Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | |
|---|---|
 Bone Thugs-n-Harmony performing in 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as |
|
| Origin | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Works | Bone Thugs-n-Harmony discography |
| Years active | 1991–present[1][2] |
| Labels | |
| Spinoff of | Mo Thugs |
| Members | |
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony or simplyBone Thugs (formerlyB.O.N.E. Enterpri$e) is an Americanhip-hop group formed in 1991 inCleveland, Ohio. Consisting of rappersBizzy Bone, Wish Bone,Layzie Bone,Krayzie Bone, andFlesh-n-Bone, the group signed with American rapperEazy-E'sRuthless Records in late 1993 and made their debut with the EPCreepin on ah Come Up the following year.
In 1995, they released their second album,E. 1999 Eternal, which included the hit singles "1st of tha Month" and "East 1999". Their song "Tha Crossroads", a tribute to their recently deceased mentor Eazy-E, earned them aGrammy Award in 1997. The group's third album,The Art of War, was released in 1997. In 2000, their albumBTNHResurrection achievedplatinum status in the United States within a month of its release, whereas their 2002 album,Thug World Order, saw more moderate success, attaining platinum certification and peaking atNo. 3 on theTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are known for helping pioneer thechopper rap style and the use of vocal harmony in rap music, as well as bringing exposure toMidwestern hip-hop. They are frequently cited as one of the greatest rap groups and have sold over 16 million records.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1991,[1][2] the group was originally called "Band Aid Boys". Charles Scruggs Jr., born February 17, 1975,[10] joined the trio ofKrayzie Bone,Layzie Bone, andBizzy Bone under the name Wish Bone[11] (later stylized as Wi$h Bone), and the group recorded an album titledFaces of Death under the name B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e after an obsoleteInglewood, California based group Layzie Bone was associated with.[12] The album was recorded in the studio of their then-mentor, Kermit Henderson, and released on his indie label Stoney Burke in 1993. Like so many aspiring rappers around the country, they put in calls to executives at record companies, hoping to find someone who would listen. In hopes of securing a record deal, the group was given an audition over the phone, receiving an unfulfilled promise from rapperEazy-E to call them back. Determined to reach him, they scrounged together the money forone-way bus tickets to Los Angeles. They left for a three-day Greyhound trek and spent four months on the city streets, putting in frequent calls to find him. Nothing came of their search except the news that Eazy-E was, in fact, on his way to Cleveland for a show.[13]
The quartet returned to Ohio, where Diego Blak (born Diego Hodge), a marketer and promoter who had been co-executive producer ofFaces of Death, introduced them to Eazy-E at a concert he promoted in Compton. There, on November 2, 1993, they auditioned for Eazy in his dressing room; Krayzie performed his verse of "Flow Motion" from theFaces of Death album, and Eazy was impressed.[14] B.O.N.E Enterpri$e then traveled back to Los Angeles after the Cleveland show to seal the deal. At this point, Eazy renamed them Thugs-n-Harmony, but as they wanted to keep the Bone name, they made their name Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Eazy signed the group (minus Flesh-n-Bone) to his labelRuthless Records.[1]
Released in June 1994,Creepin on ah Come Up was Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's debut with Ruthless.[15] The album's subject matter was focused almost entirely onviolent criminal activity. Peaking atNo. 12 on theBillboard Top 200 Albums chart andNo. 2 on theTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart,[16] it included the hit singles "Thuggish Ruggish Bone" and "Foe tha Love of $", the second of which featured a verse by Eazy-E. "Thuggish Ruggish Bone" peaked atNo. 20 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart andNo. 2 on theHot Rap Tracks chart, and "Foe tha Love of $" peaked atNo. 39 on the Hot 100 andNo. 4 on Rap Tracks.[17] After a slow start that saw the album's success limited togangsta rap audiences, it broke through to the mainstream. The EP marked a major change in style for the group, as they now fully embraced theG-funk common inWest Coast hip hop of the time. Beats were supplied byDJ Yella, Rhythum D, and Kenny McCloud, and it was the group's first collaboration with newcomer producerDJ U-Neek, who would craft the group's signature sound by producing the majority of their next two albums. For over a year, Eazy-E nurtured their career, continuing to serve as their executive producer and teaching them the business skills he had taught himself over the years. The growing relationship was cut short, however, when Eazy-E died on March 26, 1995, from complications from AIDS-related pneumonia. Briefly, the young rappers thought they had lost everything with the loss of their friend and mentor. However, the group's potential was apparent, and Ruthless Records continued to support them.
