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Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

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Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony is an American hip hop group, formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1991. It consists of rappers Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, Flesh-N-Bone, Layzie Bone, and Bizzy Bone. Rapper Eazy-E of the group N.W.A signed Bone Thugs-n-Harmony to Ruthless Records in 1994, when Bone Thugs debuted with EP Creepin on ah Come Up. That EP included the hit single "Thuggish Ruggish Bone". In 1995, the group released its debut album, E 1999 Eternal, which included hits "1st of tha Month" and "Tha Crossroads". A tribute to the recently deceased Eazy-E, "Tha Crossroads" won a Grammy award in 1997, and E 1999 Eternal sold four million copies. The Art of War, the group's second album, was released in 1997 and sold four million copies like the previous album. Bone Thugs released two more albums that did not generate as much hype: BTNHResurrection (2000) and Thug World Order (2002). The group went on hiatus and returned in 2007 with Strength & Loyalty, this time released by Swizz Beatz's label Full Surface Records.

Early years

Formed in 1991 as B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e, the group consisted of four members: Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Bizzy Bone, and Wish Bone. Their first album, Faces Of Death, was recorded in 1993. With new member Flesh-n-Bone added the same year, the group renamed itself Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. In November 1993, the group auditioned backstage for rapper Eazy-E, who was performing in Cleveland. After a second audition, Eazy-E signed the group to his label Ruthless Records.[1][2]

Ruthless Records

Creepin on ah Come Up (1994)

Released in June 1994, the EP Creepin on ah Come Up, was Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's debut with Ruthless. Peaking at #12 on the Billboard 200 album chart and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart,[3] 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 at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #2 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart, and "Foe tha Love of $" peaked at #41 on the Hot 100 and #4 on the Rap Tracks.[4]

E 1999 Eternal (1995)

In 1995, the group's debut album E 1999 Eternal was released. It included the singles "1st Of Tha Month", which peaked at #14 on the Hot 100 and #4 on the Hot Rap Tracks, and "Tha Crossroads", which reached #1 on the Hot 100 and Hot Rap Tracks charts.

The Art Of War

In 1997, the group released the double-disc set The Art of War. The single "Look into My Eyes" appeared on the soundtrack of the film Batman & Robin. It peaked at #4 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart[4]. "If I Could Teach the World", the other single from The Art of War, peaked at #27 on the Hot 100 and #3 on the Hot Rap Tracks.[4]

BTNHResurrection

In 2000, Bone released BTNHResurrection. The album featured the single "Resurrection (Paper, Paper)", which peaked on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at #52.[4] Flesh-n-Bone was convicted for assault with a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon in June 2000.[5] Pleading guilty, Flesh-n-Bone was sentenced to 11 years in prison.[6] Bizzy Bone abstained from promoting BTNHResurrection because he felt that Ruthless Records owed him money. He dropped a million-dollar lawsuit he filed against Sony Music and Loud Records in exchange for a termination of his Sony contract.[7] Three members of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony released solo albums in 2001: Bizzy Bone with The Gift, Layzie Bone with Thug by Nature, and Krayzie Bone with Thug on da Line.[8]

Thug World Order

In 2002, Bone released Thug World Order. The album debuted at #12 on the Billboard 200,[3] and its single "Home" that featured Phil Collins performing part of his song "Take Me Home" peaked at #33 on the Rhythmic Top 40.[4] Bizzy Bone was expelled from the group in January 2003.[9]

After Ruthless

Thug Stories

Thug Stories, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's sixth album, was recorded on Koch Records and released on September 19, 2006. It marked the first time Bone Thugs-n-Harmony recorded as a trio. Thug Stories sold 38,000 in its first week and peaked at #25 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Independent Album Chart.

Strength & Loyalty

Originally to be called The Bone Thugs Story, Strength & Loyalty was released on May 8, 2007. Being their first major album after an absence of nearly five years, the album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on iTunes and the Billboard Urban Music charts. The album contains guest appearances by Mariah Carey, The Game, will.i.am, Akon, Twista, Bow Wow, Yolanda Adams, and Felecia.

