A Revved-Up Family ‘Reunion’

Mainstream audiences took note of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s distinct brand of sing-song, rapid-fire--and sometimes indecipherable--raps in 1996 with “Tha Crossroads,” the Cleveland contingent’s Grammy-winning tribute to its late mentor and label head, gangsta rap pioneer Eazy-E.

A Mo Thugs compilation featuring its musical proteges and last year’s spectacular “The Art of War” double album followed. These projects focused on the crew’s spiritual and apocalyptic visions. Soothing musical backdrops, which were usually anchored by lush samples of string instruments, captivated hip-hoppers and pop fans alike.

On the refreshingly diverse “Family Reunion,” the Bone family continues to grow musically, as the set’s 17 tracks effortlessly bounce from hard-core hip-hop to R&B; to dance to country. Less musically aggressive and sample-driven than most contemporary rap groups, Bone regularly incorporates elegant piano, string, guitar and keyboard-backed sound beds.

While the individual rappers are capable lyricists, the ensemble’s appeal lies in its delivery. Bone members and the fledgling artists featured on the compilation tear through their lines at breakneck speed. Although many portions may be difficult for the uninitiated to comprehend, “Family Reunion” offers a wide-ranging, frequently seductive journey through hip-hop’s expanding realm.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).

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Hear the Music

* Excerpts from these albums and other recent releases are available on The Times’ World Wide Web site. Point your browser to: http://cache.nohib.com./soundclips