On this day in Hip Hop history, we recognize a major milestone in the Bone Thugs-n-Harmony legacy—the 29th anniversary of The Art of War, their ambitious and wildly successful double album released on Ruthless Records. As the highly anticipated follow-up to their breakthrough E. 1999 Eternal, this 1997 release did more than keep the Cleveland collective’s momentum going. It cemented their place as one of the most unique and unrelenting forces in the rap game.
Initially rumored to be titled DNA Level C (a nod to their hometown spelled backward), The Art of War found Bone Thugs taking direct aim at imitators of their fast-paced, harmonized flow. With this record, Bizzy, Krayzie, Layzie, Wish, and Flesh used their artistry as a battleground, targeting those they believed were biting their style, most notably Three 6 Mafia, Crucial Conflict, Twista, and Tommy Wright III. The result was a sharp, two-disc statement of dominance, both creatively and commercially.
The album debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, moving an impressive 349,000 units in its first week. In an era defined by bloated double LPs, The Art of War managed to deliver quantity and quality; balancing grit, soul, and lyrical precision over moody, melodic production. The project was certified 4x Platinum within a year of its release, making it one of the group’s most successful bodies of work.
The album’s two biggest singles, “If I Could Teach the World” and “Look Into My Eyes,” saw heavy radio and video rotation, with the latter peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the former climbing to No. 27. Whether on wax or in the streets, Bone Thugs made it clear with The Art of War—they weren’t here to play nice, they were here to stake their claim and protect their sound at all costs.