I’m a let ya’ll Hip-Hop fans in on a little secret: I’m not a big Bone fan (Not to be confused with the Jeff Davis’ comic book Bone, I loved that). But when Bone Thugs-N-Harmony came out in 1994 with Creepin’ On Ah Come Up, it was fresh and something different. I bumped the shit out of that album and a lot of that was due their rapid rap style and to their first single “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” (Where the hell is that girl Tasha from the hook?). The group was also backed by the late Eazy-E and in a way; some people thought this was his start to making Ruthless into a rival to Death Row. The next album they dropped was E. 1999 Eternal. Somewhere in between the first and second Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s album, I stop caring. I don’t know if I was in my Wu-Tang phase or because Biggie also dropped in ’94, but to me their style became old and gimmicky. I never was into “Crossroads” that much (Which is their biggest hit), and I never purchased or heavily listen to a Bone Thug album since their first. After saying that, I must say I do respect Bone Thugs as does a lot of their fellow rappers. They are talented and have a solid fan base (This album I’m about to review debuted at number 2 this week on Billboard). They have recorded with the big two Hip-Hop greats: B.I.G. and 2Pac…before they died. They kinda been in limbo for a minute (They also ditched group member Bizzy) so I was happy to hear they signed with Swizz Beatz’s label Full Surface (Then again, who career has blown up on that label? Swizz? Cassidy?). With that said, here is the review of their Full Surface debut, Strength & Loyalty.
1. Flow Motion
The start of the album surprised me because this doesn’t sound like a Bone Thugs beat. It sounds a little like Just Blaze’s beat from T.I.’s “King Back”. That’s not a bad thing. Not a bad track either with Bone doing their regular harmonizing thing.
2. Bump In The Trunk (feat. Swizz Beatz)
The hook uses Krayzie’s first line in “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” as the hook. I think that’s Swizz on the hook, I know he did the beat. This song could probably fit on any Bone Thugs album in the past. Okay, but not my thing.
3. Wind Blow
Okay, they sample ???? and quote Mike Jones. Okay. I like old samples but this is not for Bone. The beat sounds like a rock version “Ghetto Cowboy” and I hated that shit.
4. I Tried (feat. Akon)
Their first single. Hey, right know Akon could get on a song with Osama Bin Laden and sell. I ain’t the biggest Akon fan but this should at least sell them a few albums. Not a bad song; kinda sappy. I’m still not putting it on my iPod on though.
5. Lil’ Love (feat. Mariah Carey & Bow Wow)
Bone calls in an old favor from Mariah, I guess payback for…”Breakdown”? It sounds like it was suppose to be on the special edition version of The Emancipation Of Mimi. Jermaine Dupri produces this one also with Bow Wow sounding out of place here.
6. C-Town (feat. Twista)
Oh my god Bone Thugs and Twista have stop beefing! Who the fuck cares? The beat is okay but I really don’t want both of these artists on the same song. What’s the point? Call in Do Or Die too, that’ll make it better. Twista and Bone also plan to do an album together real soon. Yeah.
7. Order My Steps (Dear Lord) (feat. Yolanda Adams)
Yolanda Adams on an album that includes songs like “9mm” and “Gun Blast”. Skip.
8. Streets (feat. The Game & will.i.am)
Hey, they got will.i.am? Dude has been doing good production work as of late. This is so far the only song I like from the album. Bone Thugs talk good shit on this one. Game turns in a good verse and the beat is hot.
9. 9mm
“Go loco with heater, nine millimeter”. That’s the hook right there. Um, this song is basically the “I’m gangsta, I’m good with the guns shit”. It’s back by a piano loop to sound more sinister. I heard it all before.
10. Gun Blast
We continue the gun theme with another gun themed song. I don’t mind gangsta rap. Honestly, I sometimes love it. But this is just too gratuitous after “9mm”. Skip.
11. Candy Paint
Bone Thugs pulls out the cars for this one. Swizz produces this one as well as a long ass hook. I never really thought Bone flossed at all. Not terrible but it sounds contrived.
12. So Good So Right (feat. Felicia)
In this song Bone explains “what’s going on with Bone” over a bullshit popcorn beat. I give them points if this Felicia is the same from that Mo’ Thugs song “All Good”; she was kinda cute.
13. Sounds The Same
The beat is good on this one. The song deals with “why does everybody’s story sound the same”. After saying this in the hook, Krayzie proceeds to rap one of the most generic rap stories ever. If this was on purpose, then this is an intelligent song. If not, well…
14. Never Forget Me (feat. Akon)
This song has me confused. I heard this same beat and Akon hook with other rappers on it instead of Bone (Memphis Bleek comes to mind). All in all, it does provide a landscape for Bone to remind the world how people forgot them. Good song.
Bottom Line:
Yea, I really wasn’t feeling 90% this album and to be honest, if I didn’t have to review it, I probably would have checked out after a few tracks. A lot of the tracks are just average or worse. Some tracks didn’t even fit Bone’s style (What happened to DJ Uneek from some of their first albums?). I guess if you are a hardcore Bone Thugs fan, you might like it. But for me, I gotta pass on this one. Sorry Bone fans. You may send you hate mail now.
nappy Picks: “Streets” & “Never Forget Me”
Download: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony feat. The Game & will.i.am. – “Streets”
