Alpha And Omega (Explicit Version)

Album review

While his former crew, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, turned to religion once in a while and mysticism on occasion, Bizzy Bone's solo career has been heavy with prophecy and sky-gazing wonder. It's driven him for a while now, but on Alpha and Omega, it has set him on fire. Lyrically, this is the best Bizzy Bone album, but the subject matter and numerous references to Bizzy's posse, the 7th Sign Regime, are the dividing line -- hard to follow if you're not a fan, rich with insight if you're down. All of the guests on the album are 7th Sign Regime members, and if it weren't for Biggie, 2Pac, and Left Eye getting their shoutouts on "Thug World" -- an inspired interpolation of Slick Rick's "Hey Young World" -- Alpha and Omega would exist entirely outside the world of mainstream hip-hop. If you even have a passing interest in Bizzy, go right out and pick it up. The urgency of the record is exciting and there's a ton of Bone prose to devour. Is it worth starting here for a newbie? Check fiery numbers like "Capo," "My Niggaz," and the extremely funky "Sit Back Relax," and you'll probably be swayed. That Bizzy doesn't give two flips about current trends and what people think makes him both unique and somewhat unapproachable. Although Alpha and Omega is his strongest album yet, it follows a cryptic rule book and requires a lot of effort for non-7th Sign Regime members. [Alpha and Omega was initially released with a bonus DVD including a compelling 40-minute documentary on the life of Bizzy Bone.]

© David Jeffries /TiVo