Rating:
Genre:
Rap
Release Date: 05/08/2007
The title to
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's 2007 comeback album,
Strength & Loyalty, must be a reference to their fans. Despite handing in some forgettable efforts, emptying fans' wallets with too many solo and side projects, and promising new product and not delivering repeatedly,
Bone always got a pass from faithful.
Strength & Loyalty is also too heavy a title for an album so light and slick. Big names like
Mariah Carey,
Akon,
the Game,
Swizz Beatz, and
Twista all command their tracks, unknowingly stealing from a group that used to be instantly identifiable because of their unique sound and style. This 2007 edition of
Bone is missing members
Flesh-N-Bone (thanks to incarceration) and
Bizzy Bone (thanks to his being
Bizzy Bone) and it shows. As a trio
Krayzie,
Layzie, and distant third
Wish are a solid crew, able to deliver good weekend numbers like
"Bump in the Trunk," "Lil Love," and
"C-Town" (they never forget Cleveland) along with polished
gangsta tracks like
"I Tried." In the big picture,
Bizzy and
Flesh are missed, but what's remarkable about
Strength & Loyalty is how it makes the listener forget they're missing while in the moment. Numerous melodious hooks in the easy-rolling
Bone tradition fog the memory, and guest stars are brought in at just the right moments.
Mariah speaks to the commercial possibilities
Bone always had, while
the Game speaks to how they seemed to never leave the streets. Every song is at least solid and the album flows very well, making it one of the better-built efforts from the house of
Bone in nearly a decade. Problem is, this album could have twice the star power and it wouldn't make up for how important
Bizzy's strange voice was for the overall chemistry.
Strength & Loyalty doesn't overcome its challenges; it just sidesteps them and works hard to reward fans for a decade of patience. It's as good as it can be, and better than expected.
~David Jeffries, All Music Guide
Average Review:

  Number of reviews: 2
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A reviewer
from Birmingham,Alabama
Thier best album since E 1999 Eternal.
After releasing their most impressive to date(E 1999 Eternal),Bone Thugs' album have been on a average level.Stength and Loyalty is not as good as E 1999 Eternal,but it is way above a average level.Even though Bone Thugs are missing Flesh-N-Bone and Bizzy Bone, they are still a good group.Strength and Loyalty showcases Bone Thugs'(Bizzy Bone,Layzie Bone,Wish Bone)"strength" and "loyalty".The hottest tracks on the album on the album are "Bump in the Trunk","Flow Motion","C-Town","I Tried","Order My Steps (Dear Lord)",and "Wind Blow".Strength and Loyalty is a album you must have in your collection.

A reviewer
from Chicago,ill
A long awaited articulated awesome piece
I plan on leaving in the middle of work and taking the risk of losing my job to purchase this compact disc. Please note that I work at an f.y.e music and entertainment shop and as inconvenient and reckless as this action may be, I stay a huge bone thugs fan and without hesitation I would buy Strength and Loyalty. Even if Fleshy Bone and Bizzy Bone are missing from the album my confidence in the rest of the crew is and will always be there. They are one of the hardest working groups in the industry and have never stepped down with their music for no-one. Do not forget all the other spectacular line up of artists such as Twista, Akon, Mariah Carey, Swizz Beatz, and more. You can order it, go out and purchase it, or both at the same time. Whatever is best for you, I do sincerely recommend Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's Strength And Loyalty album because it will rock your socks off and brand new opened c.d. packaging smells good. But then play the c.d. in your c.d. player. Trust me, I'm from Chicago. (Not really, like an hour away or something.)