Righteous but Ruthless is the second album by the American rapper King Sun, released in 1990.[1][2] The first two singles were "Be Black" and "Undercover Lover".[3][4] Many of the tracks met resistance from Black and urban radio stations due to their religious and political content.[2]Righteous but Ruthless peaked at No. 54 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart.[5] King Sun supported the album with live dates that included Terminator X and Redhead Kingpin.[6]Righteous but Ruthless was King Sun's final album with Profile Records, as he felt that the label did not promote it.[7]
The album was produced by Tony D, King Shameek, and Troy Wonder.[8][9] "Soft Shoe Booty" is a dis track aimed at pop rappers and musicians who treat righteous rap as a fad.[10][11] "Undercover Lover" is a love song; "Be Black" urges listeners to embrace a Black identity, yet acknowledges King Sun's preference for "redbones", or light-skinned Black women.[10][12] "Cold New Yorkin'" samples "In the Ghetto", by Eric B. & Rakim.[9] The title of "Universal Flag" refers to the Five-Percent emblem and the song espouses Five-Percent Nation and Nation of Islam philosophies; Profile would not allow King Sun to include the track on his debut album.[13][14][11] "The Gods Are Taking Heads" features a guest appearance by Poor Righteous Teachers.[15]
The New York Times noted that Righteous but Ruthless "marks a late conversion to righteousness; it has as many gangster (ruthless) raps as righteous ones."[20]The Washington Post said, "With his deep, gruff voice and fluid, dispassionate delivery, [King Sun] seems better suited to gritty urban narratives–'gangsta' raps–than to science-dropping."[10] The Detroit Free Press called the album "a highly energetic and fiery package".[21] The Lake Geneva Regional News labeled King Sun "one of a kind".[22]Factsheet Five said that King Sun "is a slick guy, politically astute and musically aware as well."[23]Rob Tewlow of The Source applauded the album for its lush production and lyrical depth. Ending the review, he wrote: "King Sun has definitely scored with a record that will please the hardcore crowd."[18] Comparing him to Rakim, Paul Rogers of Hip-Hop Connection commended King Sun, saying that his "deep-throated raps [...] are perfectly matched by the slamming jazzy beats". The journalist criticized some of the tracks for being "predicably boring gangsta-type rap".[24]
1 2 3 Mills, David (January 6, 1991). "Five Percent Revolution; The Radical Manifesto of Muslim Rap". The Washington Post. p.G1. ProQuest307379649.
1 2 Ahearn, Charlie (February 1991). "The Five Percent Solution". Spin. Vol.6, no.11. pp.55, 76.
↑ Gilroy, Paul (Autumn 1991). "Sounds Authentic: Black Music, Ethnicity, and the Challenge of a 'Changing' Same". Black Music Research Journal. 11 (2): 118–119. doi:10.2307/779262. JSTOR779262.
↑ Knight, Michael Muhammad (2007). The Five Percenters: Islam, Hip-hop and the Gods of New York. Oneworld Publications. p.254.
↑ Powell, Catherine Tabb (Summer 1991). "Rap Music: An Education with a Beat from the Street". The Journal of Negro Education. 30 (3): 250.
↑ Shapiro, Peter (1998). The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop (2nded.). Rough Guides. p.209.
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