Bones - Original Motion Picture Houndtrack
Hip-hop's favorite old soul has come up with a clever concept--a movie soundtrack that actually references the film it supports. Similar to what James Brown achieved with his work on the classic blaxploitation flickBlack Caesar, Cali king Snoop Dogg has crafted a richly atmospheric piece that complements its cinematic counterpart, yet successfully exists as a separate entity. Unlike many hip-hop-oriented movie soundtracks, there are no lazy performances to be found here. Everyone puts in a good effort, butBonesis really Snoop's show. The CD, featuringKurupt,Cypress Hill,D-12, andBad Azz, among others, tells the story of Jimmy Bones, a neighborhood legend who has returned from the dead to wreak vengeance on his murderers. The opening track, "Birth of Jimmy Bones," is a moody spoken-word intro that allows Snoop's '70s-styled macked-out persona to shine, and "Jimmy's Revenge," a smoothed riff on James Brown's "Big Payback," invites further comparison between the original Godfather of Soul and rap's reigning Doggfather.--Rebecca Levine