Top Authority was one of the first rap groups from Flint, Michigan and among the earliest of the underground Midwest rap scene to release a nationally recognized album. Bootleg, a member of the slightly later Flint group The Dayton Family, told Murderdog magazine, "We grew up together, same hood. We'd be together every day. That's family." He lists them as leading lights in Flint music, along with acts like Ready for the World and MC Breed. Rapper Chilla Pertilla defined Northern hip hop to Murderdog as "Eminem, Twista, Bone, Breed, Dayton Family, Top Authority, Esham, and ICP".
They first came to public attention with the single "93 (Things Ain't How They Should Be)" from the debut album Something To Blaze To (TRAK Records, 1993). Something To Blaze To reached #21 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart in April 1994. The "rolling g-funk trio" (as allmusic describe members Shotgun, Dalo and Flex) followed up with Rated G for Wrap Records in 1995. It featured scratches from DJ Aladdin and reached #16 on the Top R&B Albums chart. allmusic considers 1997's Top Authority Uncut (The New Year) to be their best release. It peaked at #21, with the single "World War III" charting at #37 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles. In 2009 Top Authority returned with their fourth album, kush music, on which MC Breed and Do or Die make guest appearances.
Top Authority in the house
We are slowly for surely dyin, I'm sittin back home cryin, tryin to cope
Watchin over young ones, young Gz comin up slangin ....
Livin ????? you're either dead or bein it, that's why you're locked up
but I guess hopin, black and bein a ....., ever to much to smoke
For these coppers, don't like us, the MC's they try us
Roll em up and shake em up and talk your game and see who's the tightest
and I is, messed up but it's especially the truth about my feelings
Tryin ta make millions, but ain't seen the millions, so I'm stickin the
...... dealins
Assisted, assisted the case, you missed the ...., it's feelin
Forget suckin up *?deevy?* cos you ...... need to sing it
If you're rated G, you're wit me til I D-I-E
That's why we're livin 2 die
[Chorus:]
Livin 2 die, gotta do my time
Livin 2 die, they ask me why do I get high
I'm livin 2 die, cos I gotta do my time
Livin 2 die, they ask me why do I get high
It was a mix-up Saturday night, walkin by, a gunshot hook up wit down the
block
Hopin the shit was a dream when I see my homey shot (Damn, man)
Whole corner blocked off
When my homey did a little dirt, that's why he got knocked off
But skip that, me and my homey go back like 8-tracks
and while I'm steady drinkin, I'm simply thinkin of that payback
No time for layback, cos it's time to go do these busters
Run thru these busters, and work out back on who dees busters
As we creep, hope we creep up right behind em
This here is weak, ain't gonna sleep until we find em
let em know, what they did, bust em straight up
They took my homey away so now I'ma take their whole click
Get matter-of-fact, I know where one of dem busters live
And it gonna be drama when we pull him out his momma's crib
Unload the gauges and the Tek 9's
These busters try to check mines, it's time they respect mines
And hit em right where it hurt
Straight chop em off in the dirt, cos only way they goin out is in a hearse
The simple fact is I don't know why
I guess the same world we was given got us livin 2 die
[Chorus:]
Livin 2 die, gotta do my time
Livin 2 die, they ask me why do I get high
High
Livin in fear, I know this grave shhhh, brothers are killin brothers over
stupid shhh
Over material items and ....., 40 tips
I will toss that crook or that ......, cos you'll learn
criminals earn every second, most infected by terms
Hittin their hearse can provide you better protection
Chucked out in this war, stand by the lord and take safety of a Smith &
Wessun
And stand by your door, cos your door can get kicked in
Cos it's messed up where we're livin, cause this black-on-black blastin
And it bring so much pain, but in the game, you know some days it rain
Tricks runnin their mouth, tryin to frame a brother on 'caine
It's so messed up, man, they ask me why do I stay high
Smokin on fo'-fifty-fo' flight got me livin 2 die