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Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

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Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony is a hip hop music group, formed in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., in 1991. It consists of rappers Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, Flesh-n-Bone & 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 second and 1/3 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. The Art of War, the group's third album, was also released in 1997.

In 2000 BTNHResurrection reached platinum in one month and Thug World Order (2002) received more moderate sales and promotion. After the album the group went on a sort of hiatus and released two independent label releases (Bone-4-Life[1] and Thug Stories) before returning in 2007 with the major label release Strength & Loyalty, this time released by Swizz Beatz's label Full Surface Records. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony officially returned with their new album Uni-5: The World's Enemy, released in 2010 by their own record label, BTNH Worldwide, with distribution by Warner Bros.

Early years

The group consisted of only five members:Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Bizzy Bone, Wish Bone and Flesh-n-Bone the group renamed itself Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. In November 1993, the group auditioned backstage for rapper Eazy-E. Krayzie Bone performed his verse of "Flow Motion" from the Faces of Death album and Eazy-E was impressed.[2] Eazy-E signed the group to his label Ruthless Records.[3]

Ruthless Records

Creepin on ah Come Up

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,[4] 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.[5] The EP marked a major change in style for the group, as they now fully embraced the G-Funk common in West Coast hip-hop of the time. It was the group's first collaboration with producer DJ U-Neek, who would craft the group's signature sound by producing the majority of their next two albums.

E. 1999 Eternal

In 1995, the group's second 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 album name originated from Eazy-E's album, Eternal E, naming it after Eazy-E's album was just another way of showing respect and tribute to the rapper that helped make them big. In the same year, Flesh-n-Bone would become the first member of the group to release a debut album entitled T.H.U.G.S.

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.[5] "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.[5]

BTNHResurrection

In 2000, the group released BTNHResurrection. The album featured the single "Resurrection (Paper, Paper)", which peaked on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at #52.[5] Flesh-n-Bone was convicted for assault with a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon in June 2000.[6] Pleading guilty, Flesh-n-Bone was sentenced to 11 years in prison.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

Thug World Order

In 2002, the group released Thug World Order. The album debuted at #12 on the Billboard 200,[4] and its single "Home" that featured Phil Collins performing part of his song "Take Me Home" peaked at #33 on the Rhythmic Top 40.[5] Bizzy Bone was expelled from the group in January 2003.[10]

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", which was their first top 10 hit in 10 years, having peaked at number 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The second single was "Lil Love", which failed to reach the success of their first single. The album has been certified Gold by the RIAA.[11]

T.H.U.G.S.

T.H.U.G.S. is an album featuring previously unreleased, largely remixed 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..." This film is the thrilling, action-packed tale of what could have happened if Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, and Wish Bone never made it on their life-changing journey to Los Angeles. The supporting cast includes Chris Mulkey, Anna Maria Horsford, Hassan Johnson, and Willie McGinest. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this musical drama stars the members of hip-hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. I TRIED contemplates what would have happened to Krayzie, Layzie, and Wish if they had never met. (note that Bizzy Bone and Flesh-N-Bone do not appear in the film, Bizzy Bone being booted from the group and Flesh-N-Bone then incarated)It is an indepedent DVD that has become a platinum selling DVD.

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, after them all getting together by the time of Flesh's release.[13]

Uni5: The World's Enemy

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony five members officially returned with their new album Uni-5: The World's Enemy, released in 2010 by their own record label, BTNH Worldwide, with distribution by Warner Bros. They released the singles See Me Shine featuring Lyfe Jennings and Rebirth.[14] A third single, "Meet Me in the Sky", was released on March 22. Uni-5: The World's Enemy was released on May 4, 2010 followed by Bizzy Bone's departure from the group once again later that same year.

E.1999 Eternal Tour and New Record Deal

In the fall of 2010, the group went on their E.1999 Eternal Tour, a 36-city tour performing songs from their 1995 album E 1999 Eternal with a live band (without Bizzy Bone). Bone will spend the rest of 2010 recording a new CD for a soon-to-be-disclosed new label deal, writing a book, and developing a film project based on their unique rags to riches story.

Style and technique

Bone's style and technique can be described as melodic, yet rapid-fire and aggressive. Their flow is often interwoven at a high-speed, melodic pace or slow, harmonic pace. They also tend to ride the beat that they're rapping over. Sometimes there are very few choruses separating their verses from one another. In the beginning, circa Faces of Death, Bone used a pseudo-Jamaican patois delivery with their trademark style, though they rarely do this now. Bone's subject matter has both spiritual and occult undertones (e.g., "Hell Sent", "Intro", "Mr. Ouija", "Mr. Ouija 2" and "Da Introduction"). At first, their subject matter was almost always exclusively about violence and smoking marijuana. Today, however, their subject matter includes other topics such as urban socio-political issues, their old friend and mentor Eazy-E and religion. Besides minor changes to subject matter and sound, their lyrical style, elocution, and overall methodology remain intact and have influenced many new artist's today who have picked up this unique style.

Krayzie Bone Departure

On the 14th of April 2011, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony member Krayzie Bone announced he left the group after 20 years.[15]


Discography

Main article: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony discography

References

  1. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Bone-Life-bone-thugs-harmony/dp/B00186CDSW/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1295705687&sr=1-1
  2. ^ "Krayzie Bone - Audition To Eazy E".
  3. ^ "Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Biography". Interscope Records. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Bone Thugs-n-Harmony: Charts & Awards: Billboard Albums". allmusic. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: Charts & Awards: Billboard Singles". allmusic. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  6. ^ Basham, David (June 16, 2000). "Flesh-N-Bone Convicted On Assault, Weapons Charges". MTV News. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  7. ^ Johnson, Tina (September 22, 2000). "UPDATE: Flesh-N-Bone Gets 11 Years In Assault Case". MTV News. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  8. ^ Baker, Soren (March 22, 2001). "Bizzy Bone Has A Gift For Negotiation". MTV News. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  9. ^ Baker, Soren (March 13, 2001). "Three Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Members Dropping Solo LPs". MTV News. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  10. ^ Reid, Shaheem (January 31, 2003). "Bone Thugs Say Bizzy Is Out For Good This Time". MTV News. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  11. ^ "Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: News: "Strength & Loyalty" Certified Gold".
  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/dp/B002U1HKB4
  15. ^ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14757/title.krayzie-bone-splits-from-bone-thugs-n-harmony
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