Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

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Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is a U.S. rap group from Cleveland, Ohio known for their quick-tongued rapping style and harmonizing vocals. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is one of the biggest selling rap artists of all-time with 40 million albums sold worldwide, numerous awards and Grammy nominations.

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. Soon after, Flesh-N-Bone (Layzie Bone's brother) was added to the group.

Their career took off in the mid 90'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

The debut album of Bone, Creepin On Ah Come Up.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's first release on Ruthless Records, Creepin On Ah 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 Luv 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 Yella of NWA fame, Rhythm D and newcomer DJ U-Neek (who would later become Bone's partner in production).It went on to sell approximately 4 million copies.

E. 1999 Eternal

E. 1999 Eternal Album cover

Shortly before the release of their first full album E. 1999 Eternal in 1995, their mentor Eazy-E died of AIDS-related complications. A new song dedicated to Eazy-E, entitled "Tha Crossroads," was featured on the re-release of the album and, upon its release as a single, in 1996, earned the group a Grammy Award and tied The Beatles' 32-year record for fastest-rising single. This, along with welfare-anthem "1st Of Tha Month," rocketed the album's sales past five million copies.

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 due to the fact that it was not released on any albums specifically from Bone. The 1995 release of "Everyday Thang" could have been included in the 1996 re-release of the E. 1999 Eternal album to become a greatest hit as the sound and presentation of this track was very similar to many of the tracks on the album.

The Art of War

The Art of War Album cover.

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.

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), only "If I Could Teach The World" was released as a single which went on to win an American Music Award(AMA),adding to the groups trophies. 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, which 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 album by the group to prominently feature Flesh-N-Bone, whose presence was limited on Bone's previous releases due to never having signed with the group's label Ruthless Records. With Flesh appearing on 14 of the album's 15 songs, Krayzie Bone and Wish 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. 2pac and biggie got them started with 2 great songs.

Turmoil

After years of problems with member Bizzy Bone, the group officially parted ways with Bizzy after he gave an intoxicated performance 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

Thug World Order Album cover.

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) impacting 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 Bone.

A new beginning

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 up for order for a week and then was taken down.

The group also plans to independently release a album self-titled on September 13, 2006.The first single Fire is scheduled to be released end of July.It will be on KOCH records.

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

As of 2005/2006, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have been appearing on numerous collaborations and compilation albums. They appeared on by The Notorious B.I.G, the soundtrack from the Antonio Banderas movie Take the Lead, with Lil Eazy-E on the soundtrack to The Game's new movie Waist Deep and on DJ Khaled's new album Listennn... The Album. The most sucsessful was Krayzie Bone's appearance on Chamillionaire's #1 single Ridin', which is still heavily getting rotation.

Legacy

Although 1996 was definitely the peak of their popular appeal, Bone still has a fairly large cult following. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are the only rap artists ever to have collaborated with late rappers Eazy-E, 2Pac, Big Pun and The Notorious B.I.G. while living. As all these artists have died, no other artist can achieve this feat.

"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.

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.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

• Back in the early 90's before Jay-Z became who he is today, he battled Bizzy Bone and lost. ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

• "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.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

• 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).

• BONE has many meanings some of which are: Beating On Niggas Everyday, Brothers On Normal Elimination, Brewed Out Niggas Everyday, and Buddahed Out Niggas Everyday.

• Flesh-N-Bone never signed to Ruthless Records with the rest of the group.

• Eazy-E first signed Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

• 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, and Notorious B.I.G.

• 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 30 million records.

• Layzie Bone sustained a critical eye injury while shooting his video "Listen". He suffered a quarter inch abrasion on the pupil of his right eye, due to special effects chemicals.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

• A man listened to the song "Mo' Murda" 45 minutes before killing two people.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

• 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.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

• Layzie Bone's alias L-Burna was given to him by his sister.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

• Krayzie Bone accidentally shot Wish Bone in the leg with a twelve gauge and was sent to prison for about a year and a half. This is what Krayzie had to say about it:

• 2Pac wanted to start a project called "One Nation" that might have had Bone Thugs-N-Harmon in it, but it never happened because 2Pac died.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony sued Chuck Bone co-owner of the promotions company Bone-N-Wen because their name had two trademarks of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony- the "Bone" and "-n-".^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

• 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.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

Line up

Current members

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

Past members

• Bizzy Bone

Albums

Filmography

• The Collection Volume One (1998)
• Thicker Than Water (1999)
• (2000)
• Hip Hop Story Tha Movie (2002)
• Live & Uncut (2004)
• Greatest Video Hits (2004)
• Behind The Harmony (2005)
• Live In Concert (2005)