Righteous but Ruthless

Righteous but Ruthless
Studio album by
King Sun
Released1990
GenreRap, gangsta rap, political rap
Length46:26
LabelProfile
ProducerTony D, King Shameek, Troy Wonder
King Sun chronology
King Sun XL
(1989) 		Righteous but Ruthless
(1990) 		Strictly Ghetto
(1994)

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]

Production

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]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star[16]
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album GuideStarStarStarStar[17]
RapReviews9.5/10[9]
The SourceStarStarStarHalf star[18]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance MusicStarStar[19]

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]

MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide stated that Righteous but Ruthless is "loaded with gems".[17] In 2007, RapReviews deemed the album "a hip-hop classic."[9]

Track listing

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Be Black"King Shameek5:40
2."The Gods Are Taking Heads" (featuring Poor Righteous Teachers)
4:15
3."Big Shots"King Shameek5:20
4."Stunts"
  • Tony D
  • Troy Wonder
3:58
5."Undercover Lover"King Shameek4:21
6."King Sun with the Sword"Tony D4:47
7."Pure Energy"King Shameek4:18
8."Soft Shoe Booty"Tony D4:12
9."Universal Flag"King Shameek5:12
10."Cold New Yorkin'"King Shameek4:23
Total length:46:26

References

  1. ^ Asante, Maishah (December 22, 1990). "Brilliant King Sun: Righteous but Ruthless Rapper". New Amsterdam News. p. 25.
  2. ^ a b Wynn, Ron (January 26, 1991). "Five Percenters run commercial risks when adding ideology to rap music". The Commercial Appeal. p. C1.
  3. ^ Benjamin, Terry (December 26, 1990). "Can't Touch This! King Sun: From ruthless to righteous". City News. Newark. p. 5.
  4. ^ "Rap Pick of the Week". Black Radio Exclusive. Vol. XVI, no. 19. May 31, 1991. p. 20.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn's Top R&B Albums, 1965–1998. Record Research Inc. p. 111.
  6. ^ Hesting, Chad (August 29, 1991). "Rappers fail to entertain". The Communicator. Fort Wayne. p. 4.
  7. ^ McPhee, Michelle (April 2, 1997). "Sun set on his kingdom". Daily News. New York. p. 19.
  8. ^ Stancell, Steven (1996). Rap Whoz Who: The World of Rap Music. Schirmer Books. p. 151.
  9. ^ a b c d Juon, Steve "Flash" (February 27, 2007). "King Sun Righteous but Ruthless". RapReviews. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c Mills, David (January 6, 1991). "Five Percent Revolution; The Radical Manifesto of Muslim Rap". The Washington Post. p. G1. ProQuest 307379649.
  11. ^ a b Ahearn, Charlie (February 1991). "The Five Percent Solution". Spin. Vol. 6, no. 11. pp. 55, 76.
  12. ^ 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. JSTOR 779262.
  13. ^ Knight, Michael Muhammad (2007). The Five Percenters: Islam, Hip-hop and the Gods of New York. Oneworld Publications. p. 254.
  14. ^ Powell, Catherine Tabb (Summer 1991). "Rap Music: An Education with a Beat from the Street". The Journal of Negro Education. 30 (3): 250.
  15. ^ Shapiro, Peter (1998). The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop (2nd ed.). Rough Guides. p. 209.
  16. ^ "Righteous but Ruthless King Sun". AllMusic. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  17. ^ a b MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 327.
  18. ^ a b Tewlow, Rob "Reef" (December 1990). "King Sun – Righteous But Ruthless". Record Report. The Source. No. 16. New York. p. 57.
  19. ^ The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music. Virgin Books. 1998. p. 183.
  20. ^ Pareles, Jon (December 16, 1990). "'Radical' Rap: Of Pride and Prejudice". The New York Times. p. 2.1.
  21. ^ Sokolowski, Stuart (January 28, 1991). "Sound Judgement". Detroit Free Press. p. 3E.
  22. ^ Burke, Jack (June 6, 1991). "The Wax Works". Lake Geneva Regional News. p. 35.
  23. ^ "Audio Reviews". Factsheet Five (39): 115. December 1990.
  24. ^ Rogers, Paul (January 1991). "King Sun – Righteous But Ruthless". Hip-Hop Connection. No. 24. Popular Publications. p. 14.

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