bone thugs

Early years

Formed in the early 90's, The group was originally known as "B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e" and consisted of Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone and Bizzy Bone. They recorded the album Faces Of Death under this moniker in early 1993.

Faces of Death

Faces of Death was released in 1993, then known as B.O.N.E. Enterprise, and is widely considered to be their darkest attempt by those who have heard it. They rapped with the same style as they always have: the dark, hardcore delivery that got fans listening to them. This was an independent release, and had no singles or videos. Soon after, Flesh-N-Bone (Layzie Bone's brother) was added to the group. Their career took off in the mid 1990's after heading to Los Angeles on a Greyhound bus in search of N.W.A member Eazy-E. They auditioned over the phone to him in hopes of securing a record deal, but Eazy-E's promise to call them back went unfulfilled. Discovering that Eazy-E was performing back in Cleveland, the group rushed back to audition in person, where they (without Flesh-N-Bone) were promptly signed to a contract with Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. Eazy-E suggested the group rename themselves "Thugs-N-Harmony", but the group wanted to keep the name "Bone", so "Bone Thugs-N-Harmony" was settled on.

The Ruthless years

Creepin' On Ah Come Up

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's first release on Ruthless Records, Creepin' On A Come Up (EP) was released in June 1994. After a slow start that saw the album's success limited to within the Gangsta rap scene, it broke through to the mainstream with the release of the singles "Thuggish Ruggish Bone" and "Foe Tha Love of $", the second of which featured a guest rap by Eazy-E recorded during the "Golden Age" of West Coast rap music. The album's production draws heavily upon it, with beats supplied by Rhythm D, DJ Yella and newcomer DJ U-Neek (who would later become Bone's partner in production). It was later certified 4x platinum.

E. 1999 Eternal

While Creepin On Ah Come Up's subject matter was focused nearly entirely on violent criminal activity, E. 1999 Eternal saw Bone both diversify that and its musical stylings. The G-Funk beats were smoothed by DJ U-Neek (with co-production from Tony C and Kenny McCloud). Similarly, while a considerable portion of the album's concept was built around a violent subject, the album saw Bone delve more into spirituality, Occultmysticism, and also introduced Bone's trademark "weed songs," tracks devoted entirely to the smoking of marijuana.

E. 1999 Eternal remains Bone's most successful venture in terms of sales and notoriety. It is consistently ranked as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time and sales continue to be strong to this day, showing up in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Catalog Albums chart on a regular basis.

In 1995, Bone was featured on Russell Simmons "The Show" soundtrack album with a track titled "Everyday Thang." It bears no resemblance and is not in anyway related to the track with the same title on the Faces Of Death album. This specific track was overlooked because it was not released on any Bone albums. This track was very similar to many of the tracks on the E. 1999 Eternal.

The Art of War

In 1997, the group released the double-disc set The Art Of War, backed by the single "Look Into My Eyes", which also appeared on the soundtrack from the movie Batman and Robin. The album saw Bone further explore a wide variety of subjects and styles, with even more focus on God and family and an overall more ambient, mellow sound. The group still found time for violent lyrics, though, with a large portion of the album dedicated to what they labeled "clones" who claimed Bone had stolen their quick-tongued rapping style and vice-versa. The Chicago-based rap group Crucial Conflict was targeted by name, with indirect disses thought to be aimed at Twista, Three Six Mafia, and Do Or Die. The album also included "Thug Luv" with Tupac Shakur. The album is also influenced by the book of the same name by author Sun Tzu. The Art of War philosophy is littered throughout the album.

While the album had initial success, debuting at #1 on the Billboard charts (with 394,000 copies sold in the first week), it failed to have much staying power. Besides "Look Into My Eyes" (which charted at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100), the only single was "If I Could Teach The World" which won an American Music Award(AMA). The group's efforts were further dampened by the absence of Bizzy Bone from the album's videos and large portions of the ensuing tour and public appearances. This absence fueled rumors of a break-up. The album was certified 4x Platinum by the RIAA (with each album sold counting as two units under the association's certification guidelines).

BTNHResurrection

In 2000, Bone delivered BTNHResurrection, the first group album to prominently feature Flesh-N-Bone, whose presence was limited on previous releases because he had never signed with the group's label Ruthless Records. With Flesh appearing on 14 of the album's 15 songs, Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone took a lesser role, appearing on 10 and 7 songs, respectively. The album's first half featured a slew of hardcore and dark tracks, with the second half being considerably more introspective and soft. The album also featured one of the group's biggest singles, Resurrection (Paper, Paper).

