They went from being broke, hungry and homeless in 1993 to watching their brand of flowing, rolling, rapid-clip, harmonized rap -- dubbed the "Cleveland Sound" -- hit the top of the charts. But to get from the streets of Cleveland, to TV sets across the world, it's been a long journey for Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Their rise commenced in '93 when they scraped up every penny they had for one-way bus tickets to Los Angeles determined to prove their talents to their favorite rapper, the late Eric "Eazy-E" Wright of N.W.A. As the famed story goes, they spent months living on the street, constantly trying to contact Eazy-E, until they finally received a call from him. They rapped for him over the phone, Eazy said he'd get back to them, but never did. When they learned Eazy was doing a show in Cleveland, they hustled up more money for bus tickets and headed back. They found him backstage and and gave a back stage audition in person, Eazy signed them to his Ruthless Records label. Eazy had tickets ready for them the next morning to return to L.A. to begin recording their debut EP.
That EP, "Creepin' On Ah Come Up", exploded onto the rap scene with Bone's debut single, "Thuggish Ruggish Bone," which sold more than 500,000 copies and the video was the cable music channel the "Box's" most-requested of 1994. Their Ruthless/Relativity EP debut, "Creepin' On Ah Come Up", started moving large quantities shortly after its June 1994 release, shot past triple-platinum sales, and became an R&B, and Rap chart topper.
As the EP continued its reign atop the charts, the group began work on their debut LP, "E. 1999 Eternal". The LP entered all charts at #1 and hasn't slowed down, selling over six million plus copies and counting. The LP proved a great blend of sweet soul harmonies and boulevard mentalities. The album's tribute to their dead homies, called "The Crossroads," became an MTV smash hit, launching them into mainstream radio play. The song took on an unexpected meaning after Eazy-E's March 1995 death from the aids virus. "Tha Crossroads" later won a grammy, went double-platinum, and made history when it tied with the Beatles' 32-year-old record ('64's "Can't Buy Me Love") for the fastest rising single on the pop charts.
With all their success, it's hard to believe that the days of struggling were very much a reality for Bone not too long ago. "First Of Tha Month," their glorious ode to government cheese, was something that Bone was living rather than just rapping about. As Layzie recalls,
"It was like this man, we come from zero, straight from the dirt, dog."
Wish adds, "We were in the streets doin' whatever it took to survive."
But through these rough times, the Bone family strengthened. Layzie and Wish, who are cousins, first hooked-up with Bizzy and Krayzie under the name 'Band-Aid Boyz'. During this era, the flow that would make them famous developed. Wish breaks it down like this,
"Our style just came from us sittin' in our house with nothing to eat, just trippin' and writin', and just building on it. And we finally came up with what we got." Krayzie adds, "We knew we had something different. Our music is just coming from the heart. We always knew we were gonna make it somehow."
"All our albums have a dark feeling to them, but it is so smooth that you don't really focus on the dark too much," says Krayzie.
"The dark themes come from how we used to live. Then, every day and every night was dark in our eyes. That's changed."
Asked about fame, Layzie concludes,
"In my wildest dreams, where I'm comin' from, I couldn't even dream **censored** would be like this. Fame, it's cool to be famous, but some people take it out of control. I look at it like the Lord got us to the front of the line for some reason."
The first to release a solo effort was member Flesh-n-Bone's album "T.H.U.G.S." released on November 19th, 1996 on the Def Jam record label, and recieved good sales for a debut solo album, but nothing spectacular.
The group returned in 1997 with their next album "The Art Of War", which was a 2 disc album and had some great hits, but if it were a single disc album would have been rated better by the critics, as some tracks lacked something that others had. In the late 90's, the group concentrated on developing artists signed to their own Mo Thug Records label. Bizzy, Krayzie, Layzie and Flesh also released commercially and critically successful solo albums.
Not only do Bone speak about their hard times on this double CD release, they choose to tell the positive as well on 'The Art Of War'. Songs like "If I Could Teach The World" finds Bone delivering a message of upliftment to kids all over the planet. Here's a verse from the bomb hit 'If I could Teach World' "To all the little boys and girls all over the world/This ish that we say is for the streets/Not for you to go and do or to repeat/Please no more murder/Must I say it if we can no mo murder." On "Friends," a remake of the Whodini classic, Bone pay tribute to those who have remained close and loyal to them. And "Family Tree Bone" is a remarkable personal account that illustrates the highs and lows of each Bone member's lives. On another note, Tupac Shakur features on "Thug Luv", a song which displays the hardcore lyric side of Bone, and by using gun shots as bass lines, gives a slightly more 'Gangster' feel to the album, other tracks such as "Body Rot" again show this more aggressive style of rap from Bone.
Bone Thugs then released a follow up in the form of "The Collection, Vol 1", basically a Greatest Hits CD of their tracks os far and remixes of their previous tracks as well as some hot fresh jointz thrown in tha mix! Truely another great album in my opinion and another big seller.
