U.S.A. (stands for "Under Satan's Authority") is the only studio album by American horrorcore trio Flatlinerz. It was released on September 6, 1994, via Def Jam Recordings. The recording sessions took place at Chung King Studios, Next Level Studios, and Greene St. Recording, in New York. The album was produced by Tempest, Rockwilder, Crush, DR Period, and Kool Tee, with Kenny Lee and Russell Simmons serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Gravemen, Kool Tee, Mayhem, Omen, Rockwilder, and the Headless Horsemen.

The album peaked at number 65 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 24 on the Top Heatseekers and found controversy for its satanic themes. 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 and the group, along with the Headless Horsemen and Omen, was dropped from Def Jam. Three singles were released, but only "Live Evil" made it to the charts, making it to No. 35 on the Hot Rap Singles.

Critical reception

The New York Times wrote that "the Flatlinerz use the slow-moving piano melodies and minor chords of horror-film soundtracks to drive their music, adding screeching birds and tolling church bells for spice."

In 2009, Fangoria named U.S.A. as an iconic horrorcore album.

Track listing

Sample credits Track 4 contains elements from "Crossover" by EPMD and "Party Groove (Instrumental)" by Showbiz and A.G. Track 5 samples the song "Seven Days, Seven Nights" by Sue Ann Carwell Track 7 contains a sample from "Step in the Arena" by Gang Starr Track 14 embodies portions of "Tonight's da Night" by Redman and "I'm Gonna Take Your Love" by Brother to Brother

Personnel Jamel "Redrum" Simmons – main artist, vocals, sleeve notes Darnell "Gravedigger" Cunningham – main artist, vocals, sleeve notes Juan "Tempest" Clarke – main artist, vocals, producer, sleeve notes Tadone "Kool Tee" Hill – featured artist, producer Devon "Omen" Purkiss – featured artist Gravemen – featured artist Mayhem – featured artist Dana "Rockwilder" Stinson – featured artist, producer J. Leroy of the Headless Horsemen – featured artist M. Gardner of the Headless Horsemen – featured artist Nora T. – backing vocals Anthony "Trace Bass" Brown – bass Richard "Rich" Keller – bass, electric guitar, recording, mixing Darryl "DR Period" Pittman – keyboards, percussion, programming, producer, arranger Thomas "Crush" McQueen – producer Divine Campbell – co-producer, arranger Kenny Lee – executive producer Russell Simmons – executive producer Danny Clinch – photography John Blackford – illustration The Drawing Board – design

Charts Chart (1994) Peak positionUS Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 65US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) 24

Singles Year Song Chart positions US Rap 1994 "Live Evil"35 "Satanic Verses"— "Rivaz of Red"—

References

External links