Shortly before the album's release, Flesh-N-Bone was arrested and the group again began having public disputes with Bizzy Bone, with Bizzy again missing out on the promotional tour and appearances. The album debuted #2 on the charts, selling 260,000 copies in its first week, but again the group ran into problems with staying power. The three singles from the album all failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100 and the epic, big-budget video for "Change The World" failed to receive any rotation.

Turmoil

In 2000, member Flesh-N-Bone was sentenced to 11 years in prison on various gun charges. Eligible for parole in 2008, he currently is housed in Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, California. Though Flesh's appearances on most of Bone's albums were sparse due to him never signing with the group's long-time home Ruthless Records, he was - and is - considered a member by the group itself.

After years of problems with member Bizzy Bone, the group officially parted ways with Bizzy after he performed intoxicated with the group at BB King's Blues Club in New York City in October of 2002. In October 2003, he rejoined the group for the Wicked Wonka Tour with the Insane Clown Posse and soon recorded Bone Brothers, a duet album with Layzie Bone. Things quickly turned sour, though, as Bizzy declined to tour in support of the album and contract negotiations between Bone and Bizzy with Full Surface Records broke down. After this and a number of other incidents, the group once again cut ties with Bizzy Bone in May 2005.

Thug World Order

In late 2001, the group returned to the studio to record their next release, Thug World Order. By February 2002, the supposedly overly-violent and political album was complete. Ruthless Records, however, was unhappy with the end product and requested that a new batch of more mainstream-oriented songs be recorded. In October 2002, a revamped version of the album was released to little fanfare. Again, a number of promotional problems had sprung up; the video for the album's lead single, "Money Money", was rejected by both BET and MTV for allegedly promoting robbery and problems with Bizzy Bone once again came to the forefront. The album debuted at #12 (selling 82,000 the first week) and quickly slipped off the charts. The album would fare better overseas, with the single "Home" (sampling the song "Home" by Phil Collins) climbing the charts in a number of countries, most notably the United Kingdom.

The Thug World Order album that hit stores saw a drastic change in subject matter and tone for the group. The lyrics were almost completely void of any violence, while the number of tracks focusing on the group itself. In contrast, several songs originally intended to be included on the album that were leaked after its release portray a much different Bosne.

Thug Stories

Thug Stories is the sixth full-release album from one of the best-selling hip hop acts of all time, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. The album was recorded on Koch Records and released in September of 2006. It marked the first time Bone recorded as a trio for a full album, as troubled former member Bizzy Bone was finally ousted. This album was the group's first full-release since 2002's Thug World Order, and will be followed up shortly by an album on Swizz Beatz's Full Surface Records, tentatively titled The Bone Thugs Story. It sold 38,000 in the first week, and peaked on #31 in the Billboard 200.

Featuring a slightly matured style with this LP, the group leaned more heavily towards its harmonic roots than its "thug" origins. The tracks "She Got Crazy", "So Sad", and "Call Me" center on the members' past and present issues with women; while "Don't Stop", "Do It Again", and "Thug Stories" serve as ex-post-facto anthems. "Fire" boasts of Bone's superior flowing skills while simultaneously showcasing them. Krayzie and Layzie bite into the microphone with their signature rapid-fire delivery on the track "What You See (Reload)" as the album transitions towards a glimpse of The Thugs' evolution. "Stand Not In Our Way" flouts the temptations of "Beelzebub" and touts faith in "Yahweh" in hypnotic fashion. Reggae overtones fuel the sequel "Still No Surrender", while a great disdain for law enforcement ignites the track. The ominous narrative "This Life" rounds out the album with tales of hopelessness and a flavor unique to Bone.

New Beginnings & The Bone Thugs Story

In 2003, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony left Ruthless Records and began a search for a new home. In 2005, the group—minus Bizzy Bone—signed with producer Swizz Beatz's Full Surface Records (an imprint of J Records) and began recording a new album, which is expected to be released in mid-2006. The album is said to be produced by, Swizz Beatz, Kanye West, Lil' Jon, Three 6 Mafia, Big Boi of Outkast, Play-N-Skillz, Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland and Dr. Dre. According to Bone, the album will feature all-new vocals from imprisoned member Flesh-N-Bone. The album is said to have Mariah Carey appear on one of the singles and is rumored to have Ice Cube and Chamillionaire.

