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BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY
Strength & Loyalty
Interscope, 2007
8.0/10, Excellent [scale]

Strength & Loyalty

Rumor has it that Cleveland outfit Bone Thugs-N-Harmony has changed. Words like ’sellout’, ‘mainstream’, and ‘commercial’ are being thrown around. Yes, their latest album will likely be their most successful release to date, and yes, there is a DVD movie in the works; but it’s been nearly twenty years since BTNH started making music, and they aren’t about to abandon the smart thug flow that put them on the map. On their latest effort, Bone has not suddenly rapping about blunts, 40s, and bitches to club-friendly beats. The rhymes on May 8th’s Strength & Loyalty are actually about strength (”I Tried”, “Never Forget Me”) and loyalty (”C-Town”, “So Good So Right”).

It’s refreshing to see a title actually loosely follow a tracklist. The aforementioned, “C-Town” embodies a real life example of regional pride overcoming a pointless feud. Once bitter enemies, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony exchanged diss-tracks with Chicago’s Twista. The disagreement? Bone Thugs thought Twista was stealing their fast-rapping style. Now, they’re together on this track rapping about their mutual respect (“Bone Thugs and we gotta spit a hard flow/ It’s worthy competition everywhere that I go”). It’s about time that Midwest emcees as prominent as Bone and Twista have realized the idiocy of their disputes. The damage that jealousy and rap-star hostility has caused to the genre’s community is obvious. “It definitely was a rivalry at one time, but it was all senseless, nonsense,” says Krayzie Bone. “We were just young and not even realizing what was going on. Now we’re like, ‘Man, what were we even beefing about?’ We don’t even know - like, who rapped the fastest or whatever. It really didn’t make sense” (Billboard.com). Fans will be happy to know that Chicago and Cleveland’s most famous flows have been working together on a full length. For the record, Twista’s 30 second verse on “C-Town” clocks in at about 284 words per minute, while Krayzie and Layzie spit verses that each reach nearly 300 wpm. But hey, who’s counting�

Mostly though, it’s music, not resolution that concerns BTNH. Cult Bone enthusiasts will appreciate tracks like “Wind Blow”, “Gun Blasts”, and “Flow Motion”. Despite limited Flesh-N-Bone (incarcerated until next year) and no Bizzy Bone (parted ways last year), the group still provides classic rhyme velocity, innovative rhythms, and model blues themes. Check out “Wind Blow’s” sample of “The Chain”. It might be the best utilization of Fleetwood Mac you’ve ever heard, with Bone riding the beat to perfection.

It’s the appearances by Mariah Carey, Bow Wow, will.i.am, and The Game that are scaring some fans. But, every guest spot on the album can be explained. Ms. Carey has worked with Bone in the past (’98’s “Breakdown”), Bow Wow is from Cleveland, and West Coast hip hop is forever connected to Bone through Easy-E. Besides, tracks like “I Tried”, “Lil Love”, and “The Streets” are likable, memorable, and genuine. Don’t think that the contribution of hook-specialists like Jermaine Dupree and Akon is the mark of a Bone Thugs-N-Harmony copout. The group has sold more than 35 million records over the last 14 years without being a consistent mainstream presence. The recruitment of high-profile talent was not at all necessary to sell records.

In fact, the album’s most notable collaboration might be it’s most unconventional. “Order My Steps (Dear Lord)” is a brave and unambiguously religious revamped hymn that illustrates Bone’s faith in God. Yolanda Adams joins Bone to combine a gangster sensibility and traditional gospel sound to create a faithful lament about temptation and hope. The content is explicitly Christian. Krayzie begins with a reading from the good book, and later raps: “What cha seein’ on the news has already been written in the Bible/ but aint nobody takin’ the time to realize that believin’ and readin’ the scriptures could mean your survival”. Bone’s exploration of such personal and profound subject matter was what made them stand out to many fans in the late nineties. If you’re not convinced that this record is authentic Bone, dig up 1997’s The Art of War or even E. 1999 Eternal.

It’s a shame to focus so much of this review on trying to change the opinion of hardcore fans, but this record will please casual Bone listeners and radio disciples regardless of what critics say. It’s important to remember that although the hooks n’ harmonies might be catchier and the guest appearances might be lil’ more famous, the themes are still intelligent and relevant. Strength’s lyrics, beats, and harmonies are all strong enough for loyal fans, hip hop heads, and beat bunnies alike to enjoy what Bone Thugs-N-Harmony brings to 2007.

by Brian Meredith