Producers on the album included Swizz Beatz, Akon, Pretty Boy & Bradd Young, DJ Toomp, Jermaine Dupri, will.i.am, and others. The executive producer of the album was Swizz Beatz. The first single was "I Tried", followed by "Lil Love". The album has been certified Gold by the RIAA.[10]

T.H.U.G.S.

T.H.U.G.S. is an album featuring previously unreleased Bone Thugs-n-Harmony songs that didn't make the final cut of BTNHResurrection and Thug World Order albums. It was released on November 13, 2007 by their former record label, Ruthless Records. The sole single off the album was "Young Thugs", which was accompanied by a newly-filmed music video featuring Krayzie, Layzie, Bizzy and Wish.

I Tried (The Bone Thugs Movie)

Bone has also released a movie titled I Tried (directed by Rich Newey), which was originally named "What If..." The topic of the movie is how different the lives of Krayzie, Layzie and Wish would have been if they had never met Eazy-E. The movie was released in stores on September 25 of 2007. It has since become a platinum selling DVD.[11]

Reunion

In November 2007, Layzie Bone confirmed that he had completed the Bone Brothers III album with Bizzy Bone, spurring speculation of a full Bone reunion. In a video interview[12], Krayzie Bone stated that they all wanted to reunite but that record label issues may prevent an official reunion. Bizzy Bone had attended a Bone Thugs performance during the time and he and the three then-standing members had a "good conversation".

After nearly a decade of incarceration, Flesh-n-Bone was released from prison on July 13, 2008. In an interview, Bizzy confirmed his return to the group, spurred by Flesh's release and Layzie Bone's diplomacy.[13]

Uni-5: The World's Enemy

Uni-5: The World's Enemy is an upcoming album featuring the reunited Bone Thugs-n-Harmony with all five members. It is being released by their own record label, BTNH Worldwide, with distribution by Warner Bros.. The first single, "See Me Shine", was released on October 20, 2009 and the second single named "Rebirth" was released on February 16, 2010 along with its music video.[14] A third single, "Meet Me in the Sky", was released on March 22. Uni-5: The World's Enemy is set to be released on May 4, 2010.

In March 2010, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony revealed that they are set to reunite again for a 34-city U.S tour this spring to help promote their new upcoming album. The tour starts on March 24th in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[15]

Discography

Awards

Award Category Song/Album Year Result
Grammy Awards "Best Rap Album" E 1999 Eternal 1996 Nominated
"Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group" 1st of tha Month Nominated
Tha Crossroads 1997 Won
American Music Awards "Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist" Bone Thugs-n-Harmony 1996 Nominated
1997 Won
1998 Won
"Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Band, Duo or Group" 2007 Won
MTV Video Music Awards "Best Special Effects" Tha Crossroads 1996 Nominated
"Viewer's Choice" Won
"Video of the Year" Won
"Best Group Video" Won

References

  1. ^ "Biography". 2007. Interscope Records. Retrieved January 17, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony-Biography/9C2557736F31E2A9482568C7000D8699
  3. ^ a b "Bone Thugs-n-Harmony: Charts & Awards: Billboard Albums". allmusic. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: Charts & Awards: Billboard Singles". allmusic. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  5. ^ Basham, David (June 16, 2000). "Flesh-N-Bone Convicted On Assault, Weapons Charges". MTV News. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  6. ^ Johnson, Tina (September 22, 2000). "UPDATE: Flesh-N-Bone Gets 11 Years In Assault Case". MTV News. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  7. ^ Baker, Soren (March 22, 2001). "Bizzy Bone Has A Gift For Negotiation". MTV News. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  8. ^ Baker, Soren (March 13, 2001). "Three Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Members Dropping Solo LPs". MTV News. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  9. ^ Reid, Shaheem (January 31, 2003). "Bone Thugs Say Bizzy Is Out For Good This Time". MTV News. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  10. ^ "Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: News: "Strength & Loyalty" Certified Gold".
  11. ^ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.1090
  12. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-25OrAQ_gM
  13. ^ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.1185/title.bizzy-bone-thicker-than-water/p.all
  14. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Shine-feat-Jennings-Phaedra-Explicit/dp/B002U1HKB4
  15. ^ "Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Prepare Reunion Album, Full U.S. Tour". idiomag. Retrieved 2010-03-12.