Krayzie Bone Albums (8)
'Leathaface the Legends Underground, Pt. 1'
Release Date 3/10/2009
Tracks 12
Label Seas
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Gemini: Good vs. Evil'
Release Date 2/8/2005
Tracks 16
Label Artist Direct BMG
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What The Critics Say
While his Bone Thugs-N-Harmony brother Bizzy continues to live on the fringes of hip-hop, Krayzie goes for the charts while keeping his feet in the hood. Making Twista sound sluggish, Krayzie rattles off one of his most aggressive raps on the opening "Get'chu Twisted," one of the greatest singles ever to come out of the house of Bone. The infectious, Lil Jon-produced single gives way to a fairly tight album, one that's well planned out and just a skit too long. Tracks like "All I'm Hearing" bring back reminders of the sweet soul that Bone could effortlessly ride their raps on, while Wish, Krayzie, and Bizzy's appearance on the "Twisted" remix hints at how hot the proposed reunion by Cleveland's greatest crew will sound. It'll whet any bud smoker's appetite, but the high-quality, Krayzie-only tracks justify any sluggishness the man had agreeing to relive the old days. He just had to get this album out -- or at least that's the way three-quarters of the tracks feel. The inner turmoil hinted at by the album's title is vital and urgent whether Krayzie is crying out for peace in the hood or mercilessly thugging his way to the top. "Let's Live" is his "Crossroads" for a sunny day, while "Mangled" is the vicious number that always seemed to be hiding out in Bone's basement. Lil Jon is the big name here, but Ball'r Records have rounded up an inspired group of B-list producers and laid out the tracks with a good flow. Some weak, sing-songy choruses get worked to death in hopes to re-create the firm handshake "Get'chu Twisted" made with radio. It knocks the album down a peg below the masterstroke that was 2001's Thug on da Line, but it's still an exciting album and worthy of attention. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
After listening to Krayzie Bone on his second solo album, Thug on da Line, you get the sense that he is dealing with some personal demons. After years of personal and professional strife, Krayzie raps about his frustration with thug life in his patented singsong style on tracks like "Can't Hustle 4 Ever" and "Talk to Myself." There is some room for positivity, however, as he demonstrates on the sunny track "I Don't Know What" and "Rollin' Up Some Mo'," a playful ode to reefer that remakes Lou Bega's inconsequential hit "Mambo #5." Despite all of Krayzie's introspection about the thug life, he must not be too tired of it considering that nearly one-third of the tracks on the album have the work "thug" in the title. It seems that he's torn between celebrating thug life and wanting to escape from it. That conflict makes Thug on da Line a compelling listen. ~ Jon Azpiri, All Music Guide
'Thug Mentality 1999'
Release Date 3/23/1999
Tracks 38
Label Relativity
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What The Critics Say
Theoretically, an epic hip-hop album could be compelling, but almost of all of the sweepstake entries are tedious, serving to diminish the artist's music instead of enhancing it. Nowhere was that more true than Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's overwrought third album, The Art of War and, unfortunately, that same sense of hubris characterizes Thug Mentality 1999, the ridiculously inflated debut solo album from Krayzie Bone. Freed from the group setting but not necessarily the members -- who fill some of the obligatory guest slots, along with Bone family members such as Relay -- Krayzie doesn't hesitate to accentuate the already smooth surfaces of his music. Some of these cuts are positively smoove, which stands in direct contrast to the gangstafied lyrics, but that's always been a part of the Bone trademark. In fact, other than the occasional cut that veers toward urban territory, there isn't a whole lot to differentiate this from the average Bone release -- there's just more of it. A lot more of it: 38 tracks, to be precise. Breadth does not necessarily mean depth. Even though there is more depth than there was on The Art of War, there's a whole lot of filler cluttering these two discs, including several tracks that feel as if they're designed to launch developing artists. Krayzie tries to keep it interesting by varying the flow, never putting too many similar tracks next to each other, but who the hell can make it through 38 tracks of this without a breather, even if some cuts are skits? It may be a cliche to say that this double-record would have been much more potent if it was trimmed to a single disc, but that doesn't make it less true, especially since there are enough songs to make a very good record, possibly one of the best things Krayzie has been involved with. It's just hard to discern that for certain in this guise. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
