Almost 10 years after the release of their last album with the original lineup, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is back in full effect. Last night, the group assembled members of the media to get a sneak taste of their upcoming reunion album 'Uni 5: The World's Enemy' at Legacy Studios in New York City.With Bizzy Bone missing in action, Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, Flesh-N-Bone and Wish Bone stood behind an engineering board in front of their seated audience and played 13 of the 67 tracks recorded for their comeback album, puffing blunts and swigging Heinekens while their freshly minted tracks boomed through the studio speakers.
And after a string of setbacks that included Flesh-N-Bone's incarceration, group acrimony and label feuds, the Cleveland-based group is back like they never left. The album hinges on the classic singsong, rapid-fire style that first put them on the map, with tracks like the inspirational 'See Me Shine,' cautionary street tale 'Gangsta's Glory' and knocking 'Determination' capturing the same sound and spirit that fans have come to love from the quintet.
But with the old comes the new, and the group played a few cuts that employ a crisp style that they call "universe." "Instead of doing 16 bars," explained Layzie Bone, "we share a 16." Their newly hatched style makes for some of the album's tightest cuts, with the sunny 'Universe' beaming with each member completing each other's melodies, swirling into a creamy blend of vocal harmonies that flow on top of searing trumpets and glossy keys.
The sinister 'Let Ya Self Go' rounded out the session with the group flowing over a delicate chipmunk vocal sample, with shady synths brooding under their densely layered vocals. The group fielded a few questions from attendees, explaining that it's taken them years to find the right label situation before they ended up inking a deal with Warner Bros. "Interscope wasn't showing us any keen interest at all," said Krayzie Bone. "They was tryin' to retire us," added Layzie Bone.
After over 18 years in the game, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is far from calling it quits. With a tentative release date set for December 22, Uni 5: The World's Enemy could include some of their sharpest, most realized tracks to date. In the meantime, the group is holding listening sessions dubbed "Think Tanks" for fans to get feedback on their new fare, giving them a good idea of what to include on the final tracklist of the new album. But based on what we heard, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is back, flows as tight as ever and ready to get the respect they deserve.
Reader Comments(1 of 2)
ThatSa1HotPepperat 10-31-2009
who in 'sam hell' are they - and no one needs another rap group for sure
rhino45411at 10-31-2009
They aren't just another rap group... They have been in the business for nearly 20 years and have been huge influences on many other artists. They are not mainstream because their lyrics are not in the trend of modern rap and hip hop. Don't try and under cut a group just because you haven't heard of them.
parrotheadcizat 10-31-2009
PEOPLE WHO PUT ADDS HERE ARE FUCKING SHITHEAD IDIOTS
Malisaat 10-31-2009
Quote: "puffing blunts and swigging Heinekens".
Well, isn't that just special! A room full of reporters & no one has the balls to call the police to report an illegal crime being committed? Oh, I forgot...media/reporters means liberal, therefore it's ok to allow a law to be broken. It's alllll about the story/money, right?
PUKE!
snobunny304at 10-31-2009
Are you serious? I've personally been to a Bone Thugs concert with Bone and about half the audience smoking weed, with tons of police officers present and NOBODY got arrested. They are smoking weed, not molesting children. Geez.
jazzieb100406539at 10-31-2009
Well, smoking and drinking in a studio isn't a crime. They didn't mention WHAT sort of blunts were being smoked. Certain cigars are called blunts but ya - I know what you mean. Anyway, they seem as though they aren't going to win upstanding citizen of the year considering one their mates were thrown in prison and they do, afterall, associate with that ilk and probably are that ilk and don't blame me for that thought - blame the many rap stars who formed that opinion for me. We need another rap band or comeback rap band like a hole in the head.
unlearn2cat 10-31-2009
Well, I for one think that you're being a little too narrow-minded on this one. I'm all about keeping the streets safe and making sure that criminals are held accountable, but calling the police on someone for smoking pot is like calling CPS for someone spanking their child. Both actions can be considered illegal, but as long as they weren't hurting anyone who cares? If that is the only thing you took from this story, you need to get a life. One day their will be a law against speaking your mind, too. What will you do then?
MR.RICKat 10-31-2009
grow up. this event was for the fans. the world doesnt evolve around your precious little bubble. considering that most enterainers are on some kind of drug, the fact that these guys are also is a crime to you?
maybe someone should have called the cops on heath ledger. or elvis. or any of the other many entertainers that used drugs.
its people like you that gravitate to websites that don't cater to you, then you try to conform the world to your views. all the while not knowing that you are the one out of place.
no one mentioned the word reporter. this was a audience of their peers, and im sure that doesnt include the white snobby political establishment.
check the title of this site your on. this wasnt a white house press briefing.
the word media or reporter wasnt anywhere in this article. you just invented your own issue so you could have something to attack.
liberal media? this is a website! have you heard of the guy who wrote this article(i havent)? this is the internet. the fact that you hold the internet to some kind of journalistic standards shows how out of touch you must be.
the guy who wrote this story may have supplied the weed! get a life! go outside, get some air
pledge2rockat 10-31-2009
EVERYONE REPORT ALL THIS STUPID SPAM CRAP PLEASE! Maybe one day AOL will have the balls to actually do something about it. Until then....report it
As for this group, yeah of course I've heard of em (who hasn't) but there time is up. Give it a rest fellas.
kurupted76at 10-31-2009
if someone called the police to report people were smoking weed I really hope they would tell you to get a life & hang up on u..
Malisaat 10-31-2009
Say what you will folks, but just because many do it and will laugh at you for trying to stop it does NOT make it right. It is STILL an illegal drug and I am tired of people getting away with breaking the law.
Right is right, wrong is wrong...big crime, little crime...it doesn't matter. It's STILL BREAKING THE FREAKIN' LAW!
So, until it becomes legal (and I hope they tax the hell out of it, like they do cigarettes)I will stand up to my convictions, no matter how many dope heads tell me 'get a life'.
(Which, by the way, is a statement that makes no sense at all. So...what...? Because I believe this way I don't have a life?) Get your head out of the dope smoke and maybe do some research about marijuana. Maybe then you'll see that I'm the one with a life... a healthy law-abiding life, at that!
unlearn2cat 10-31-2009
How much research have you done on it?
ycav4424at 10-31-2009
I feel left out, I don't have anything to advertise.
ycav4424at 10-31-2009
Good luck with that healthy, law abiding life. Especially when, for the most part everybody is neither healthy nor law abiding. I guess you can dream.
mslaospreyfanat 10-31-2009
I thought this was going to be about a real band.