Mo Thugs :
The Movement

Release Date: 16 June 2003

Reviewed By: Lewis Garland

1. Intro

2. The Movement

3. Told Chall

4. It Ain't Nottin

5. Do Your Thang

6. Fa' Sho'

7. All Life Long

8. Love Is

9. Tha Land

10. My Dawgs

11. It's Fast

12. Maximum Maximize

13. Smokin' On Information

14. Can You Dig It

15. Dead Wrong

16. Be Free

17. Who You Gonna Run To

18. Thug Finale

Mo Thugs - The Movement

Mo Thugs, an extension of Cleveland's Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, shook the hip-hop world with their platinum selling debut Family Scriptures in 1997 and Gold selling Family Reunion in 1998. However, after the relative obscurity of their third album Mothership the release of The Movement marks a critical moment for the Mo Thugs family history.

The movement bursts into action with the powerful Intro and Title track both hinting that this time Mo Thugs might really have something to say. Unfortunately what they actually have to say is far less engaging. From a lyrical perspective, The Movement yearns for a hefty dose of lyrical Innovation and to be honest a hint of humour wouldn’t go amiss either. I can appreciate that too much innovation doesn’t sell but the only real movement involved in this album is that of the tried and tested Cliché production line.

This having been said, The Movement has not reached No.1 in the US Billboard Rap Chart for nothing. Smokin on Information, featuring a guest appearance from Snoop Dogg is a seriously infectious tune whilst, after an introduction which sounds like a GCSE production of the phantom of the opera, E-Mortal Thugs' My Dawgs also proves one to catch our darker imaginations.

Meanwhile Felecia's soulful vocals provide a valuable break from the testosterone driven Album fillers such as Fa' Sho and it ain't Nottin. Her Voice eases us through the laid back Do your Thang and hits its peak on All life long, a soothing tune in which she shares vocal duties with husband Layzie Bone to create a track worthy of its first Single off the album status. Whilst All life long introduces us to a more sentimental side of the Mo thugs family the following track love is sees this sentiment deteriorate into mindless slush. Marking one of the lowest points of the album Love is at times comes dangerously close to boy band territory and really should never have been allowed near the final edit of The Movement.

Whether due to the competing talents within Mo Thugs itself or the input of too many producers The Movement often feels like a hip-hop compilation. The ability to shift effortlessly between high-octane Gangsta Rap like My Dawgs and Soulful duets such as All life Long, proves that Mo Thugs do have the talent, unfortunately the diverse attributes of the individual 'Thugs' often work against the cohesion of the album as a whole. Whilst few tracks warrant the indignity of the skip button, it seems equally fair to say that not one of the 18 servings comes close to rivaling Mo Thugs breakthrough single Ghetto cowboy and if the Mo Thugs are ever to fulfill their early commercial potential, then a vast improvement is needed on this fairly mediocre offering.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Favorite 3 tracks:

7. All Life Long
10. My Dawgs
13. Smokin' on Information

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