The Art of War is the third studio album by rap 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", and the gold-single "If I Could Teach the World". The whole album is produced by DJ U-Neek. 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, Crucial Conflict, Twista & The Speedknots, Bone Killas, Tommy Wright III & Three 6 Mafia). In "Ready 4 War," Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (along with Mr. Majesty) called out Crucial Conflict directly by name, with Majesty even stating, "I'll watch you ride the rodeo straight to the bottom". In "U ain't Bone", Layzie Bone raps a line similar to one from MC Lyte's "10% dis". MC lyte: "Beat biter! Dope style taker! Tell you to your face you ain't nuttin but a faker!" Layzie Bone: "They beat biters, dope-style takers When I see you face-to-face My nigga, I'm a treat you like a hater"
In the wake of his father's death and Tomica Wright now heading 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 For War 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. They also changed the name of "Friends" for the cassette version to "How Many of Us Have Them". The first single for this album was Look Into My Eyes, which was also on the Batman & Robin soundtrack. The video did not feature Bizzy or Flesh. The next single was "If I Could Teach the World". Bizzy did not appear in this video either. Thug Luv and Body Rott were also released to radio as singles.
World War 1
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Retaliation (Intro)" Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, DJ U-Neek U-Neek 2:21
2. "Handle the Vibe" Antoinette Colandreo, BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 4:40
3. "Look into My Eyes" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 4:19
4. "Body Rott" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 5:01
5. "It's All Mo' Thug" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 5:12
6. "Ready 4 War" (featuring Maje$ty) Majesty, Marilyn McLeod, Pam Sawyer, BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 4:36
7. "Ain't Nothin' Changed (Everyday Thang Part II)" Barry J. Eastmond, BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 4:43
8. "Clog Up Yo Mind" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 5:01
9. "It's All Real" Krayzie Bone, BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 5:08
10. "Hard Times" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 2:49
11. "Mind of a Souljah" Layzie Bone, BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 4:39
12. "If I Could Teach the World" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 4:24
13. "Family Tree" K. McCord, BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 5:49
World War 2
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Mo' Thug" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 1:40
2. "Thug Luv" (featuring 2Pac) 2Pac, BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 5:08
3. "Hatin' Nation" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 5:12
4. "7 Sign" (featuring Maje$ty) Bizzy Bone, BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 4:48
5. "Wasteland Warriors" (featuring Souljah Boy) Souljah Boy, BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 4:28
6. "Neighborhood Slang" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 1:29
7. "U Ain't Bone" BTNH U-Neek 5:04
8. "Get Cha Thug On" Wish Bone, U-Neek U-Neek 4:02
9. "All Original" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 4:58
10. "Blaze It" Larry Blackmon, BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 2:08
11. "Let the Law End" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 3:36
12. "Whom Die They Lie" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 4:24
13. "Friends" BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 5:10
14. "Evil Paradise" Tim Stahl, BTNH, U-Neek U-Neek 4:48
15. "Mo' Thug Family Tree"
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