BONE THUGS "STRENGTH & LOYALTY" ALBUM REVIEW:

 

ALBUM TITLE: Strength & Loyalty

LABEL: Full Surface / Interscope

RELEASED: 8th May 2007

TOP TRACKS:  Flowmotion, Wind Blow, I Tried, Candy Paint, Never Forget Me

RAPCENTRAL RATING:

  Since the departure of Bizzy Bone from Bone Thugs -N- Harmony, many have been curious to whether or not the 3 remaining members Krayzie, Layzie & Wish Bone (also missing incarcerated Flesh-N-Bone, awaiting parole in 2008) could deliver on their own. Many were sceptical as last year's 'Thug Stories' was the first time the act has recorded as a trio (excluding internet only release 'Bone 4 Life'), but we were not disappointed by the independant album last September.

   It appears as if "Dem Bone Boys" don't appear to be missing Bizzy however, with albums coming a year apart rather than 2 or 3 years as in prior years.

   Strength & Loyalty, Bone's first major record label release in almost 5 years does in no way, however disappoint the fans. Bone show their classic fast-flowing lyrics & Krayzie gives the chorus on the track 'Flowmotion', remeniscent of the B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e days with a new twist and production from The Individuals kicks off the album with a good vibe.

   'Wind Blow' makes great work of the Fleetwood Mac sample of 'The Chain' and is one of the highlights of the album with Krayzie more than the others, showing just what he can do.

   The production of the album features such respected hip hop producers as Swizz Beatz (also executive producer), The Individuals, Jermaine Dupri, Will.I.Am and Akon among others. Akon produced & guest appears on the lead single 'I Tried', singing the chorus of the piano laced track. The song tells the story of how things never seem to work out for the trio, family & relationship problems. Not the typical Bone Thugs song, but great none the less.There is plenty of the Thuggish Ruggish side of Bone in this album though, with '9mm' and Gun Blast' among others, these tracks show the Bone of old and would fit in perfectly with the tracks from 'E.1999 Eternal'.

   But with guest appearances from stars such as Akon, The Game, Will.I.Am, Mariah Carey, Bow Wow & even the man who signed Bone Thugs to his Full Surface record label, Swizz Beatz, the Thugs are never overshadowed, after all they have been stars on their own for almost 15 years now and sold over 35 million records worldwide.

   Even Twista makes an appearance on 'C-Town', denouncing the rumors that there was a beef between him & Bone over who originated the 'fast rap' style. The only near negative statement i can make about this record is that the 2 penultimate songs 'So Good, So Right' 'Sounds The Same' lack something that the other songs have and may be considered filler songs by some. Even with these songs though, the final song, 'Never Forget Me' also produced & featuring Akon is one of the gems of the album, stating what Bone has done over the years and how they won't be forgotten because of it, and the lyrics & harmonies end the album on a high note.

   Overall the tightly-knit, fast flowing lyrics and top production makes this album one of the best to come from Bone Thugs -N- Harmony, showing both old and new styles of the group.

Review By: Bronz  

  
 
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RapCentral Member Comments:
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Shaydie_Bone - 03/Jun/07: nice review, I really love this album, probably their best since E 1999 Eternal. The only tracks I wasn't feelin were Lil Love & So Good So Right. I'd give this a 4/5 nonetheless. Fav tracks: I Tried, Flowmotion, Never Forget Me

StraightOutOfBrazil - 03/Jun/07: I gave it 5/5 personally i think there was 1 song i didnt like on the album

HitEmUpRobbo - 7/Jun/07: It would have been better if the flesh track that was cut from the album was on there, this would of catered for BTNH's longtime fans, whilst the other tracks cater for newer fans a lil more. I love 90% of the album, and the new feel and style they have in the tracks, but i would have liekd to have seen DJ U Neek on a few tracks too, oldskool BTNH, the BTNH most know and love. but you can see they miss the 2 members as the roster of featuring artists is huge, especially for a group. Akon is a nice "replacement" on the chorus' tho, which would have normally been done by kray or bizzy, he makes up the harmonies quite nicely. I like the fact that wish puts in one of his strongest performances with this album, he is normally overlooked but handles himself better than ever on here. I rate it at 4 out of 5.

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