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Despite selling over 35 million records, becoming one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time, and winning multiple Grammy awards, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have found themselves starting their illustrious careers all over again. The story of Bone Thugs N Harmony is more a tragedy than a comedy, more about the turmoil and tribulations then the music, from fairytale success to living unhappily ever after, a true rollercoaster ride. Through a seemingly unending series of twists and turns, of highs and lows, Bone Thugs and Harmony had it all, and as it goes…lost it all in a matter of years.

After leaving long time record label Ruthless Records, and releasing a series of failed and unfulfilling records and various side projects, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony found themselves trying to find solid ground after losing grip with today’s music industry, which is more about shit talking and bragging then harmony and meaningful art. Whether it was hitting rock bottom or “trying to find their roots again” the bone boys were no longer living the life of Grammy winners, they went from playing packed arenas full of screaming fans to playing a dive 80’s rock bar somewhere in the decrepit grime of Baltimore’s inner city in front of maybe 20-30 die harts.

However, ever since capturing yet another Grammy when Krayzie Bone contributed a jaw dropping cameo in last summers hit with Chamillionaire – Riding Dirty, the public started asking…what ever happened to Bone Thugs–N-Harmony? After signing a brand new deal with Interscope records, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are back with their latest and most important album titled, Strength and Loyalty.

For fans of the group who have been intimately watching the tempestuous atmosphere around the group since departing from Ruthless Records in 2003, this album is widely considered their last chance to prove they still have a spot in today’s fast paced hyperactive driven music industry. For those people, you need not listen past the first track to realize, Krayzie, Layzie and Wish are back on top of their game.

Two members short, the long missing incarcerated Flesh-N-Bone and newly departed Bizzy Bone who is battling personal demons, Strength N Loyalty can be used as an adjective to define what the group has been displaying their entire careers, from child abduction, to losing a member to the penal system, witnessing their mentor Eazy E succumb to the AIDS virus, the group has shown incredible strength to keep pushing forward and indescribable loyalty, not only to each other…to Ruthless Records, and the only home they know…Cleveland, Ohio. That’s the why, now we move to the what.

Strength N Loyalty is Bone Thugs N Harmony long awaited new Fourteen track LP released on May 08th 2007. The follow up to the disappointing previous venture, 2003’s Thug Stories. The first track on this new album, “Flowmotion” is a perfect display of what made Bone Thugs such a great group at the zenith of their career, rapid fire deliverance cuddled with incendiary production, The mind blowing verses from both Layzie and Krayzie set the tone for the album off properly and proudly introduces listeners to the newly reincarnate Bone Thugs N Harmony. With the assistance of long time friend and producer Swizz Beats, Bone Thugs N Harmony have been reenergized and reinspired, ready to take what could be their final stance on the music industry.

Boy. do these guys Carpe Diem (Seize The Day for your Latin impared folks) erasing all elements of doubt in just a few tracks, You know that Bone Thugs N Harmony are still pertinent and can be the Grammy winners they previously were. With songs such as Bump in the Trunk, Flowmotion, and Windblow (Fleetwood Mac sampled) that are just that Thug Style folks have come to expect over the years from the group, the album is a complete hit without hitting the 4th track.

And then, the fourth track comes on, I Tried featuring Akon, the groups’ brand new single and probably most integral part of this albums pending success. Like the other tracks it brings you back to that old school Bone style, this one very reminiscent of more harmonic tracks such as The Crossroads and Change the world. If any track on the album made you question if the group “needed” Bizzy Bone, it would be this one. On an album more about the thug style, Bone Thugs N Harmony sometimes appear to be lacking the harmony, however cameos help soften the void, and Akon did a terrific job adding his very unique vocal prowess to this track and the next single, “Never Forget Me.”

Speaking of cameos, not a whole lot of them worked on this album outside of Akon Yolanda Adams and Twista’s contributions. The return appearance of Mariah Carey on a Bone Thugs record came off very awkward on Lil L.O.V.E. It almost felt that this was Mariah Careys single, and this isn’t the Mariah of the late 90’s and early 2000’s when they worked so well together, it sounds like Mariah cant reconnect to her less TRL more hood queen style that made the previous collabs work so well. Overall just a wasted opportunity, bad beat, bad vocals, bad verses from the bone boys, Wish really seemed lost on this one. While we are dissing bad beats and bad verses, let’s talk about Streets featuring The Game and Will I Am. With all that aside, the track just sounded so impersonal, like The Game hasn’t even met the group and just decided he’d help em out and give em a less then mediocre.

Another perfect example of a collab working is a selection I previously mentioned, “Never Forget Me” featuring Akon. Perhaps the second best track on the album if not the best, the beat is extremely catchy and Krayzie Bone spits volcanic magma on his opening verse, The chorus is one of the best the group has ever featured since Body Rot. Layzie continues to be the complete opposite of his namesake, the most consistent thug in the group and reliable, you can always depend on Layzie to bring something that makes you salivate. The big surprise on this track is WISH BONE, as previously mentioned whenever the track doesn’t sound 100% perfect, the common denominator is a failed verse by Wish Bone, who is always trying to get better, but may not ever be on the same as his group members, however he held his own on this track and contributed a verse that was not only impressive but also in Harmony.

I could literally go through every track and you would hear the same critics, the production and collaborations sometimes seem off, but the lyrics and comradory really shine through like never before. For a longtime fan you can clearly see the desire and the passion is back. Bone Thugs N Harmony have finally been Resurrected.

The Bottom Line: The bottom line is this, Bone Thugs N Harmony have seen their fair share of struggles that have led them to the top and then to the bottom once more. They made some bad career decisions but they received a second chance when they were signed by Interscope Records. They took every opportunity they could to make this the best record that they had it in their power to make, and it really shows. Though at times you do ask yourself how much better this would be with a sober Bizzy Bone in the picture, you know that Krayzie and Layzie and Wish are still their pushing forward keeping the legacy alive and reinvigorating their careers in the process. A line from Layzie in the track “I Tried” says, “I’ts like a curse that I can’t shake this part of Cleveland.” Well Layz, it might actually be a blessing for you, unlike most artists who win awards and sell millions of records, Bone Thugs have always remained connected to their roots and because of which they can maintain there thug and always have new stories to harmonize. The future of Bone Thugs is now bright again due fittingly to passion and desire, but more importantly…strength and loyalty.

Tracklisting

1. Flow Motion
2. Bump In The Trunk – (with Swizz Beatz)
3. Wind Blow
4. I Tried – (with Akon)
5. Lil Love – (featuring Mariah Carey/Bow Wow)
6. C-Town – (with Twista)
7. Order My Steps (Dear Lord) – (with Yolanda Adams)
8. Streets – (with The Game)
9. 9MM
10. Gun Blast
11. Candy Paint
12. So Good So Right – (with Felecia)
13. Sounds The Same
14. Never Forget Me – (with Akon)

Websites

BoneThugsNHarmony.com
MySpace.com/BoneThugsNHarmony

Record Label:

• Interscope Records

Release Date:

• 05/08/2007

Reviewer:

• Kavin Dank