It’s not rare that when an artist of a group or collective attempts to release a solo effort it usually ends up being something you find sticking out from under the lid of a recycling bin. Although “recycling” may be the right word to use, Layzie Bone’s Thugz Nation does have a good chunk to offer hardcore Bone Thugs fans, especially Layzie fans. Though the style is the same, it somehow doesn’t seem to get old.
The album gets off to a good start, as it sounds like your beloved Bone Thugs type of West Coast Hip Hop. You Know My Name utilises the ever so popular – and yet, still somewhat fresh – talk box, which has set its permanent mark as a musical element of West Coast Hip Hop. Coupled with the rapid-fire flow and delivery of Layzie Bone, though slightly lacking lyrical appeal, this makes it a great track to kick-start the album. Toast 2 That, which features the rest of the Bone Thugs and Swizz Beatz, is so well-produced that you can almost SMELL what success tastes like. And not in the “THROW YA MONEY IN THE AIR” kind of way…more like “I must be special coz the Lord blessed me/ Shined down on me, kept his angels lookin’ over me”. Believer or not, you can’t deny the depth of that. ‘I’ll definitely toast to that!
Another personal favourite of mine here would have to be Runnin’ Up On Da Punk Police, a collab with Krayzie Bone. The beat is nothing spectacular, but is saved by the lyrical content. In the same vein as NWA’s Fuck The Police or Public Enemy’s 911 Is A Joke, this track targets social ills such as ghetto life, poverty, oppression and, on the bulls-eye, police brutality and control. “Get these nuts, put the badge and the gun down/Muthafuck the government, blast when they come ‘round!”. Enough said.
From the very instance you hear Bone Thugs Boys, the beat seems to be painfully reminiscent of Justin Timberlake’s My Love…only without the dance appeal, obviously. The lyrics really leave nothing to the imagination either, very bland. Just sounds like a watered-down, annoying gangsta rendition of My Love. This Is A Warning is similarly just as boring both musically and lyrically. It proves that no matter how fast your flow, if you got nothing compelling to spit, then don’t spit it. The album would’ve definitely been well-off without these two tracks.
Altogether, this album is jam-packed with tight production and tighter lyrics…in which case the flows slip a noose around your neck…except for the few cases. Any die-hard Bone Thugs fan is sure to find more than a few favourite tracks to pick out of this, but for those who are more neutral towards Bone Thugs and their style, it won’t matter if it’s just Layzie Bone, there is a possibility this CD will be listened through once or twice…and the third time will be pretty dust-filled.
Available through Hi Power Entertainment/Koch Records
