Krayzie Bone Chasing The Devil Review

Krayzie Bone Chasing the Devil Review
Chasing the Devil is the 4th official solo from Cleveland native, and Bone Thugs frontman, Krayzie Bone. The title of this album, Chasing the Devil, represents how people chase after money, fame, material things, women, sex, etc instead of focusing on the things that truly matter, and improving themselves. At least that’s what I gathered from the themes of each song, and the cover artwork for the album. It’s a very deep album, and I think Krayzie gets the point across throughout the album. After about a 10 year wait for this album, I’d say after a few good listens, it was worth the wait.
The album starts off, after an intro, with what is easily my favorite song on the album, “Hold On To Ya Soul.” This is the kind of epic feeling that this album needed to open with. When you wait for one of your favorite artists to drop a much anticipated album, this is the type of song you want to open it. Everything about this song is strong, from the beat, the message of surviving and not letting the Devil win the battle of good verses evil, the chorus, the breakdown with the gospel-esque singing at the end, I give this song two thumbs up. I absolutely love it.
KB follows up this song with Cloudy, a song about his struggles, and ultimately being down and trying to get himself out of a funk, and hoping to see the sun shine again. Weapons of Mass Distraction, a song about basically, the leaders of our country, and for that matter, the world, distracting us from what’s really going on behind the scenes and forming a new world order. The Money, The Power, which discusses everyone’s obsession with those two things, and the lengths they’re willing to go to get it, so that they can have all the material things they’d like to have, and be powerful. However, the album takes a turn in a different direction with, “The Devil’s Deal.”
The Devil’s Deal is the transitioning point of the album in which KB tells the story of basically, selling his soul to the devil in order to achieve the things he wants in life. It’s a very good story told over music, and one of the best I’ve probably ever heard from Krayzie throughout his career. The interviews describing the scene at the end of the song add to the effects of the lyrics. But if the first portion of the album is about Krayzie’s struggles and trying to get to the top, The Devil’s Deal transitions to his rise. Over the next few songs, KB breaks down everything that comes with the rise to fame and getting all the money and power you thought you wanted, which as it turns out, isn’t exactly how he imagined it.
KB eventually seems to realize the errors of his ways and begins to search for redemption, after a skit entitled, “Heart to Heart,” which depicts a spouse leaving him, and taking their children with her because he has become addicted with the fame and his career. Even before that, he seems to realize that if he doesn’t leave the game, the game’s gonna kill him in the song, “A Wise Fool.” KB spends the rest of the album searching for forgiveness and also an escape route to ultimately save his soul. Throughout this journey, we get a few guest features from fellow Bone Thugs, Flesh -N- Bone, and Bizzy Bone. Everything is very melodic to end the album, with almost more of an R&B vibe as we get to the end of his journey. One quick note, a friend of mine said that on the song, “Ride for Me,” which is about KB questioning if those who claim they care for him, really care for him or his money, it sounds like it’d be the perfect opportunity for a Nappy Roots feature. I must say I agree, as I could definitely hear Skinny Deville over that beat. Here’s hoping for a remix.
The only area of the album that I don’t like is the last skit, “So Called Friends,” which is an acapella by Caine, who I guess is signed to Krayzie’s label. While the lyrics and delivery of the song by Caine is fine, I just don’t feel like it fit in the overall theme of the album, and didn’t really add to the way the album ends, or the story being told. Just kinda seems like filler in an album that didn’t have any up until that point.
At the end of Chasing the Devil, you really feel like you’ve gone on a long journey with Krayzie. I don’t know for sure if he meant it to be, but it’s kind of a concept album in which KB tells a story from beginning to end, with his struggles, his rise to the top, his fall, and redemption. The more I’ve listened to this album, the more I love it. Aside from the Caine feature I spoke of earlier, this is an album that I could easily see myself playing from beginning to end. Rumor has it that this is part one of a three set final album. If that’s true, then I can’t wait to hear what he has in store for us next. I give it a solid 4 out of 5.

See the video Review here: https://youtu.be/PwiFDHmfX84

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