In sound and feel, Lyrical Paraphernalia — Volume 3 of Krayzie Bone’s street album series, The Fixtape — embodies some of the most resolute characteristics of not only his solo career, but of post-BTNHResurrection Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Consisting primarily of new spins on popular beats by other artists, the harmonic, rapid-fire flow with melodic, shifting cadences and an underlying spirituality ingrained since the group’s inception in 1991 is ever present throughout.
Opener, “Scrape The Block” finds the Cleveland, Ohio Emcee playing Robin Hood of the hood, kicking street logic over the beat from Cam’ron’s “Losin’ Weight.” Lines like “Harassing you / Just give me the cash or we gonna see what this here mag can do / When bullets advance at you” and “My warning shots produce victims” are not only a throwback to Krayzie’s Thug Mentality days, but are also the only overtly violent rhymes without reason on the album. With the exception of brief topical detours to opine on his unwillingness to be a sugar daddy (“Aint Gon Save Em”) and the inevitable complications that occur when a woman “Collapses [your] economy” (“Whatcha Gon Do”), the remainder of LP is heavily weighted in spirituality and introspection.
KB’s angst injected suicidal thoughts on “Suicide” are visceral enough to withstand it’s annoying hook and “One Life’s” depiction of a young man’s “decision to move with the criminals / Do what the killers do” and a young girl who’s “Thirteen going on her fourth abortion / No remorse for orphans” resonate enough to appreciate the track despite the fact that KB falls noticeably short of the standard Nas sets on the original version, “One Mic.”
“Hard To Let Go” is a solemn interlude-like cut leading into “What Have I Become (Troubled)” where Krayzie speaks to God, regretting the repercussions of the “struggle in the city life.” “I’m tired of being broke / Living with the poor / Sleeping on the floor / Eating whatever I stole / That’s me running up in the liquor store / Willing to the let this pistol smoke / Oh you think this is a joke? / Hurry up and get the dough / Lord what have I become? / What have I done?” “My Street Blues” and “Let It All Go” feel like quintessential, new era BTNH, enlisting his fellow Bone comrades to assist in addressing the socio-political climate that breeds crime and violence in America’s roughest neighborhoods, trading bars back and forth on the latter, showing glimpses of the chemistry they’ve maintained for nearly twenty years. And “What Have We Done,” with it’s Michael Jackson vocals and “Earth Song” sample finds all five members kicking verses on the degenerative state of the world as a whole in a fashion reminiscent of The Art Of Wars “If I Could Teach The World”.
From mic to plug, Lyrical Paraphernalia is a sleek listen as consistent in it’s brooding beat selections as it is in it’s classic BTNH harmonic delivery and spirituality. For the most part, Krayzie Bone succeeds in providing fresh spins on previously used production while still adding insight into his life today. “Conversations By Myself” is the best example as KB questions why he hasn’t garnered greater respect from the industry. “Saying that you a legend / Then why do they treat you like a peasant / Like you ain’t relevant / When you know your flow is prevalent / Why why why / All these other niggas getting paid from what you made / They elevate but you seem to stay on the pave / Stuck as a slave.” Not only is the track as introspective as any other on the album, but Krayzie’s assertion that his “flow is prevalent” alludes Bone’s acclaimed delivery and the criticism received because of it’s average lyrics.
Like previous offerings, Lyrical Paraphernalia — through Krayzie’s flow and shifting harmonies that meld perfectly with any beat — is sonically appealing enough to rock right as background music on any day of the week. But once the lyrics are dissected, it’s rare to find a stanza that matches the impressive nature of the way it’s delivered, leaving a void in it’s potential impact and replay value. Although LP is possibly the best representation of a matured Krayzie Bone’s ability to craft quality songs without remaking the raucous, 99 mph crime sprees seen on Thug Mentality while still embodying the characteristics that resonate to Bone fans. In the end, it’s another archetype of the Bone paradigm: dope delivery, lyrically mediocre.
This is a fixtape not an album. Krayzie “Jackson” is a MC on another level than most artist. His delivery, lyrics, and harmonizing is unmatched. He maybe the most underated MC in the game. Like all of his solo projects, whether fixtapes or albums, this is cold. The most underrated MC’s in the game are: Krayzie Bone, Mos Def, Z-ro, Bizzy Bone, Trae, Bun B, Devin the Dude, Nas, Dead Prez, Jay Electronica, and Talib Kweli just to name a few. Keep
This is a fixtape not an album. Krayzie “Jackson” is a MC on another level than most artist. His delivery, lyrics, and harmonizing is unmatched. He maybe the most underated MC in the game. Like all of his solo projects, whether fixtapes or albums, this is cold. The most underrated MC’s in the game are: Krayzie Bone, Mos Def, Z-ro, Bizzy Bone, Trae, Bun B, Devin the Dude, Nas, Dead Prez, Jay Electronica, and Talib Kweli just to name a few. Keep it TRILL
Not good…
The review lost all credibility in the final sentence – to associate Krayzie Bone with lyrical mediocrity is beyond ridiculous.
legend another great album
I am a Krayzie Bone fan, haven’t listened to this yet though. But co-sign to the fullest with aesupreme1.
