The criticism from hardcore, close-minded fans has been written like this: soft, short, silly and sadly stated, simply unsatisfactory to satisfy starving Bone fans.
But with Bone, what I have come to realize, without any effort, over the years has been that no album is going to be like the one before. It's like listening to Outkast, although I'm not quite as big a fan of BB and Andre as Bone, and I'm not quite as thrilled by the direction Andre has taken. Long before Krayzie said "All I'm Hearing on the radio, same thang," and explained that he is always looking to stay away from the hot industry trends, Bone was developing and changing and putting out creative, and always innovative stuff.
I don't see why fans seem so surprised by the direction of "Thug Stories." There were signs...i.e., "need your body," "not my baby," among many others. Both of those songs had were catchy and had great, flowing raps and solid, if not creative, production and the case is the same on TS. There was also criticism of songs like "Do it Again," for being again soft and silly, so with no anticipation and a finger ready to take me to the next song, I waited for the moment to come and it never did. I've only listened a few times, but the song is truly one of the best on the album and probably the furthest from anything Bone has ever done. As for the length, well when an album can be listened to from track one to track 12 without a necessary skip, even at 45 minutes, these days I consider it a long album.
Plus, if purchased at Best Buy, not here on amazon unfortunately, you will get the double version of the album which features three additional tracks - all three are album worthy with above-average guests spots. Also worthy of mention is that TS is being advertised with the singles "Fire" and "Don't Stop." I have been a big fan of the "Don't Stop" backdrop we all knew of long before Nelly highlighted his first album with the beat. And "Fire" to me is the low point of the album...that speaks to the strength of it. OK now to further silence any critics out there...
1. Intro - It is obvious, as many fans have pointed out, that this is not really an intro because it is two minutes long, And much better and longer than any intro. I love the eery, instrumental w/bone in the background intros, and we will probably get one of those on "Bone Thug Story," but I have no complaint on this intro. All three K L W flow nicely over this hard eery fast-paced album introduction.
2. Call Me - Some are calling this the low point of the album but I found it beyond enjoyable. I love the laid backJust call me call me...no you can call me when you're chillin all alone...or bein naughty cuz ur n**** not at home...very cool catchy chorus and I think every verse just hits right on with the beat. The type of song you could just relax in a hot tub with drinks and what not and love life.
3. Thug Stories - Title track is pretty good but the chorus is so-so and a little repetitive, but it's one of the few with the older bone feel. The beat is definately something to ride to. I agree the album title is a bit misleading for the content of most tracks, but all music, soft or not, tells a story. This track is definately one of the harder on the album.
4. She Got Crazy - "Cuz she gotta little bit crazy...I dont want no De-ranged lady." A lot of people are raving about this one. Krayzie definately swings a nice chorus, kinda funny, and the track itself is very different but it works for sure. Wish takes the first verse and his flow is damb good for Wish.
5. Don't Stop - It's that beat we all know - and if you don't know, now you know. K L W all rip through their parts, turning this soft single into a laid back enjoyable track. As expected, Bone bests all those others, including Nelly, who tried the beat.
6. Do It Again - This was the big shocker for me after hearing from a few fans that this track belonged in some bad club far away. This is another laid back track, almost as soft as Will Smith's summertime anthem, but the beat is so fresh and new with Bone exploring a completely different sound and they make it seem like we've never heard a summertime tune before. One of my favorites so far, and K L W all sing and rap with energy and emotion that you can feel. Each of them stakes their claim to why Bone is back more than ever in each verse. As Krayzie says in the chorus, Bone is always bringing back the definition of harmony. "Sweet breeze in the summertime, we're making everything all right, always keep you hypnotized, keep you feelin' oh so highhh!" That line pretty much sums up my feelings about this song and Bone.
7. So Sad - "all these slimy, grimy women...its so sad its so sad" Krayzie rants on this one. another upbeat, very different track for bone. I thought the krayzie's chorus was pretty slick and K L W keep up on this up-tempo track with three solid verses. I thought Layzie was particularly on target here with an excellent rapid-fire verse. Wish too.
8. Fire - Kind of like a mix of Bizzy's...the roof is on fire and krayzie's...let me get you twisted man...this single has fast tight raps but an annoying beat and more annoying chorus. If you like this song a little (me), or even like it a lot, I would think you would love the album because the rest is so much better and fresh.
9. What U See [Reload] - The beginning of the end of the album - starting here, the last four songs are all great and all are a step away from the soft sound. Quick-tounge delivery and gun shots sounding the background fuel this fast paced song. Absolutly classic beat.
10. Stand Not in Our Way - This may be my favorite song on the album - you can roll, dance, lay back, pretty much do anything to this one. The chorus is absolutly great and Krayzie's repeated "stand not in our way stand not in our way" is etched into my mind right now. The production is very creative and this song really just defines Bone's venture into new sounds and succeeding at it.
