Krayzie Bone: Thug Mentality 1999 : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Cleveland's Bone Thugs-N-Harmony put out albums almost as fast as they rap. But apparently no one told Krayzie Bone, the group's de facto frontman, that the world is not interested in any more solo Bone projects, much less a double-disc LP - and that's good news. After influencing the rhyme flows, hairstyles and vernacular of rappers on both coasts, Krayzie has earned the right to produce something as self-indulgent - but consistently engaging - as Thug Mentality 1999.

1999 explores popular Bone territory: Book of Revelations-style prophesying, on the grandiose, Gothic "Armageddon"; introspection, on "Sad Song," a brief autobiographical testament to perseverance; and marijuana-induced revelry, on "Smokin' Buddha," a song so suggestive, it all but helps you with your jacket and accompanies you to the weed spot. Then there's the wanton hedonism of tales like "Shoot the Club Up," "Heated Heavy" and "Murda Won't Stop," which owe as much to Jamaica's dub sensibilities as to inner-city syncopation. Tracks like "Silent Warrior" and "Silence" drape eerie lyrics in New Wave synths, and the Thugs' hallmark marriage of keys, melody and malignancy is prevalent on "Dummy Man," "Street People" and "Won't Ez Up Tonight."

There are a few head-scratching moments. "Knieght Rieduz (Here We Come)" is an advertisement for the group of the same name - a group that's so gimmicky, it crosses into self-parody. And "Look at You Now" -- a vivid date rape during which Isaac Hayes' "Walk On By" escalates in the background - may be one of the most disturbing moments ever put to wax. It's like watching Ike pummel Tina in What's Love Got to Do With It -- its sheer brutality grabs you and refuses to let go.

Taking notes from Sun Tzu ("making sure the enemy's weak before we invade them"), Krayzie harps on retaliation, sedition and the acquisition of power. "From this day on," he commands, Mussolini-like, in the opening track, "you eat, you sleep, you piss, you drink, war, until we have victory over those who oppose the motherfucking Thug, especially police." His mentality may not be sound, but it sounds good. (RS 812)KRIS EX