Circa late-1990s, the hard-going, fast-flowing, ganja-smoking Bone Thugs embodied the pinnacle of hip-hop’s lyrical power. It’s hard not to fall for the rich musicality of the group’s mile-a-minute flow – it saturates with glossy and forceful speed. The latest from the Cleveland natives showcases a thinned-out lineup (the thugs lost Bizzy Bone to inner conflicts and Flesh-n-Bone to jail), but throws on a few frills for celebrity’s sake. The question is, can the pioneers of fast-rap preserve the quality when meshed with Akon, Will.I.Am. and other modern luminaries?

With rare exceptions ­- like a melodically punchy coupling with Twista – Strength and Loyalty is burdened by lackluster guest showings. A second stint with Mariah Carey (following the melodious calm of “”Breakdown Remix””) is especially weak, kept afloat by Carey’s ever-bright lark but bogged down by the annoying, tired production of Jermaine Dupri.

While the old flavor hasn’t dried, it hasn’t manage to evolve. As past hits are name-dropped by both the Thugs and their guests, we’re reminded of the Old West clink of ’90s classics “”Ghetto Cowboy”” and “”Shoot ‘Em Up”” – a charming sort of offbeat, with harmonies smooth enough to make spurs ‘n’ shotguns endearing. Here, the return to country gangsta (“”Wind Blow””) is an homage to the good ‘ol hip-hopping boys of the American Heartland – too bad that now, the whole operation is drawled out and tacky.