In 1995, the group's second album,E. 1999 Eternal, was released. It included the singles "1st of tha Month", which peaked atNo. 12 on the Hot 100 andNo. 4 on Hot Rap Tracks and "Tha Crossroads" which reachedNo. 1 on both the Hot 100 and Hot Rap Tracks charts. Tha Crossroads was the highest-debuting rap single ever when it entered the national singles chart at No, 2[18] and a week later became No, 1 making it the fastest single to rise to the top position on the charts since theBeatles with "Can't Buy Me Love" in 1964.[19][20] The song earned them aGrammy Award.[21] The album generally saw positive reviews from critics as Bone had diversified its content and musical style. Critics were particularly intrigued by the album due to Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's ability to reduce the banality associated with gangsta rap in their music at a time when the subgenre had become exceedingly cliché.[22] A considerable portion of the album's concept was built upon violent subject matter, yet they also incorporated deeper themes, as its songs dealt with morespirituality andoccultmysticism.[23] The album was produced byDJ U-Neek (with co-production from Tony C. and Kenny McCloud).E. 1999 Eternal also introduced Bone's trademark tracks devoted entirely to the use of marijuana. The album name originated from one of the street names of a corner (E. 99th street and St. Clair) that was a familiar hangout to Bone members, as well as Eazy-E's albumEternal E. Naming it after Eazy-E's album was just another way of showing respect and tribute to the rapper who had helped them reach success. Also in 1996, Flesh-n-Bone would become the first member of the group to release a debut album, titled T.H.U.G.S, which was certifiedgold by theRIAA. In 1996, due to their success, the Cleveland clan established their own label,Mo Thugs Records, and released theFamily Scriptures compilation album to introduce many of the Cleveland-based and other artists whom they were developing.E. 1999 Eternal is the group's most commercially successful album; it has been certified 4×platinum by the RIAA.
There were plans for Bone Thugs-n-Harmony to collaborate withWest Coast rapper2Pac on a studio album titledOne Nation. The project brought hip hop artists from all areas of the American map such asBoot Camp Clik,[24]OutKast,Scarface,E-40, and more.[25] However, 2Pac was shot and killed in September 1996 so the album never came into fruition. Bootlegs of songs produced while 2Pac was still alive have been distributed.
In 1997, the group released the double-disc setThe Art of War. Bone explored a variety of subjects and styles, with focus on God and family and an overall ambient, mellow sound. The group incorporated violent lyrics, however, 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 album had been rumored to be titled "DNA Level C" which is Cleveland backward.[26] The single "Look into My Eyes" appeared on the soundtrack of the film Batman & Robin. It peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.[27] "If I Could Teach the World", the other single from The Art of War, peaked at No. 20 on the Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Hot Rap Tracks,[27] and won an American Music Award. The album also included "Thug Luv" with Tupac Shakur.
In 1998 to around 2000, the lyrical content of some of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's songs came under scrutiny, with their music being involved in the criminal trials ofMichael Tisius andMitchell Johnson.[28][29] They also releasedThe Collection andThe Collection: Voume Two, with both compilation albums containing various hits the group had produced from the mid 90s to the early 2000s.
In 2000, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony releasedBTNHResurrection, featuring the single "Resurrection (Paper, Paper)", which peaked on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart atNo. 52.[17] The album's first half featured a slew of hardcore and dark tracks, with the second half being considerably more introspective and soft. Other singles from the album, including "Can't Give it Up", failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100, and the big-budget video for "Change the World" failed to receive any rotation. This was their first group album to prominently featureFlesh-n-Bone, whose presence had been limited on previous releases because he had never signed with the group's label, Ruthless Records. Flesh was convicted for assault with afirearm and criminal possession of a weapon in June 2000.[30] Pleading guilty, Flesh was sentenced to 11 years in prison.[31]
The group again began having public disputes with Bizzy Bone. Bizzy Bone abstained from promotingBTNHResurrection because he felt that Ruthless Records owed him money.[32] He dropped a million-dollar lawsuit he had filed againstSony Music andLoud Records in exchange for a termination of his Sony contract.[33] Three members of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony released solo albums in 2001: Bizzy Bone withThe Gift, Layzie Bone (under the name L-Burna) withThug by Nature, and Krayzie Bone withThug on da Line.[34]
In 2002, the group releasedThug World Order. This album, comprising what were described "politically slanted" songs, saw a drastic change in subject matter and tone for the group.[35] The lyrics were almost completely void of any violence, while a larger number of tracks focused on the group itself. In contrast, several songs originally intended to be included on the album that were leaked after its release portrayed a much different album.[36] The album debuted atNo. 12 on theBillboard 200.[16] The first single released from the album was "Money, Money" and the second was "Get Up & Get It", featuring3LW. The third single, "Home", which featuredPhil Collins performing part of his song "Take Me Home", peaked atNo. 33 on theRhythmic Top 40, impacting the charts in a number of countries, most notably the United Kingdom.[17] Bizzy Bone was expelled from the group in January 2003, leaving only 3 active members: Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, and Wish Bone.[37]Thug World Order was also Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's final album with Ruthless Records.
