{{More citations needed|date=July 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = The Art of War | type = studio | artist = [[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony]] | cover = BTNHAOW.jpg | alt = | released = July 29, 1997 | recorded = 1996–1997 | venue = | studio = U-Neek's Workshop ([[Los Angeles, California]]) | genre = {{flatlist| * [[Hip hop]] * [[Hardcore hip-hop|hardcore rap]] * [[gangsta rap]] * [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] }} | length = 121:14 | label = * [[Ruthless Records|Ruthless]] * [[Relativity Records|Relativity]] | producer = * Tomica Wright ([[Executive producer#Music|exec]].) * [[DJ U-Neek]] | prev_title = [[E. 1999 Eternal]] | prev_year = 1995 | next_title = [[The Collection (album series)|Collection Volume One & Two]] | next_year = 1998/2000 | misc = {{Singles | name = The Art of War | type = studio | single1 = [[Look into My Eyes (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony song)|Look Into My Eyes]] | single1date = June 3, 1997 | single2 = Thug Luv | single2date = August 23, 1997 | single3 = Body Rott | single3date = August 23, 1997 | single4 = [[If I Could Teach the World]] | single4date = October 7, 1997
}} }} '''''The Art of War''''' is the third studio album by American [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] group [[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony]] which was released on July 29, 1997. The album sold 394,000 units in its first week of release. The album was certified quadruple Platinum by the [[RIAA]] in June 1998. It was the first double-album from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. The album included the platinum-single "[[Look into My Eyes (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony song)|Look into My Eyes]]", and the gold-single "[[If I Could Teach the World]]". The whole album is produced by [[DJ U-Neek]].
A [[sequel]] to the album, ''[[The Art of War: World War III|The Art of War World War 3]]'', was released on December 10, 2013.
==Singles== "[[Look into My Eyes (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony song)|Look Into My Eyes]]" was the first commercial and radio single from ''The Art of War''. "Look Into My Eyes" debuted and peaked at number 4 on [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and [[Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs]] then debuted and peaked at number 2 on [[Hot Rap Songs]] and spent 20 weeks on ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs and spent 35 weeks on [[Hot Rap Songs]]. Later, two more two more radio singles were released: "Thug Luv", which ended up charting at number 60 on [[R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay]] for 3 weeks, and "Body Rott", which didn't appear on any charts. The final commercial single off the album, "[[If I Could Teach The World]]" peaked at number 27 on Hot 100, at number 20 on Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs and number 3 on Hot Rap Songs.
==Commercial performance== ''The Art of War'' had sold 394,000 copies in its first week and went along to debut at number 1 on [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} It dropped to number two on both during the second week, after the release of [[Sean Combs|Puff Daddy]] & [[Bad Boy Records|The Family]]'s ''[[No Way Out (Puff Daddy album)|No Way Out]]'' while selling 183,000 copies in its second week to Diddy's 223,000 copies sold.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
==Background== The album was rumored to be called ''DNA Level C'' which is Cleveland backwards. ''The Art of War'' was created largely as a response to rappers deemed "Clones" (copycats) by the group. Such rappers included [[Do or Die (group)|Do or Die]], [[Crucial Conflict]], [[Twista]] & [[Speedknot Mobstaz|The Speedknots]] & [[Three 6 Mafia]].
In the wake of his father's death and Tomica Wright now heading [[Ruthless Records|Ruthless]], [[Bizzy Bone]] was not happy, and thus did not appear for many shows or promotions. Now calling the shots, many tracks were altered by Tomica Wright, attempting to head the group into a new direction. Such tracks include Thug Luv with [[Sylk-E. Fyne]], If I Could Teach the World, Friends, Ready 4 War, Handle The Vibe with [[Flesh-n-Bone]] and many others. While the group appeared at Sprite Nite on BET, Keenan Ivory Wayans (with Bizzy), and several other promotions, their tour began to lag without Bizzy.