In the late 90's, the group concentrated on developing artists signed to their own 'Mo Thug Records' label. Bizzy, Krayzie, and Flesh also released commercially and critically successful solo albums, which i will explain in depth in each members seperate biography found below this biography of the group. First of all Krayzie Bone released 'Thug Mentality 1999' on April 6, 1998, on Ruthless Records label, shortly followed by Bizzy Bones's effort "Heaven'z Movie" released October 6, 1998, also on Ruthless Records. Flesh-N-Bone, who was and is probably the most troubled member of Bone thugs-n-harmony, struggled to release both of his solo albums amid a series of legal problems. In September 2000, weeks before the release of his second album "5th Dog Let Loose", Flesh was sentenced to 11 years in jail for threatening a friend with an AK-47. He is still in prison today and he is expected to be released on parole in 2008. (To send him letters see his own bio below). After this the group was shrouded in both controversy and rumours of the trouble resuklting in an inevitable split. Despite his arrest and charges Flesh's album "5th dog let loose" was released on April 6, 1998.
In 1999 Krayzie Bone formed his own record label, 'Thugline Records, again sparking bone thug split rumours. Then on February 29, 2000 after very successful solo efforts, and artist signings/launches from Bone's own 'Mo Thugs Records', the group reunited to record "BTNHResurrection" which would stop the rumors that they have broken up. "BTNHResurrection" probably one of Bone’s best albums after "E. 1999 Eternal" debuted at number 2 in March 2000, but could have sold more if it were promoted better, as is also the case with thier later works. After the release of that album they went on resuming their solo careers. Bizzy Bone released his second solo album "The Gift" on March 20, 2001 again with great success, and was joined by a same day release by Layzie Bone's first solo effort, "Thug By Nature", to a little less success than Bizzy. Krayzie Bone then released another greatly successfull solo album in the form of "Thug On Da Line" on August 28, 2001 to Sony Records.
The group then continued in their past trends by releasing "The Collection Vol 2" on November 14, 2000, to Ruthless Records, and as with its predecessor "Collection Vol 1" it consisted of Bone's best jointz remixed, and a few unreleased tracks thrown into the mix. As with all before ti this album is another showcase for Bone's great talent for producing so many massivley successful albums in such a short period of time, and all of such superior and unique quality. I believe there is only one other person who worked this hard on recording and releasing his albums in the rap industry, and that was Tupac Shakur, and look at the fame and praise he has since recieved for it, so its only fair Bone get the same.
In 2002 the group got back once again with everyone back in the group though Flesh-n-Bone in jail for threatening a friend with an AK-47. They went to release Thug World Order, which was a good solid album probably their best to date in my opinion but was slightly more commercialised than past releases, but the die-hard Bone fans would expect more from them. Smash hit singles including "Home" featuring Phil Collins, were released of the album.
After the release of "Thug world Order" Bizzy Bone leaves/is kicked out of the group on 'mutual' terms, and many believe this was due to a beef between him and Krayzie, about money and/or women, but there are so many reasons and theories i wont bore you with them. In 2003 the fans' fears are confirmed as Bone Thugs are no longer signed as a group too Ruthless Records and it looks like the end of Bone Thugs. Later 2003 and all members are believed to be on talknig terms, including Krayize and Bizzy and plans are that they will release further work when Flesh is released from jail, as they say "Bone just aint bone without Flesh". Flesh-n-Bone was expected to be released on parole in 2008. All artists were concentrating working on solo projects and Bizzy and Layzie have established themselves as actors in well-received independent films and additional Mo Thugs compilations are also in the works, so this Hip Hop chapter is far from closed.
In late 2004 Bizzy Bone released his third solo album "Alpha & Omega", another truely classic release from Bone, and Krayzie Bone is near completion on his album, "Gemini - Good Vs Evil" featuring a sure smash hit single "Getchu Twisted". Ruthless Records released a Bone Thugs "Greatest Hits" album and music video disc, which was not attached to the artists themselves, so they recieved no profits from the release as Ruthless owned the rights to the music.
They are one of the most underrated rap groups ever but they are still the best to millions of people all over the world. Even through all the hard times with the group and family problems, including the death of Wish's Uncle Charles, (the only person who inspired and motivated them to go for their ambitions in rap), Bone thugs-n-harmony still managed to become massivley successful. Also Layzie Bone was caught selling drugs and was forced to move to Texas to live with his uncle and aunt in 1990 but still managed to hook up with his Cleveland crew and make it big. They are the only rap group that has worked with rap legends like Eazy-E, Tupac Shakur, and Notorius B.I.G. and also outside Hip-Hop, successful artists such as Phil Collins. They came in the game with their original style and they will go down as one of the best in the hip-hop history books, but this is not the end for the Bone legacy. This is only the beginning for Bone thugs-n-harmony and expect more, much more!!