Thug Stories, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's seventh album, was recorded onKoch Records and released on September 19, 2006. It marked the first time Bone Thugs-n-Harmony had recorded as a trio since they released an internet-onlyEP album calledBone 4 Life[38] in September 2005.Thug Stories featured a slightly more mature style, and the group leaned more heavily towards itsharmonic roots than its "thug" origins. The album sold 38,000 in its first week and peaked atNo. 25 on theBillboard 200[16] andNo. 1 on theIndependent Albums chart.
Originally to be titledThe Bone Thugs Story,Strength & Loyalty was released on May 8, 2007, onInterscope Records imprintFull Surface Records. Being their first major album after an absence of nearly five years, the album debuted atNo. 2 on theBillboard 200, andNo. 1 on iTunes and theBillboardurban music charts.[16] The album contains guest appearances byMariah Carey,the Game,will.i.am,Akon,Twista,Bow Wow,Yolanda Adams, andFelecia. Producers on the album includedSwizz Beatz,Akon, Pretty Boy, Bradd Young,DJ Toomp,Jermaine Dupri,will.i.am, and others. The executive producer of the album wasSwizz Beatz. The first single was "I Tried", which was their first top-10 hit in 10 years, peaking at number 6 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100. The second single was "Lil Love", which failed to reach the success of its predecessor. The album has been certifiedgold by the RIAA.[39]
2007 also saw the release of the semi-autobiographical filmI Tried, directed byRich Newey, which explored what might have happened to Bone Thugs-n-Harmony had they not gotten their break with Eazy-E. Layzie, Krayzie, and Wish Bone starred in the film, playing themselves.[40] Also in 2007, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony won theAmerican Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Band, Duo or Group.
T.H.U.G.S., an album featuring previously unreleased, largely remixed Bone Thugs-n-Harmony songs that hadn't made the final cut ofBTNHResurrection andThug World Order, was released on November 13, 2007, by their former record labelRuthless Records. Although the album embodies old tracks, there are some notable changes: new beats, distorted production, voice manipulation, and new song titles. The sole single off the album was "Young Thugs", which was accompanied by a newly filmed music video featuring Krayzie, Layzie, Bizzy, and Wish.
In November 2007, Layzie Bone confirmed that he had completedBone Brothers III with Bizzy Bone, spurring speculation about a full Bone reunion. In a video interview, Krayzie Bone stated that they all wanted to reunite, but that record label issues might prevent an official reunion.[41]
After nearly a decade of incarceration,Flesh-n-Bone was released from prison on July 13, 2008. In an interview, Bizzy confirmed his return, the group having reunited in time for Flesh's release.[42]
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's five members officially returned with their new albumUni5: The World's Enemy, released on May 4, 2010, by their own record labelBTNH Worldwide, with distribution byWarner Bros.Uni5 also marks the return of long-time Bone collaboratorDJ U-Neek, who was absent from 2007'sStrength & Loyalty but had produced for the group throughout their career, including hits "Thuggish Ruggish Bone" and "Tha Crossroads". They released the singles "See Me Shine", featuring Jay Rush andLyfe Jennings, and "Rebirth", featuring Thin-C, a member of theMo Thugs.[43] A third single, "Meet Me in the Sky", was released on March 22.
Throughout 2011,Krayzie Bone,Bizzy Bone, andLayzie Bone spoke about many projects coming in 2012. Those projects were to include an anniversary album featuring all five members; a Bizzy/Krayzie duet album; and compilation albums of unreleased Bone Thugs-n-Harmony material from the mid to late 1990s and 2000s, prospectively titledLost Archives Vol. 1. The group put their differences aside to reunite and belatedly mark their 20th anniversary at theRock the Bells festival series of summer 2012.[44]
During Summer 2012, West Coast rapperGame sampled Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's "1st Of Tha Month" on hisposse cut "Celebration", with the group's blessing. Game also posted a picture on Twitter showing the word "bone" constructed out of cannabis.[45] He later confirmed that he was working in the studio with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony on a remix of "Celebration" for his albumJesus Piece.[46]
In early November 2013,Krayzie Bone toldHipHopDX that theArt of War III album would feature only Layzie, Bizzy, and Flesh-n-Bone and that neither he nor Wish Bone had recorded any material for that album. However, Krayzie and Wish both appeared on the album in the form of previously unreleased tracks that had been cut fromUni5: The World's Enemy.[47]The Art of War: World War III was released on December 10, 2013.
