A Song For You [PA]

Performer: Bizzy Bone
Artist: Chris Notez; DMX; Joel Madden; Twista; Jim Jones
Engineer: Dan Green; Daryl D. Green
Producer: A. Jones
Distributor: Select-O-Hits

Notes: Personnel: Chris Notez (vocals). Audio Mixers: Kevin "KD" Davis; Oscar Ramirez. The on-again, off-again Bone Thugs member turns introspective with A SONG FOR YOU. In his trademark rapid-fire, sing-song flow, Bizzy focuses his attention on spiritual matters and the trials and tribulations of everyday life to put together a hip-hop album that is firmly rooted in gospel. On the production side, the beats blend hard-rock guitar lines, frenzied drums, classical piano samples, church bells, and choral vocals. A SONG FOR YOU features guest appearances by Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, Jim Jones, Twista, Chris Notez, and DMX. You can argue about how "eccentric" loose canon Bizzy Bone can be and how it gets in the way of his music, but you can't argue about how his over-prolific release schedule has sadly undermined his better work. Albums come out the rate of two or three a year and on various labels with quality varying wildly, from forgettable to almost there. The year 2008 had already seen one Bizzy album -- the much fiercer Ruthless -- appear by the time Song for You arrived, but this full-length breaks the pattern, becoming the first end-to-end stunner in the rapper's solo career. Part of the reason seems to be Bizzy's love of his new home, the After Platinum label which the rapper mentions repeatedly in a giddy voice not heard since the early days of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. After a hopeful intro, "A Song for You" presents the first truly radio-worthy single the man has released in years with DMX and Chris Notez as guests. Cool crooner Notez also brightens the emotional highlight "Hard Times," which touches upon the old days with the Thugs and how Bizzy's been "Livin on the outside" of the crew's inner circle. Seeing Joel Madden's name on the guest list is a shock, but the bigger surprise is how well the Good Charlotte vocalist fits into the stately world of "I'm the One," a track that could accompany any given heavyweight as he enters the ring. Hooks are plentiful with "Mercy Mary," "I Need You," and a handful of others sticking in the head, plus the production is slicker, more polished, and altogether better than on previous albums. A Song for You might just be a tad more friendly than his cult would desire, but the idea that Bizzy is his own worst enemy gets tossed out the window after this roaring success. Give him the right time and right place, and Bizzy, surprisingly enough, ends up being the right man for the job. ~ David Jeffries

Bizzy Bone (born Byron Anthony McCane II), best known for his tenure with the Cleveland hip-hop outfit Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, has lead an active solo career since the late 1990s. His first solo release, HEAVEN'Z MOVIE, reflected a more eclectic, experimental take on Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's R&B-laced rap. Bizzy continued to explore new musical and personal directions on albums such as 2001's THE GIFT, and 2005's SPEAKING IN TONGUES. An appearance on the television program AMERICA'S MOST WANTED and self-instigated rumors that he was homeless raised controversy, but it didn't slow Bizzy's steady stream of releases. He has reunited with old bandmate Layzie Bone to record two albums under the name THE BONE BROTHERS.

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