Enter a zip code
CD
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 | |
| 11 | |
| 12 | |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | |
| 16 | |
Kirk Franklin might get the glory, but the members of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are the true progenitors of hip-hop/gospel. There's a palpable, spiritual anguish layered beneath Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Bizzy Bone, Wish Bone, and Flesh-N-Bone's thuggery; a longing for the divine that's cloaked within their woeful tales of ghetto survival and street vengeance. All these elements are as compelling as ever on this, their triumphant reincarnation as a group (following solo turns by Bizzy and Krayzie, as well as the launch of their label, Mo Thugs). The quintet's trademark sing-song, rapid-fire delivery and diamond hard beats are back, as is its dizzying yet masterful incorporation of hypnotic rhythm and blues tracks. While the violent imagery and ample profanity on tracks like "2 Glocks," "Battlezone," and "Murder One" firmly underscore their street cred, the disc's real shock lies in the neo-soul sounds that flourish on the Prince-inspired "Change the World," the mellow groove of "Don't Worry," and the doo-wop diddy "Weed" -- a swooning love song in praise of blunt-smoke. It may seem premature to talk about February-releases like this, but BNTHResurrection is already a candidate for one of the finest hip-hop records of the year. Ernest Hardy Barnes & Noble