On July 15, 2014, it was announced that Bone Thugs-n-Harmony would release their final album in 2015. There would be only a single copy released, to be auctioned off, with bidding starting at $1 million. The group also announced they would be conducting a 20-country world tour beginning in December 2014.[48] The following day, Krazyie Bone revealed that the album would be titledE. 1999 Legends. He then toldXXL that he had approached the group about a reunion album in the middle of the previous year, and they had begun recording it at the end of 2013. Krayzie estimated that Bone Thugs-n-Harmony probably recorded 75 to 100 songs since they began work on the album, which was planned as a double-disc project. The first disc was to contain Bone Thugs-n-Harmony content exclusively, with no features, and would have 18–20 songs. The second disc was planned to feature a large number of big-name guest appearances such asMariah Carey,Kendrick Lamar,Phil Collins,Wiz Khalifa,Drake,A$AP Mob, andLinkin Park, along with beats fromDr. Dre andDJ U-Neek, who had each been tapped for the album.Damizza would be producing/overseeing the entireE. 1999 Legends album, which was projected to be distributed through Damizza's Baby Ree Records label.[49]
On February 14, 2015, producer and long-time Bone collaborator Damizza officially presented the single "More Than Thugs". In August 2015, Krayzie announced that the first bid of at least $1 million had been received forE. 1999 Legends.[50]
In 2017, Krayzie Bone and Bizzy Bone announced that they would release their long-awaited duet album together titledNew Waves under the name Bone Thugs. The album's lead single "Coming Home" featuringStephen Marley was released on March 24. Krayzie confirmed that the full Bone Thugs-n-Harmony group was working on a new album, but said that they would no longer be auctioning off the album's rights.[51] All five members of the group would appear on rapperWiz Khalifa's 2018 albumRolling Papers 2, each providing a verse for the song "Reach for the Stars".[citation needed] In early 2020, the group announced that they were changing their name to Boneless Thugs-n-Harmony in a promotion forBuffalo Wild Wings. Bizzy Bone later dismissed that the change was anything serious.[52]
On December 2, 2021, Bone competed in aVerzuz battle with longtime rival groupThree 6 Mafia, where all five Bone Thugs and all four still-living Mafia members took part, accompanied by many guests the two groups worked with over their careers. Bizzy was escorted off stage at one point for throwing a bottle at Juicy J, but soon returned and apologized as the show resumed without incident. The event was highly acclaimed as one of the series' best events to date, seen as more of a celebration of old-school hip hop than a fight for supremacy.
On July 21, 2024, the group announced on social media they had officially signed withGreenback Records, a new record label founded bymixed martial arts fighterConor McGregor.[53]
On April 25, 2025, the group released a new single "Aww Shit" featuring all five of the members of the group.[54]
On May 28, 2025, the group appeared on the final episode ofEverybody's Live with John Mulaney, after an initial failed attempt to book the group inspiredJohn Mulaney's monologue in an earlier episode.[55]
In August 2025 they played a concert at the 25th anniversary of the Gathering of the Juggalos.
Studio albums
About.com ranked themNo. 12 on its list of the 25 Best Rap Groups of All Time,[56] andMTV called them "the most melodic hip-hop group of all time".[57]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist | Nominated |
| 1997 | Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | Nominated | |
| 1998 | Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | Won | |
| 2007 | Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Band, Duo or Group | Won |
| Strength & Loyalty | Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | E. 1999 Eternal | Best Rap Album | Nominated |
| "1st of tha Month" | Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | Nominated | |
| 1997 | "Tha Crossroads" | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Creepin on ah Come Up | Best Rap Album | Nominated |
| 1996 | E. 1999 Eternal | Nominated | |
| 1997 | "Tha Crossroads" | Best Video of the Year | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | Best New Rap artist (group) | Nominated |
| Thuggish Ruggish Bone | Single of the Year | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Tha Crossroads | Best R&B song | Nominated |
| 1996 | Tha Crossroads | Clip of the Year | Won |
| 1999 | Ghetto Cowboy (as a featured artist) | Top Rap Song | Nominated |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Tha Crossroads | Video of the Year | Nominated |
| 1996 | Tha Crossroads | Best Group Video | Nominated |
| 1996 | Tha Crossroads | Best Rap Video | Nominated |
| 1996 | Tha Crossroads | Best Special effects in video | Nominated |
| 1996 | Tha Crossroads | Viewer's Choice | Nominated |
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