"Am i my brothers keeper?" This is the question posed and then answered with a resounding "yes" by Bone thugs-n-harmony on there long awaited 4th album, BTNHResurrection.
Rumours of a breakup were mereley gossip, Krayzie, Layzie, Bizzy, Wish & Flesh have reunited to create a new album filled with there unmistakable soul-efflected raps. This Bumppin' LP proves aint nothin' changed: Bone thugs-n-harmony remain the same tight & hungry clique, who back in 1993 hopped on a one-way bus ride from Cleveland to land a record deal with Ruthless Records founder Eazy E (Eric Wright).
One year later in 1994, Bone thugs-n-harmony exploded onto the national rap theme with there Ruthless debut EP, "Creepin' On Ah Come Up", and 2 gold singles, "Foe Tha Love Of $ featuring (The Late) Eazy E" & "Thuggish Ruggish Bone", the disc reached no. 2 RnB, no. 12 Pop, and was soon certified double platinum.
In August 1995, the group hit fans off with its first full length album, "E.1999 Eternal". Bone shocked the main stream music industry when E.1999 Eternal entered the Pop & RnB charts at no. 1 and sold more than 5 million copies in the US alone. The album spun off 2 significant singles, "1st Of Tha Month" (#12 RnB) and "East 1999" (#39 RnB).
But the bomb track was Bone thugs stunning, spiritually charged "Tha Crossroads (DJ U-Neeks Mo' Thug Remix)". This double platnum smash held the top spot on the Billboard top 100 for eight weeks (seven at no. 1 Rnb) and tied the beatles' 32 year old record for the fastest rising Hot 100 single (1964's "Cant Buy Me Love). In the 1996 Grammy Awards, "Tha Crossroads" was voted "Best Rap Performance By Duo Or Group".
In August 1997, Bone dropped there landmark double disc set, The Art Of War. Certified 4x platinum, The Art Of War topped both Pop & RnB charts. Bone scored a platinum single, "Look Into My Eyes" (no. 4 Pop/no. 4 RnB, and also featured on the "Batman & Robin" soundtrack), and certified gold follow up, "If I Could Teach The World" Other Art Of War highlights included a re-make of the Whoodini classic "Friends", in which Bone has paid tribute to those who have remained close to them, and "Family Tree", a remarkably personal account of the highs and lows in the lives of each Bone member.
BTNHResurrection displays an accomplishment variety of Bone skills and styles. After solo albums by Bizzy (Heaven'z Movie) & Krayzie (Thug Mentality 1999), and there Mo' Thugs Lable all Cleveland compilation Mo' Thugs Family Scriptures, Bone were ready to reunite and give the fans a dose of the whole crew.
"Our original plan is just comming to light", says Layzie. "We been planing to do solo albums even before we had a deal. Everybody doing there own thing helped us as individuals. So when we do come back together, we are that much stronger".
"We just wanted to bring back that bone thug flavour", adds Bizzy, "That buddha bomb shit that everybody wants from us".
The leadoff single, "Resurrection (Paper, Paper)", is just that, a bouncy, free spirited response to all Bone haters. Uplifting the masses while simutaneously urging fans to get that money, this JT Thomas produced track seems certain to extend Bone's platinum hit streak and rule the air waves weel into summer, 2000. "Cant Give It Up" teaches sacrifice in order to reach goals, something Bone and LT Hutton know all too well. The Chorus says it all: "Theres always someting you gotta give up, if you want everything you want".
Fans of the mega hit, "Crossroad" will bounce there heads and grab there hearts to "Change The World" a DJ U-Neek production. The concept (of the song) is that things arent the way we think they should be. So we are just saying we wish we could change the world, and make it a better place.
"Souljahs Marching" is a horned chareged battle rap of millitant energy. "The Righteous Ones" mixes religeous wailing with rapid fire souljah chants, while "Servin Tha Fiends" is pure vintage Bone, riding the track.
BTNHRessurection's real sweetness is the return of Flesh-n-Bone to the full time mix. He re-emerges as a feirce MC, especially on the albums most contrivercial track, "Ecstasy", an unapologetic ode to the newest high on the streets. Krayzie, Layzie, Bizzy, Wish, Flesh, take you through there surreal experiance of poping the so called magic pill. "Its just what the title says", says Wish. "Its the new drug and the people always want to try new stuff".
Through out the album, produces LT Hutton, DJ U-Neek, JT Thomas and Daren Vegas provide mostly upbeat but always haunting music. They bring the musical fire power necessary to match the new and mature lyrics of, Bone thugs-n-harmony.
"Everybody is a pro now", Krayzie says. "We got the process mastered. Just give us the beat and its going down."
Armed with there trademarked thug hymns and street prospective, the five Clevelander's who reinvented hip-hop are poised to show off what they can do in the year 2G. So drop any thoughts of counting out Eazy E's young souljahs.
"We are brothers for life", Layzie concludes. "We understood that when we started. We love music. Even if we didnt have a record deal, we would be out there singing and dancing and doing our thing"
(Biography, Courtesy Of, Bonethugsnharmony.com) |
