U.S.A. (album)

For the King Crimson album, see USA (album).
U.S.A.
Studio album by Flatlinerz
Released September 6, 1994
Recorded 1993-1994
Genre Horrorcore
Length 56:14
Label Def Jam/PolyGram Records
Producer Russell Simmons (exec.)
Tempest Da Undertaker
Rockwilder
DR Period
Flatlinerz chronology
U.S.A.
Singles from U.S.A.
  1. "Rivaz of Red"
    Released: November 22, 1994
  2. "Satanic Verses"
    Released: November 22, 1994
  3. "Live Evil"
    Released: 1994


U.S.A. (Under Satan's Authority) is the highly controversial debut album by hip hop group Flatlinerz, which was released in 1994 on Def Jam Recordings and was produced by Russell Simmons, Rockwilder, DR Period, and Tempest da Undertaker. The album found some success, making it to #65 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #24 on the Top Heatseekers but also found controversy for its satanic lyrics. Also, the three music videos the group shot for the album, "Live Evil", "Satanic Verses" and "Rivaz of Red," were barely played because of things such as frontman Redrum rhyming while hanging from a noose and Gravedigger rhyming from a crucifix. The album only sold 36,000 copies[1] and the group, along with the Headless Horsemen and Omen (who were featured on the album), was dropped from Def Jam. Three singles were released, but only "Live Evil" made it to the charts, making it to #35 on the Hot Rap Singles.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [2]

In 2009, Fangoria named it as an iconic horrorcore album.[3]

Track listing

# Title Time Songwriters Producer(s) Performers Samples
1 Intro 2:27
  • Interlude
2 Good Day To Die 5:10 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons, T. Wilson, Tadone Wilson Crush, Kool Tee
  • First verse: Toss
  • Second verse: Butter
  • Third verse: Omen
  • Chorus: Flatline Massive
  • Fourth verse: Mayhem
  • Fifth verse: Kool Tee
  • Sixth verse: Tempest
  • Seventh verse: Redrum
  • Eighth verse: Gravedigger
3 Scary-Us 3:42 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons, T. Wilson, Tadone Wilson Crush, Kool Tee
  • Chorus: Gravedigger
  • First verse: Tempest
  • Second verse: Gravedigger
  • Third verse: Redrum
  • "This Is Serious PSA" by Long Island Poison Control
4 Flatline 4:18 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, David Gamson, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., PMD, Rockwilder, Erick Sermon, J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons, Parrish Smith, D. Stinson, Troutman Rockwilder, Tempest
  • Intro: Redrum/Gravedigger
  • First verse: Gravedigger
  • Chorus: Gravedigger/Redrum
  • Second verse: Redrum
  • Third verse: Tempest
  • "Crossover" by EPMD
  • "Party Groove (Instrumental)" by Showbiz & A.G.
5 Sonic Boom 4:19 Sue Ann Carwell, Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, Tony Ray Haynes, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons, Laney Stewart, D. Stinson Rockwilder, Tempest
  • First verse/Fourth verse: Tempest
  • Second verse\Sixth verse: Redrum

Chorus: Flatline Massive

  • Third verse/Fifth verse: Gravedigger
  • "Guile" by Capcom
  • "7 Days, 7 Nights" by Sue Ann Carwell
6 Brooklyn/Queens 0:24 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., Rockwilder, J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons, D. Stinson Rockwilder, Tempest
  • Interlude
7 718 4:11 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., Chris E. Martin, DJ Premier, Rockwilder, J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons, D. Stinson Rockwilder, Tempest
  • Chorus/First verse: Gravedigger
  • First verse: Gravedigger
  • Second verse: Tempest

Third verse: Redrum
8 Run 3:25 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., J.K. Simmons, James Simmons, T. Wilson, Tadone Wilson Crush, Kool Tee
  • Intro
  • First verse: Redrum
  • Chorus: Gravedigger/Redrum
  • Second verse: Tempest
  • Third verse: Gravedigger
9 Body ’n’ a Blunt 0:17 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons Russel Simmons
  • Interlude
10 Whydyadoit 1:00 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., Rockwilder, J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons, D. Stinson Rockwilder, Tempest
  • Interlude
11 Takin’ ’em Underground 4:56 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., Rockwilder, J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons, D. Stinson Rockwilder, Tempest
  • Intro:
  • First verse: Redrum
  • Chorus: Redrum
  • Second verse: Tempest
  • Third verse: Gravedigger
12 Graveyard Nightmare (Featuring Rockwilder) 4:08 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, Rockwilder, J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons Rockwilder
  • Intro: Redrum
  • First verse: Redrum
  • Second verse: Gravedigger
  • Chorus: Gravedigger/Redrum
  • Third verse: Tempest
  • Fourth verse: Rockwilder
13 One-Armed Bansit 0:55 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons Tempest
  • Interlude
14 Rivaz of Red 4:32 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, Rick James, Billy Jones, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., S. Robinson, Rockwilder, J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons, D. Stinson, Jesse A. Stone Rockwilder, Tempest
  • First verse: Redrum
  • Chorus: Flatline Massive
  • Second verse: Tempest
  • Third verse: Gravedigger
  • "I'm Gonna Take Your Love" by Brother to Brother
  • "Tonight's Da Night" by Redman
15 Satanic Verses 4:23 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, M. Gardner, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., D. Pittman, J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons DR Period
  • Intro: Redrum
  • Chorus: Redrum
  • First verse: Tempest
  • Second verse/Fourth verse: Stormlord
  • Third verse: Redrum
  • Fifth verse: Gravedigger
16 War Zone 3:15 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., D. Pittman, J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons DR Period
  • First verse: Tempest
  • Chorus: Flatline Massive
  • Second verse: Redrum
  • Third verse: Gravedigger
17 Beware... 1:01 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons Tempest
  • Interlude
18 Live Evil 3:50 Juan B. Clarke, Dan Cunningham, Darnell A. Cunningham, J. Walker Clarke, Jr., D. Pittman, J.K. Simmons, Jamal Simmons DR Period
  • Intro/Outro: Nora T
  • Chorus: Flatline Massive
  • First verse: Kool Tee
  • Second verse: Gravedigger
  • Third verse: Redrum

Album Singles

Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles
1994 Live Evil - - #35
1994 Satanic Verses - - -
1994 "Rivaz of Red" - - -

Album Chart Positions

Year Album Chart positions
Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top Heatseekers
1994 U.S.A. - #65 #24

References

  1. ↑ http://www.hiphopstan.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13219
  2. ↑ Allmusic review
  3. ↑ Molgaard, Matt (August 12, 2009). "Rapped and Tagged: Horrorcore's Iconic Albums". Fangoria. Retrieved 2009-08-19.