11. Still No Surrender - Obviously, many people are embracing this very different sequel. With good reason - the chorus is one of the best of the album, all great raps and a good high energy vibe.
12. This Life - Another different sound - more toward that dark sound although nothing like the old stuff. Still its yet another solid track all around that closes out the album nicely.
I will comment on the three bonus track later once I have the listing, but in general, there are some obvious positives here. The guest appearences from Lareece, Thin C and one other I am forgetting right now are actually very good, unlike in many cases in the past where songs have been dragged down by Thug Line or Mo Thug artists. All three songs are very upbeat and have above average production. Definately a worthy addition and a good enough reason to opt out of an easier purchase and get to Best Buy. This was the best 10 bucks I've spent in some time. Five stars to this album, with the lowest rating for a track at 3 of 5 for "Fire."
There's plenty more to comment here but after just one and some listens, I can definately say I was more than satisfied and actually pleasantly surprised of what Bone minus Bizzy brought to the table. Almost every song featured great, fast-flowing, quick tongued raps over fresh beats and choruses that were as usual characterized by Krazyie's one-of-a-kind ability. Where Thug World Order also sounded quite different for Bone at the time, it was a little more dry and seemed to have less emotion and innovation spread out over the album. This is definately a slightly more complete effort I think, and while certainly softer, it was a positive change of pace for the most part. I think there will be plenty more serious hardcore raps to come, most likely, starting on the next album, Bone Thug Story, due December (so it has been reported). If BTS is as much better than TS as it has been rumored to be, with all the super producers and big-name artists joining BTNH, it should rank among the best, if not the best Bone album ever. For now, I can definately appreciate what I have at ear, and with Layzie's "Cleveland" arriving next month, December will be here in no time. Thanks again to Bone for making life more enjoyable and more harmonious. It's all music, Bone Thug music.
Bone, back with pretty tight album, it already sound's ten times better then " thug world order".... I can't really say if it's one of my fav since, it just came out today. But what I can tell you they still, have that hood talk, and great lyrics, no attempt to fall in the bling trend. The beat's are hard driven still kinda, " midwest sounding" that's a good thing, no clubbing and cheap crunk beat's. So if you like Bone and you like real talk, not ice,clubbing,dubs and that bs/then this is for you some slow jam's and some fast one ,but bone alway done that it's all hood talk and actually lryics that are real you know " thug stories"....
Highly recommened for bone fans no bizzy of-course, I was kinda worry if they could hold it down and they did....
- peace
This album is a very good album. It is a great CD to hold down fans until their long awaited Swizz Beatz produced album which is supposed to come out later this year or beginning of next year. But this album is a very strong album and I wish they would release a couple singles with videos and stuff to get a little airplay but either way, this stuff rocks. It even has some songs for the ladies which is different from their style and people might not like this, but you must remember that Bone is getting older, their not the youngsters they were when Creepin On Ah Come Up came out.
Their is not a single weak song on this album, the album can be listened to without having to worry about hitting the Skip button.
TOP 3: Still No Surrender, Do It Again, Fire
5 Stars
Bone Thugs N Harmony are one of the most successful hip-hop groups in history. Their fast rap style blended with unique harmonies made them a stand out hit beginning way back in 1994 with their debut EP Creepin' on a Come Up. Everyone has probably heard by now that the group has been busy n the studio working on a major label release with super produce Swizz Beats. That album is still in the works.
In the meantime, Bone Thugs N Harmony have released Thug Stories. Thug Stories is a 12 song full length album of original music released via Mo Thugs/Koch Records. The album was executive produced by Bone Thugs N Harmony.
"Let's Do It Again," has a real old school vibe, as does the song "Don't Stop." These songs are classic laid back Bone songs and could have easily been included on the double album Art of War. "So Sad" is a song about women trying to trap rappers with babies. "Fire" is one of the more well received songs on the album and its more classic Bone. "What You See," is a pretty weak album track.
Bone Thugs N Harmony haven't changed much. The most notable difference is the missing high pitched lightning fast verses of Bizzy Bone who has parted ways with the group. The good thing about them not changing is that the album has a very familiar vibe to it, the bad thing about that is that it also has a rather late 90's stale vibe to it.
There are no big name producers or featured artists on Thug Stories. It's a satisfying Bone Thugs N Harmony release, but die hard fans should be waiting with baited breath for their upcoming Interscope release.
![Disco de Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: “Thug Stories [PA]”](http://www.rapmusiczone.com/covers_prB/bone-thugs-n-harmony/2006_170_170_Thug%2520Stories%2520%255BPA%255D.jpg "Disco de Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: “Thug Stories [PA]”")