Thug on da Line

by Jon AzpiriAfter listening to Krayzie Bone on his second solo album, Thug on da Line, you get the sense that he is dealing with some personal demons. After years of personal and professional strife, Krayzie raps about his frustration with thug life in his patented singsong style on tracks like "Can't Hustle 4 Ever" and "Talk to Myself." There is some room for positivity, however, as he demonstrates on the sunny track "I Don't Know What" and "Rollin' Up Some Mo'," a playful ode to reefer that remakes Lou Bega's inconsequential hit "Mambo #5." Despite all of Krayzie's introspection about the thug life, he must not be too tired of it considering that nearly one-third of the tracks on the album have the work "thug" in the title. It seems that he's torn between celebrating thug life and wanting to escape from it. That conflict makes Thug on da Line a compelling listen.