Dude isn’t calling Krayzie mediocre, but maybe it’s mediocre how he’s challenging himself on this.
When I see dudes selling CDs with stolen beats I think it shows you their m.o. from jump.
was a bone fan, always will be a fan, Krazyie bone can b on any track and sound good
once again @thattrue2u. its true. this is a fixtape. anything goes. dnt forget all his awesome ablums. dnt deny the fact that he blew u away on songs like ‘getchu twisted’ ‘mangled’. ‘Krayzie Bone’ nuff said
The “fixtape” may be so so but that “what have I become” joint is bangin!
I aint trying to be a killer, Im playing a role
In a movie of life, but its out of control
5 STARS ALL THE WAY JUST LIKE KRAYZIE CD’S SHOULD BE RATED .I WOULD GIVE THIS REVIEW A 3 STAR . THE 5 STARS ARE FOR THE CD ;).
All the way to the top 5 star, best hip hop album of 2010
Krayzie Bone Lyrical Paraphernalia, Volume 3. It’s way over 5 stars, i give it easy 5 star, no questions, Excellent album, best album of 2010 for real….
look i’ve got a life and a wife twice as nice… wana borrow some of this child support, … can i lend you some of this trials in court….
5 Stars easy
Bone 4 Life, 5 stars alive
Best of 2010
hell yeah
I love this album 5 up
0ver 18 years in the game, he still got it 5 from me
my bro asked me to get him this album, and i ended up buying 2 copies one for me and one for him, its a great album/Fixtape
Buy the album if you haven’t, you are missing some quality
it blew me away this album is hot, yeah it’s lyrical content is way better than anything out there, now this is real hip hop. the editor should review this album and give it a 5 star
love this fixtape can’t
wait till the next 1
Nice album
Cop this, N***a’s killig me Niccccccccccce
Bone Thugs is the greatest group of all, Krayzie, Layzie, Bizzy, Wish, Flesh all time best
i think i’m in love with Krayzie Bone, after i listened to this album, i told my girlfriends to go get it, Kray is the realest MC in the Universe
KrayJack does it again. I can’t wait for The Fixtapr 4 and CTD
right on girlfriend (Ann), i’ve been in love with this dude since day one, and i still am, album is greatest MC of all time
idk man who ever wrote this must of been high on crack i happen to think the lyrics are great, deep and with meaning the 3 componets that all rappers 2day lack in their songs.
editor is a clown. the only thing that holds this cd back is its 11 tracks long but its 11 bangers
editor is a bum
This album is the greatest album of all time, it deserves serious awards, and yeah it is the most lyrical album that hip hop has seen in a very long while
The editor is some shallow person, i can guess the editor likes Soulja Boy kinda music with only one line the whole song/track, with that said, Krayzie Bone should be given an award for the best lyricist of all time
Lyricist of the year, hot album
people underrate Bone thugs, this album is easily the best album of 2010, Krayzie Bone still puts out good music
The editor should go cry in a corner, Krayzie killed every track
worth every dime, i can see price per dollar and its totally worth it.
Real Hip Hop A million stars to this if i could rate more
That’s why i love Krayzie, he’s got good music
I’m a cover girl kray, i love this album
shout out to my n***a Krayzie Bone, rapid fire
this album is greatest this year
adding this to my collection was the best thing i’ve done in a long while
Classic material
quality, quality, quality music
5 Stars
well done
Flows well
lyrical
i play the whole album every morning no skipping tracks
Killa album
Solid album/Fixtape
The life Records, Bone-4-Life
I love this Fixtape
5 to any bone thug
Krayzie Bone is shining, that’s good for all Bone Thugs, at list we know Bone is still there and making quality Music
Whatcha Gon Do For Me, Like I Always for you
Collapsing my economy
Determination is my motivation, patience virtue…..
My warning shots produce victims,,, victims like the editor
hip hop is alive
F**ck the editor this album is da bomb
That’s the spirit Feel, F*ck the director, this album is fire
This album is the greatest 2010 album, Fixtape 1 & 2 were also great, each fixtape brings a different perspective and they all have something uneek
and the crowd went wild, five stars
real n***a, Krayzie did it he is the realest
my word its fire
against all odds, despit the editor’s mediocre review. The world loves the album.
well done
Cleveland Rocks
The Life Records, Thugs for Life
Pick it up, the album, songs like Ain’t Gona Save Em
Scrap The Block>>>>>>>> all tracks are excelent
On my way to the store
Two more copies, this album is fire
No skipping
…..Like i always do for you
What Have We Done, Look What We’ve Done
Let It All Go
What Have I Become (Trouble)
Suicide, it’s a suicide,…….
Krayzie got that great flow to vibe with. This ep is tight, surprised me.
ROSA ACOSTA & D.STEPHENS video at http://www.wapproved.com
no way jose
a solid 4 stars, couse despite being so short all songs are straight fire!
stand out tracks
*Conversation by Myself
*Let it Go
ps: im still waitin on a review to bizzys new album! step ya game Dx that album is also a great one!
*One Life
i messed up on the final part, one life should be on the stand out tracks
Lord what have I become, what have I done…