==Music and lyrics== In "Ready 4 War", Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (along with Maje$ty) called out Crucial Conflict directly by name, with Maje$ty even stating, "I'll watch you ride the rodeo straight to the bottom". The tracks "Handle The Vibe," "Look Into My Eyes," "Body Rott," "Ready 4 War," "Hatin' Nation," Wasteland Warriors," "All Original," "Whom Die They Lie" and "U Ain't Bone" can all be considered as diss tracks.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
They also changed the name of "Friends" for the cassette version to "How Many of Us Have Them". [[2Pac]] wrote his verse for "Thug Luv" in 1 minute and 51 seconds as confirmed by Bizzy Bone.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=the-art-of-war-r282062|pure_url=yes}} |title=The Art of War Bone Thugs-N-Harmony |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=August 5, 1997 |access-date=December 23, 2011}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | rev2score = B<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine|last=Considine |first=J.D. |author-link=J.D. Considine |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,288982,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421160824/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,288982,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 21, 2009 |title=The Art of War Review |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=August 8, 1997 |access-date=June 25, 2012}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' | rev3score = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Coker|first=Cheo Hodari|author-link=Cheo Hodari Coker|date=July 27, 1997|title=Record Rack: Bone Thugs Fires a Fierce Double Volley in 'War'|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-bone-thugs-review/151614445/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|magazine=[[Los Angeles Times]]|page=58|access-date=July 19, 2024}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' | rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Morales|first=Ed|date=September 4, 1997|issue=768|title=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – The Art of War|department=Recordings|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|page=68}}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' | rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA92 |title=The new Rolling Stone album guide - Nathan Brackett, Christian David Hoard - Google Books |isbn=9780743201698 |access-date=June 25, 2012|last1=Brackett |first1=Nathan |last2=Hoard |first2=Christian David |year=2004 }}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[Smash Hits]]'' | rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|first=John|last=Hindmarch|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/smashhits90s/36342311322/in/album-72157684874253244/|title=Albums|work=[[Smash Hits]]|date=July 30, 1997|page=61|access-date=December 6, 2024}}</ref> | rev7 = ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' | rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Burke|first=Miguel|date=October 1997|issue=97|title=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – The Art of War|department=Record Report|magazine=[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]|page=174|location=New York}}</ref> | rev8 = ''[[USA Today]]'' | rev8score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Jones|first=Steve|date=July 29, 1997|title='Art of War' both sharp and slick|magazine=[[USA Today]]|page=}}</ref> }}
''The Art of War'' received mostly positive reviews from music critics, with some critics calling the album sonically superior to its predecessor, ''E. 1999 Eternal''. Others criticized the album's length and repetitive disses toward other rappers. [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of [[AllMusic]] said, "While the group is capable of producing a catchy single, they don't have the personality to sustain an album, much less a double-disc set. By the end of the second disc, they have repeated all of their ideas at least five times apiece, and only a few of those ideas resulted in actual songs in the first place."<ref name="AllMusic" /> J.D. Considine of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' stated, "Lest the smooth sound of 'Look Into My Eyes' leaves you thinking the Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are really just pop-friendly softies, this 28-song double disc, The Art of War, offsets its slow-and-sweet numbers with bloodthirsty workouts like the shotgun-spiked 'Thug Luv'. But after two hours of these singsong melodies, War seems more like a siege than a surgical strike."<ref name="EW" />
==Legacy== Krayzie Bone said in a 2015 interview with ''[[HipHopDX]]'' that ''The Art of War'' was Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's best album, even better than ''E. 1999 Eternal''. Compared to ''Eternal'', whose songs he claimed were planned and written years before they were recorded, ''The Art of War'' consisted entirely of newer material that he and the other group members created in the studio.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} Rapper [[Wiz Khalifa]] included the album in his list of 25 favorite albums.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ahmed|first1=Insanul|title=Wiz Khalifa's 25 Favorite Rap Albums|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/insanul-ahmed/wiz-khalifa-25-favorite-albums|website=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|date=March 29, 2011|access-date=July 19, 2024}}</ref>
==Track listing== All tracks produced by [[DJ U-Neek]] {{track listing | headline = World War 1 | extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Retaliation (Intro) | writer1 = {{hlist|[[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony]]|[[DJ U-Neek]]}} | length1 = 2:21
| title2 = Handle the Vibe | writer2 = {{hlist|Antoinette Colandreo|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length2 = 4:40
| title3 = [[Look into My Eyes (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony song)|Look into My Eyes]] | writer3 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length3 = 4:19
| title4 = Body Rott | writer4 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length4 = 5:01
| title5 = It's All Mo' Thug | writer5 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length5 = 5:12
| title6 = Ready 4 War | note6 = featuring Maje$ty | writer6 = {{hlist|Maje$ty|Marilyn McLeod|[[Pam Sawyer]]|BTNH|U-Neek|Cedric Feaster Jr.}} | length6 = 4:36
| title7 = Ain't Nothin' Changed (Everyday Thang Part II) | writer7 = {{hlist|Barry J. Eastmond|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length7 = 4:43
| title8 = Clog Up Yo Mind | writer8 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length8 = 5:01
| title9 = It's All Real | note9 = performed by Krayzie Bone | writer9 = {{hlist|[[Krayzie Bone]]|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length9 = 5:08
| title10 = Hard Times (Interlude) | writer10 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length10 = 2:49
| title11 = Mind of a Souljah | note11 = performed by Layzie Bone | writer11 = {{hlist|[[Layzie Bone]]|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length11 = 4:39
| title12 = [[If I Could Teach The World|If I Could Teach the World]] | writer12 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length12 = 4:24
