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Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Preview Reunion Album in New York

Posted Oct 29th 2009 11:15AM by Steven J. Horowitz
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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.

Filed under: Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop News, Don't Call It a Comeback
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TWOCENTS

CORRECTION: ****THEY'RE****

November 03 2009 at 8:56 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

TWOCENTS

doesn't matter who's heard of them and who hasn't.....just because YOU haven't heard of them doesn't mean their a bunch of nobody's..... apparently their heard of in larger circles than YOU, because no one knows who YOU are. however, THEY are the GRAMMY AWARD WINNING (amongst others), MEGA-MULTI PLATINUM (EIGHTY million records worldwide) selling group who has done nothing short of their job and ENTERTAIN. They can also be credited for contributing to numerous movie soundtracks, such as The Great White Hype, Set it Off, and BATMAN to name a few. And to the lady who is so hell bent on BIG CRIME, LITTLE CRIME....i take it, you'd gladly accept a speeding ticket for doing 1mph over the speed LIMIT????? Afterall, those signs are posted there for a reason, and if i'm not mistaken, they're too enforce a LAW. so really ma'am, chill with that "STILL BREAKING THE FREAKIN' LAW" crap. no one condemns Wes Craven or Stephen King for the negativity they perpetuate. WHY? because it's a movie? because it's just entertainment? hell, they (Hollywood) drop movies far more frequently than rappers drop albums. Yet, no one is petitioning for them to clean up THEIR acts. at least rappers are just talking the talk. these films that we drag our kids out to go see are actually walking the walk. their giving you the exact visual that u lack from music, and putting it right in ur face on a f'ing 32' screen. MURDER, RAPE, DRUGS, VIOLENCE.....the whole nine. the moral of the story is, if ur gonna condemn rap for what it perpetuates, then condemn whatever other form of media does the same thing, IF NOT WORSE. until then, keep the chatter to a minimum please.

November 03 2009 at 8:52 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mayodele

If Bizzy Bone isn't included, it's not a reunion. I miss the original Bone Thugs N Harmony from 93-97. Their voices blended together so perfectly, you wouldn't believe the stuff they were talking about could sound so pretty and peaceful. I love them.

November 03 2009 at 7:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ycav4424

Wow look at all of the spam. I bet it will get worse since Christmas is getting close.

October 31 2009 at 3:27 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

charlie

they are one of greatest rap groups ever wu-tang is the greatest they are amazing!!!

October 31 2009 at 2:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mslaospreyfan

I thought this was going to be about a real band.

October 31 2009 at 2:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ycav4424

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.

October 31 2009 at 2:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ycav4424

I feel left out, I don't have anything to advertise.

October 31 2009 at 2:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Malisa

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!

October 31 2009 at 1:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Malisa's comment

Steve

How much research have you done on it?

October 31 2009 at 2:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

kurupted76

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..

October 31 2009 at 11:43 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

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