5th Dogg

In the world of rap today, we don't see many MCs straying from the pack and trying to come with something new. Many artists feel the need to follow a strict guideline that they believe will help promote record sales and popularity. This pursuit of fame and riches has lead hip hop into the state it is in today.

The year was 1993 and hip hop was getting more popular than ever before. As dirt poor as they come, Bone Thugs auditioned for Eazy-E over the phone to no avail. After being turned down once, the group had been handed a second chance and convinced Eazy to listen to them back stage at one of his shows. With a one of a kind style, BTH managed to captivate audiences and sold over 2 million copies of their debut LP, Creepin' On Ah Come Up in 1994. The rest is history.

Layzie's brother, Flesh-N-Bone, made minor appearances on their first 2 albums because he didn't sign with the Ruthless record label. Using the groups success, he was given an opportunity to release his debut solo album, "T.H.U.G.S.". Although receiving poor album reviews and selling less records than anticipated, Flesh shows us more of a spiritual side than any of the other Bone Thugs at the time. Without the exceptional production of Dj-Uneek, this album displays an individual sound that had not been witnessed from the Bone Thugs in the past. Treading the line of being spiritual all the way to being a murderous felon is somewhat questionable. However, with his diverse talent and flow, that minor detail can be easily overlooked. With various producers, mainly Damon Elliot, you can expect a broad array of songs, from jazzy hooks to g-funk style base lines.

Also, I highly recommend checking out his second compilation album, From Cleveland To Cali. On this record he features some very talented unknown MCs and incorporates more of a west coast feel. But somewhere along the line, Flesh fell off(see: 5th Dog Let Loose). This may have been due to his ongoing trouble with the law. Weeks before his latest album, 5th Dogg Let Loose, was released, Flesh-N-Bone was sentenced to an 11 year prison sentence for threatening a friend with an Ak-47. Flesh is scheduled to be released on parole some time in 2008.

BNTHCentral.com - Flesh-N-Bone
Answers.com - Information
Rapnews.net - Biography

Track-Listing:
1-Prayer Intro
2-T.H.U.G.S.
3-Reverend Run Sermon(f. Run of Run D.M.C)
4-World So Cruel(f. Run of Run D.M.C)
5-Northcoast(f. Layzie Bone)
6-Nothin But Da Bone In Me
7-The Silence Isn't Over
8-Crazy By The Flesh
9-51/50 Skit
10-Mystic Spirits
11-Coming 2 Serve You(f. B.G Knocc Out)
12-The Killin Skit
13-Live Soil(f. Afta Maff)
14-Sticks And Stones
15-Empty The Clip(f. Afta Maff)
16-No Mercy(f. Fat Joe/Big Punisher)
17-Playa Hater(f. Layzie Bone/Krayzie Bone)

T.H.U.G.S.-Download
T.H.U.G.S.-Buy