Track List:
01 - Intro
02 - Call Me
03 - Thug Stories
04 - She Got Crazy
05 - Don't Stop
06 - Do It Again
07 - So Sad
08 - Fire
09 - What U See [Reload]
10 - Stand Not in Our Way
11 - Still No Surrender
12 - This Life
I know Bone Thugs have never stopped releasing material one way or another over the years, but "Thug Stories" still seems like a comeback album for the group, especially with all the solo releases over the last few years, Bizzy Bone being kicked out and Flesh 'n' Bone going to jail. The four year absence since "Thug World Order" seems like a lifetime ago. The last few years have seen a number of independent albums being released through their Bone Thugs Records label, as well as separate solo projects, but "Thug Stories" has them all back together (without Bizzy and Flesh) and doing what they do best as a group.
At first I was a little put off that this is just a warm-up to their major label comeback album, which is due out later this year through their partnership with Swizz Beatz and Interscope Records, but any doubts I had about this album were laid to rest within minutes of listening. To put it simply, Bone are back.
The Cleveland group have gone back to their roots on this one as far as production and style go, although it might be said that there is a little less of the harmony, there is certainly plenty of that patented Bone Thugm music.
With the absence of Bizzy Bone there is a clear gap in the rapid high pitched delivery department, but not that much as to make the album incomplete. With tracks "What You See (Reload)" which has Krayzie and Layzie bone doing their quota of the fast flow, you barely notice Bizzy isn’t here.
Tracks like "Let's Do It Again" and "Don't Stop" are prime examples that BTNH haven't lost their appeal and as usual, it’s their laid back tracks that come out sounding best with “Call On Me” being a prime example.
They still have their gangster edge, particularly on tracks like "Still No Surrender," where Bone sing about their continued dislike for cops and the unfair treatment they get from “Mr Law Protector” and they blast warnings to anyone who goes against Bone on “Stand Not In Our Way.”
Die hard fans may be put off when Bone signed with Swizz Beatz, but they may find comfort in the fact that the lack of big name producers on this release is probably the reason it sounds so consistent with their back catalogue.
If there is a downside to the album, it’s that the 12 songs (including an Intro) doesn’t last long, although there is a 15 track version with a bonus CD, if you pick up the original copy you do get a fairly short album, which leaves you wanting more.
Many fans might have lost hope when they released a greatest hits album last year, but perhaps the group (or their label) were a little eager in picking out their best tracks as there are a number of contenders on here.
From my initial expectations that this album would be no more than a warm up mixtape I was pleasantly surprised to find such a complete and respectable Bone Thugs album, giving me high hopes for their upcoming Interscope release. No true Bone Thugs-N-Harmony fan will be disappointed with this album and will instantly identify with their unique vibe and delivery. Six releases in and the Bone boys can still deliver their own brand of hip-hop and still keep it fresh.
Hot Tracks: “Call On Me,” “She Got Crazy,” “Do It Again,” “So Sad,” “Still No Surrender”
Artist: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony