’s (Cold 187um) statement on KMG’s death…
After the jump

Above the Law: “Murder Rap”

Above the Law: “Untouchable” (I think “Murder Rap” or “Black Superman” were bigger hits, but I remember liking this song….had that classic West Coast gang raps x frenetic Bomb Squad-style beats combo that we heard a lot from that era. But I think Dre and Hutch produced this? Also…I was always fascinated by the name Cold 187um. I know, random.)

Statement on KMG’s death:

From the words of Gregory F. Hutchison, a.k.a. Big Hutch (Cold 187um), “I would like to thank everyone for their condolences during this unexpected difficult time for myself, the group Above The Law, as well as our families and close friends. I had received a phone call Friday night, July 6th, that KMG had collapsed in the shower from an apparent heart attack, but that fact is to be determined after we get the autopsy report. There was no foul play involved and my dear friend KMG’s death was simply by natural cause. It is shocking and tragic to all of us because he showed no symptoms that he was suffering from any type of heart disease or any type of other illnesses. Plus, I was just on the phone with him and Total K-OSS a few days prior discussing the new Above The Law album and my upcoming solo release with Psychopathic Records. We were further discussing, as Above The Law, it was time to move on the with the project and were coordinating plans to do so; then this had happened. I also would like to thank everyone for their patience in me responding to media and other close online publications. KMG and I, as you all know, go way back since the best years of Ruthless Records and prior. He has been my right hand man along with Total K-OSS and his abrupt passing was just totally unexpected and shocking to all of us. I personally have been in a daze since receiving the news and I just needed some time to myself and to put things back into perspective so I can re-focuse on the commitments and obligations I have to music and Hip-Hop. If I hear anything else that our fans need to know, I will indeed inform the powers to be and get that information out to everyone. Once again, thank you everyone for your caring concerns and the love you still have for KMG, myself, and Above The Law after all these years. And as with Eazy, we will continue to keep his memory and legacy alive through music.”