In September 2005, the group released an internet-only enhanced CD titled Bone 4 Life, featuring six new tracks produced by DJ U-Neek and a behind the scenes video. It was only available to order for a week.

In May of 2006, Bone inked a deal with Interscope through Swizz Beatz's Full Surface Records.

As of 2005 to the present, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, especially Krayzie Bone, have continued their strong track record of collaborations and and appearances on compilation albums. Krayzie appeared on Duets: The Final Chapter by The Notorious B.I.G, the soundtrack from the Antonio Banderas movie Take the Lead and on DJ Khaled's new album Listennn... The Album (all of these appearances were credited as Bone Thugs~N~Harmony on the track listings, but they are false). Bone Thugs appeared with Lil Eazy-E on the soundtrack to The Game's debut acting movie Waist Deep, and on The Source Presents Fat Tape Vol. 1. The most successful was Krayzie Bone's appearance on Chamillionaire's #1 single Ridin', which is still heavily getting rotation.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's new album, Thug Stories, was released in September of 2006, and now their first hit "Don't Stop" is being played in southern California. They are currently promoting the album with concerts, and they are featured on the DMX's "Walk These Dogs" tour.

Legacy and Collaborations

Perhaps the group's most important contribution to rap is their speedy, harmonizing flow. While fast rapping has always had a niche in the culture, Bone certainly brought the style to the forefront.

Their most popular single, "Tha Crossroads," was covered by British boy band Blazin' Squad in 2002, and was a UK Singles Chart Number 1 for a week and a half.

Although 1996 was the peak of their popular appeal, Bone still has a fairly large cult following. Furthermore, their notoriety, respect, and popularity is especially high in the eyes of their peers, other rappers and musicians. In addition to being the only people ever to have collaborated with late rappers Eazy-E, 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., and Big Pun while living, a feat no other artists can claim to have achieved, Bone Thugs have collaborated on songs with an impressive plethora of other rap artists and musicians. Below is a relatively exhaustive list of artists with whom Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, or individual members of the group, have recorded. Unlike most other rappers, however, all of these collaborations are "real," in the sense that they were actual songs created by both parties together, not blends or songs produced after the death of the rappers. (Examples of these faux "collaborations" can be found on contemporary, post-mortem Tupac and Biggie CDs that have songs with other artists that were manufactured years after their respective deaths', and sometimes with artists that the deceased had personal animosity and no respect for. The list of artists Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have worked with include:

Trivia

• Layzie Bone got the name B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e off a building on the way to jail in 1990 before going to Texas.
• In the early 90's before Jay-Z became who he is today, he battled Bizzy Bone and lost. [1]
• "Thug Luv" was originally a track with Bizzy Bone, 2Pac and Silk-E-Fyne. The track was later redone to add the other members of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony on it.[2]
• Some artists and groups that have dissed Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are: Three 6 Mafia, Canibus, Twista, Tha Dogg Pound, Crucial Conflict, Do Or Die, and Shyheim (Wu-Tang).
• Flesh-N-Bone never signed to Ruthless Records with the rest of the group.
• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony won best rap/hip-hop artist in 1998 on American Music Awards for "If I Could Teach The World". Beating Puff Daddy and Wu-Tang Clan.
• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are the only group to record hits with rap legends Eazy-E, 2Pac, Big Pun, and Notorious B.I.G., All while they were alive.
• E. 1999 Eternal is Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's best selling album and is one of the best selling rap albums of all time.
• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have sold more than 40 million records.
• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony went to Switzerland to shoot the video "Home" featuring Phil Collins.
• Because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony had to change the lyrics to some of the songs off the Thug World Order album. Things like "fuck the police and the FBI" were taken off so not to offend fans that were affected by the 9/11 attacks.
• Due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks,some tracks were deleted entirely from the retail Thug World Order.
• According to Dresta, it was because of him that Bone Thugs-N-Harmony got signed to Ruthless. He says that Bone auditioned to him first and he liked their style so he got them backstage to audition for Eazy-E.
• Bizzy Bone was released "contractually" from the group in 2001.

