album o' the day

Bone Thugs N Harmony
"Creepin On Ah Come Up"
(Ruthless)

Five years before Nelly entered pop music's conscious and a few years after Chicago's Twista released his debut album, it was Cleveland's Bone Thugs N Harmony who introduced this mish-mash of quick-tongued/singing rap style to most of the United States. Though Three 6 Mafia disputes that they originated this style, it's undeniable that Bone put it out to the masses before anybody else.

"Creepin On Ah Come Up" is a concise group of songs and the last album that Eazy-E appeared on before he died (not counting his posthumous solo releases). There's production by NWA's famed DJ, Yella, but interestingly enough, the best songs are produced by the formerly unheard of DJ Uneek, who lent his ears to the lead single "Thuggish Ruggish Bone."

Bone's following albums would all lack the hunger of this debut, and to this day, the status of Bone is often changing so it's hard to pin down whether the group is still a cohesive unit. Maybe someday, there will be a real Bone album again and not just some ill-advised solo releases or partial group reunions.