Album: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – Still Creepin on Ah Come Up

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One thing most Hip Hop reviewers probably never get sick of is writing Bone Thugs reviews, and if there comes a point when they do, then they should perhaps just stick to writing reviews on gimmick-reliant pedestrian rappers, because the review game doesn’t want them. That is why I take great pleasure in writing on Still Creepin’ On Ah Come Up, their fifteen-year-awaited somewhat sequel to their classic Creepin’ On Ah Come Up. Well, they done came up, so no need for creepin’, but the ‘still’ part they hold very well.

Although this is actually an effort from Bizzy Bone and Layzie Bone (Bone Brothers) rather than the whole Bone Thugs clique, by no means does that stop these two veterans from dropping a scorching record. Politics have always been a core part of subject matter on Bone Thugs records, so true to their style it’s only natural that Conspiracy and Prisoner have been included. On both of these tracks the production is very crisp, the piano notes hit are perfect, and most importantly the delivery and the lyrics stay true to the nature of the subject matter. It is still ‘feel good music’ too at points, with such lyrics as “Think about the money that you spendin’ on the war/People still sick, and there’s people still poor” and “What a conspiracy, seriously, baby/Men – we are providers, so many beautiful ones inside us…” – if something like that doesn’t hit you in the heart, you probably don’t have one. And, of course, what Bone Thugs record would not be complete with songs dedicated to their love for cannabis; Let Me Smoke With Ya (following the ever-so-popular Chris Tucker quote from Friday – “I’ma get you high today…”) is the track to blaze to on this album…and if you don’t get down like that then it’s no worry, because this track is so fine in all aspects that it alone will get you high.

Finding anything negative about this album really requires you to dig deep and get really anal. Because the production is so suited to each and every track (yes, EVERY track is literally EXCELLENT in production), collaboration fans might feel the same, as there are absolutely no guests on this album, not even other Thugs. Yet, this album stands strong in its very own respects, and is truly one of the best ‘underground’ Bone Thugs records.

If it hasn’t occurred to you yet, this IS the album to get! This record remains untainted by presences of the recyclable mainstream names everyone knows, and is what every raw Bone Thugs fan absolutely must own – otherwise, throw in the towel, seriously. With the perfect balance of chilled-out and hard-hitting beats with the flow and the subject matter we all look for in a Bone Thugs record, this is a sweet treat which doesn’t rot your teeth. Still Creepin’ On Ah Come Up? Oh, they’ve crept up indeed.

Available through Real Talk Ent.