Artist: Bizzy Bone
Album: A Song For You
Label: Virgin Records
Release Date: 22nd April 2008
MAIN SITE REVIEW: http://www.rapcentral.co.uk/bonethugs_R ... eview.html
ALBUM LYRICS: http://www.rapcentral.co.uk/bonethugs_A ... album.html
Track listing:
01. Prelude
02. A Song For You (Feat. DMX & Chris Notez)
03. I'm The One (Feat. Joel Madden Of Good Charlotte)
04. Muddy Waters
05. Money (Feat. Twista)
06. What Have I Learned
07. Mercy Mary
08. I Truly Believe
09. Ballin' (Feat. Jim Jones)
10. I Need You
11. Hard Times (Feat. Chris Notez)
12. Memories
13. Real (Freestyle)
14. Crossroads (Outro)
RAPCENTRAL REVIEW:
Bizzy Bone is back, his first major label release since 2001's The Gift (althought there has been numerous independant releases between). This is Bizzy's stage, arguably Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's most recognisable voice (although he was kicked out of the group in 2006), Bizzy has came back strong with his latest effort from Virgin Records and After Platinum Records, A Song For You.
Bizzy's independant releases for me have never fully shown us the total potential of the 31-year-old rapper. Here (with significantly stronger beats), Bizzy the kid shines, the opening song, "A Song For You", is a polished lead single and all round solid opening track (DMX on support is suprisingly able on his verse, showing more than his usual growls). Suprisingly, the next track featuring the unusual collaberation with Joel Madden from Good Charlotte, is one of the albums strongest tracks. Before you think that this is a cross-genre track with Good Charlotte, think again! Madden is restricted to howling "I'm the one" during the chorus and while on paper doesn't appear promising, Madden's voice sync's well with Bizzy rapping to a far grittier beat than the opening track. It's a dope track in my opinion. The track about the ghetto struggles is a well told story in the rap game, but in Bizzy's first truly solo song on the album "Muddy Waters", Bizzy injects something alot of other rappers only could wish they had, and this is genuine sincerity about the subject matter, you can feel Bizzy speaking from his heart on it. Twista makes a guest appearance on the fittingly named "Money", It strangely sounds like an Akon joint, it's a good solid track, with both rappers spitting out twenty verbs a second.
So far, I have been genuinely impressed by the album so far, probably as a result of the dissappointment of some of the albums released so far this year have been poor. "What I Have Learned" is exactly what the title implies, Bizzy speaking on how the game has changes since he creeped on the scene (look out for the Soulja Boy diss). The piano background mixed with the clapping sound makes a good combination and does not distract too much from Bizzy's vocals.
"Mercy Mary" is another gloriously good track, the old-school inspired beat is top drawer and all I want to know who this Mary is, Bone Thugs are always rapping about her! “I Truly Believe†is a good sweet flowing track, easy on the ears for sure. The track “Ballin’†featuring a verse by Jim Jones is a good solid track, the beat not knowing what it wants to be, but otherwise Bizzy & Jimmy deliver good verses. There’s something about “I Need You†that I just don’t like.
The whole sampled chorus is a trend that has been played out. Bizzy is well able to deliver quality crooning and in my humble opinion, there is no need for the sample. “Hard Times†is a mixed blessing, the nice beat and solid verses, but this has been done repeatedly on this album, it is crying out for a banger. Instead, we get another two pretty sounding and sincere tracks in “Memories†and “Real (Freestyle)â€. I am not complaining, as the latter track in particular is dope with Bizzy screaming from his heart “I’m a real motherfucker til’ they kill me!â€, it makes for compelling listening.
All in all, this is the best release by Bizzy (and the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony crew for that matter.) in years. Check it out for sure.
TOP TRACKS:
3. I’m The One
7. Mercy Mary
13. Real (Freestyle)
RAPCENTRAL OVERALL RATING:
4/5
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ALL MUSIC GUIDE REVIEW
You can argue about how "eccentric" loose canon Bizzy Bone can be and how it gets in the way of his music, but you can't argue about how his over-prolific release schedule has sadly undermined his better work. Albums come out the rate of two or three a year and on various labels with quality varying wildly, from forgettable to almost there. The year 2008 had already seen one Bizzy album -- the much fiercer Ruthless -- appear by the time Song for You arrived, but this full-length breaks the pattern, becoming the first end-to-end stunner in the rapper's solo career. Part of the reason seems to be Bizzy's love of his new home, the After Platinum label which the rapper mentions repeatedly in a giddy voice not heard since the early days of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. After a hopeful intro, "A Song for You" presents the first truly radio-worthy single the man has released in years with DMX and Chris Notez as guests. Cool crooner Notez also brightens the emotional highlight "Hard Times," which touches upon the old days with the Thugs and how Bizzy's been "Livin on the outside" of the crew's inner circle. Seeing Joel Madden's name on the guest list is a shock, but the bigger surprise is how well the Good Charlotte vocalist fits into the stately world of "I'm the One," a track that could accompany any given heavyweight as he enters the ring. Hooks are plentiful with "Mercy Mary," "I Need You," and a handful of others sticking in the head, plus the production is slicker, more polished, and altogether better than on previous albums. A Song for You might just be a tad more friendly than his cult would desire, but the idea that Bizzy is his own worst enemy gets tossed out the window after this roaring success. Give him the right time and right place, and Bizzy, surprisingly enough, ends up being the right man for the job. ~ David Jeffries–allmusicguide
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