| title13 = Family Tree | writer13 = {{hlist|K. McCord|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length13 = 5:49 }} {{track listing | headline = World War 2 | extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Mo' Thug (Intro) | writer1 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length1 = 1:40
| title2 = Thug Luv | note2 = featuring [[2Pac]] | writer2 = {{hlist|2Pac|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length2 = 5:08
| title3 = Hatin' Nation | writer3 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length3 = 5:12
| title4 = 7 Sign | note4 = performed by Bizzy Bone, featuring Maje$ty | writer4 = {{hlist|[[Bizzy Bone]]|BTNH|U-Neek|Cedric Feaster Jr.}} | length4 = 4:48
| title5 = Wasteland Warriors | note5 = featuring Souljah Boy | writer5 = {{hlist|Souljah Boy|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length5 = 4:28
| title6 = Neighborhood Slang (Interlude) | writer6 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length6 = 1:29
| title7 = U Ain't Bone | writer7 = BTNH | length7 = 5:04
| title8 = Get Cha Thug On | note8 = performed by Wish Bone, featuring Tre | writer8 = {{hlist|[[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony|Wish Bone]]|U-Neek}} | length8 = 4:02
| title9 = All Original | writer9 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length9 = 4:58
| title10 = Blaze It (Interlude) | writer10 = {{hlist|[[Larry Blackmon]]|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length10 = 2:08
| title11 = Let the Law End | writer11 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length11 = 3:36
| title12 = Whom Die They Lie (Bonus) | writer12 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length12 = 4:24
| title13 = How Many of Us Have Them (Friends) | writer13 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length13 = 5:10
| title14 = Evil Paradise | writer14 = {{hlist|[[Laid Back|Tim Stahl]]|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length14 = 4:48
| title15 = Mo' Thug Family Tree (featuring [[Mo Thugs Family]]) | writer15 = {{hlist|BTNH|U-Neek}} | length15 = 5:37 }}
;Sample credits '''World War 1''' *"Handle the Vibe" contains a sample of "Love's Gonna Get'cha (Material Love)" as performed by [[Boogie Down Productions]] *"It's All Mo' Thug" contains an interpolation of "[[Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight]]" as performed by [[Isaac Hayes]] *"Ready 4 War" contains an interpolation of "Love Hangover" as performed by [[Diana Ross]] *"Ain't Nothin Changed (Everyday Thang Part 2)" contains an interpolation of "Love Is Just a Touch Away" as performed by [[Freddie Jackson]] *"Hard Times" contains an interpolation of "Love... Can Be So Wonderful" as performed by [[the Temprees]] *"Mind of a Souljah" contains a sample of "Promise Me" by [[Luther Vandross]] *"Family Tree" contains an interpolation of "If You Play Your Cards Right" by Kevin Mccord
'''World War 2''' *"Blaze It" contains a sample of "Why Have I Lost You" as performed by [[Cameo (band)|Cameo]] *"Evil Paradise" contains an interpolation of "White Horse" as performed by [[Laid Back]] *"Thug Luv" contains a sample of "Friday the 13th Original Theme" by Harry Manfredini *"U Ain't Bone" contains an interpolation of "Ring the Alarm" as performed by [[Tenor Saw]] *"Whom Die They Lie" contains an interpolation of "[[East 1999]]" as performed by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony *"Friends" contains an interpolation of "[[Friends (Whodini song)|Friends]]" as performed by [[Whodini]] All samples here are as listed in the ''Art of War'' booklet.
===Appearances=== * [[Krayzie Bone]] appears on 25 tracks. * [[Layzie Bone]] appears on 22 tracks. * [[Bizzy Bone]] appears on 18 tracks. * [[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony|Wish Bone]] appears on 15 tracks. * [[Flesh-n-Bone]] appears on 6 tracks.
The vinyl release omits the tracks 1, 6 and 12 on WW2.
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1997) ! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |- {{album chart|BillboardCanada|10|artist=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony|rowheader=true|access-date=August 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|30|artist=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony|album=The Art of War|rowheader=true|access-date=August 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Finland|37|artist=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony|album=The Art of War|rowheader=true|access-date=August 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|France|44|artist=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony|album=The Art of War|rowheader=true|access-date=August 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Germany|38|id=2580|artist=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony|album=The Art of War|rowheader=true|access-date=August 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|New Zealand|4|artist=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony|album=The Art of War|rowheader=true|access-date=August 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Sweden|50|artist=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony|album=The Art of War|rowheader=true|access-date=August 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|44|artist=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony|album=The Art of War|rowheader=true|access-date=August 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|UK2|42|date=19970803|rowheader=true|access-date=August 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|UKR&B|8|date=19970803|rowheader=true|access-date=September 29, 2023}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony|rowheader=true|access-date=August 24, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony|rowheader=true|access-date=August 24, 2021}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1997) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1997/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1997|work=Billboard|access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> | 47 |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1997/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1997|work=Billboard|access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> | 25 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|artist=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony|title=Art of War|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=1997}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=New Zealand|artist=Bone Thugs-N-Harmony|title=The Art of War|award=Gold|relyear=1997|id=1997-09-12|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=1997}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Bone Thugs 'N Harmony|title=The Art of War|award=Platinum|number=4|multidisc=2|relyear=1997|certyear=1998|refname=riaa}} {{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
==See also== *[[List of number-one albums of 1997 (U.S.)]] *[[List of number-one R&B albums of 1997 (U.S.)]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r282062|pure_url=yes}} allmusic.com]
{{BTNH}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Art of War, The}} [[Category:Ruthless Records albums]] [[Category:Bone Thugs-n-Harmony albums]] [[Category:1997 albums]] [[Category:G-funk albums]]