Line up

Current members

• Krayzie Bone
• Layzie Bone
• Wish Bone
• Flesh-N-Bone

Former Members

• Bizzy Bone

Discography

Albums

B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e Albums

• 1993: Faces of Death (Stoney Burke) (AMG link)
• 1996: Faces of Death (Digitally Remastered) (Stoney Burke) (AMG link)

Studio Albums

• 1994: Creepin on ah Come Up (Ruthless) #12 U.S. (4x Platinum) (AMG link)
• 1995: E. 1999 Eternal (Ruthless/Epic) #1 U.S. (2 weeks) (6x Platinum) (AMG link)
• 1997: The Art of War (Ruthless/Epic) #1 U.S. (1 week) (4x Platinum) (AMG link)
• 2000: BTNHResurrection (Ruthless/Epic) #2 U.S. (2x Platinum) (AMG link)
• 2002: Thug World Order (Ruthless/Epic) #12 U.S. (Platinum) (AMG link)
• 2006: Thug Stories (Koch) #25 U.S. (RapReviews.com link)
• 2006: The Bone Thugs Story (Full Surface/Interscope) (Release December [2006], January [2007])

Compilation Albums

• 1998: The Collection Volume One (Ruthless/Epic) #32 U.S. (Platinum) (AMG link)
• 2000: The Collection: Volume Two (Ruthless/Epic) #41 U.S. (Gold) (AMG link)

Internet Albums

• 2005: Bone 4 Life (Bone Thug/U-Neek Entertainment)
• 2006: Behind the Harmony (Handcut)
• 2006: The Lost Files (Bone Thug/U-Neek Entertainment)

Greatest Hits Albums

• 2004: Greatest Hits (Ruthless/Epic) #95 U.S. (Platinum) (AMG link)
• 2005: Greatest Hits (Chopped & Screwed) (Ruthless/Epic)

Singles

Other Singles

Filmography

• The Collection Volume One
• The Collection: Volume Two
• Live & Uncut
• Greatest Video Hits
• Behind the Harmony
• Live in Concert
• Start From Scratch (with Xplicit)

Music Videos

Group

• 1995 "The Points" (feat. The Notorious B.I.G., Coolio, Redman, Menace Clan, Big Mike, Busta Rhymes & Buckshot) (Available on the original motion picture soundtrack of "Panther")
• 1995 "Everyday Thang" (Available on the soundtrack of "The Show")
• 1996 "Shoot 'Em Up" (Available on the music from the motion picture of "The Great White Hype")
• 1996 "Days Of Our Livez" (Available on the music from the new line cinema motion picture of "Set It Off")
• 1997 "Notorious Thugs" (Available on The Notorious B.I.G.'s album entitled "Life After Death")
• 1997 "Look Into My Eyes" (Available on the music from and inspired by the 'Batman & Robin' motion picture of "Batman & Robin")
• 1997 "Fuck Tha Police" (Available on "In The Beginning...There Was Rap")
• 1998 "Hook It Up" (feat. Master P & Silkk The Shocker (Available on the original motion picture soundtrack of "I Got The Hook Up!")
• 1998 "War" (feat. Henry Rollins & Edwin Star) (Available on the music from the motion picture "Small Soldiers")
• 2000 "One Day" (feat. TQ) (Available on TQ's album entitled "Second Coming")
• 2001 "Thug Music Plays On" (Available on the music from the motion picture of "Down To Earth")
• 2001 "Music Makes Me High" (Available on Supervision's album entitled "20/20")
• 2002 "Making Good Love (Remix)" (Recorded for Avant's album entitled "Ecstasy")
• 2002 "Strictly For My Grind" (Available on Spacehog's album entitled "Vegas Hog Livin'")
• 2005 "Power Of A Smile" (Available on 2Pac's album entitled "The Rose, Vol. 2")
• 2006 "Take The Lead (Wanna Ride)" Bone Thugs-N-Harmony & Wisin & Yandel

Solo

• 1998 "Good Times" (Fat Joe feat. Layzie Bone & Krayzie Bone') (Available on Fat Joe's album "Don Cartagena")
• 1999 "Angels With Dirty Faces" (Puff Daddy feat. Bizzy Bone) (Available on Puff Daddy's album "Forever")
• 2000 "One Day" (TQ feat. Layzie Bone) (Available on TQ's album entitled "Second Coming")
• 2000 "Until We Rich"(Ice Cube feat. Krayzie Bone) (Available on Ice Cube's album entitled "War and Peace Vol.2")
• 2004 "Freaks" (Play-N-Skillz feat. Krayzie Bone)
• 2005 "Ridin'" (Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone)
• 2005 "Spit Your Game" (The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Twista & Krayzie Bone)

Awards history

External links

• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (official Interscope site)