Heaven'z Movie is the first solo studio album by American rapper Bizzy Bone. It was released on October 6, 1998, via Ruthless/Relativity Records. The recording sessions took place at Ocean Way and at Groove Mine in Nashville, and at Music Grinder and at Studio 56 in Los Angeles. The production was handled by Bizzy Bone himself under his B.B. Gambini alias together with Mike Smoov, Johnny "J", Mafisto, Erik Nordquist, Cat Cody, Nina and Mike Johnson. It features guest appearances from Cat Cody, H.I.T.L.A.H. Capo-Confuscious and Mr. Majesty. The album reached number 3 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States, selling 130,000 units in its first week.[1] It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America a month after its release date. The album is dedicated to the memory of Byron "Big B" Carlos McCane.
The songs "Marchin' on Washington", "Roll Call", "Yes Yes Y'all" and "Brain on Drugs" were cut short due to sample clearances not being made on time. Many songs did not make the album in time, leaving Heaven'z Movie incomplete. Songs omitted included the Tupac Shakur tribute "Life Goes On", "Trials & Tribulations", "Walking In Da Cold", "Way 2 Strong" from The PJs: Music from & Inspired by the Hit Television Series, "Relentless", "Retaliation", "Praise The Lord, Pass The Ammunition", "Power", "War Time", "Murder, Murder", "These Are My Family", "Seven", "10 Commandments", "Dying", "Mercenary", "Surrender My Love" and "Confessions".
Heaven'z Movie received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Many reviewers criticized the cutting short of four prominent tracks ("Roll Call", "March On Washington", "Yes, Yes Ya'll", "Brain On Drugs") due to sample clearances. Matt Diehl of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B− rating, stating "Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's youngest member continues their formula of hip-hop harmony, fire-and-brimstone spirituality, and roughneck rhymes on his solo debut. Bizzy Bone also throws in inner-city cautionary tales ("Social Studies") and flirts dangerously with fascism (check out guest H.I.T.L.A.H. Capo — Confucius' handle). Any enlightening messages in Heaven'z Movie are made unintelligible by Bizzy's over-the-speed-limit rapping, which will satisfy Bone Thugs aficionados — but confuse everyone else".[3]AllMusic's Jason Birchmeier wrote: "One of the more troubled members of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Bizzy Bone takes the opportunity presented to him by his solo debut to explore much of his personal life. It's a fairly naked album, often confessional and, relative to his work with Bone, very serious. As such, it's an album orientated mostly toward Bone fans curious about the group's respective inner workings".[2]
Tracks 11 and 13 contain replayed elements from "The Roof Is on Fire" written by Charles Pettiford, Gregory Wigfall, Richard Fowler, C. Evans and Jerry Bloodrock
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