Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Biography

While many groups are let down by downward sale of albums, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony refuse to give up and manage to strengthen their legacy in music industry that they used to have effortlessly in the 90s. With the latest album "Strength & Loyalty" coming out on May 8, 2007, the rappers are back on top of the game, preceded by the success of first single "I Tried". Featuring the hottest artist in town Akon, it received a warm welcome from fans that helped catapulting the single to #7 on Billboard Hot 100. It could be their signature speedy and harmonizing flow that helps securing the niche, but it was the 'change' that really counts. The aptly titled song speaks of the fight to escape from the miseries that life has put upon people. Simply telling personal experience, the group also talked about their relationship with God in "Order My Steps", a far comparison to their previous tunes that often touch cynical issues towards the authority. Employing deeper materials and slipping in more mature lyrics, the whole record shows one higher level where the lots see things that 'really matter'.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is only the moniker formed after the group joined Ruthless Records in 1993. Way before meeting Eazy-E, the man responsible for their initial success, the gangsta group was trapped between East and West Coast domination while trying to find their place as potential rappers in Cleveland, Ohio. Seeing that they won't move any step closer to stardom by staying in the post-industrial city, Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, and Bizzy Bone tried their luck by spending their last bit of money for one-way bus tickets to Los Angeles in hope of meeting their favorite rapper Eric Lynn Wright aka Eazy-E. With all strength and every possible move, they tried to build a contact with Eazy-E while living on the streets. One day in late 1993, they got the call from Eazy-E whom they tried to impress by rapping through the phone. The 'instant' audition looked promising as the other end said that they would get in touch 'soon'. Eazy-E never called them back but the troupe kept their spirits high and bought another bus tickets to Eazy-E's show. They met him backstage whereby they were required to sing in front of him. This time a bright light coming out at the end of the tunnel, the group was signed under Ruthless Records.

Until that point they were B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e and had one underground record "Faces of Death". It was not until 1994 that they were known as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony with the addition of Layzie Bone's brother Bone-N-Flesh. Under Ruthless wings, the five-piece shot to prominence through the release of first studio album "Creepin on ah Come Up [EP]" that boasted its single "Thuggish Ruggish Bone". The single smoothly climbed the US Rap Charts to the 2nd position and became the most requested song in US radios at that time. The album gained triple platinum, thanks to the lyrics in "Foe tha Love of $" that awed people with its boldness. Such achievement by a new group made people wonder where do these rappers come from and most importantly who was the people behind their success. Not wanting to give the wrong impression, Bone Thugs came up with "E 1999 Eternal" a year later that stopped the questioning and invited a roar of praise. The album exploded in the US market mainly due to the striking melodic tune and the emphasizing of "Harmony" in their music which was rarely present in any hip-hop group at that time. The sophomore album marked a greater success for the group especially when the single "Tha Crossroads" circulated the radio. Through the song, the group received their first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1997.

Back in the business, the group released a double CD "The Art of War" in July 2007 which was a major departure from the group's darker "E 1999 Eternal". This third set sadly could not reprise the victory of its predecessor although it still debuted at #1 in Billboard 200. During this time Bizzy Bone started to show his lack of commitment towards the group. He was absent from most of the promoting tours and even the video shooting. Rumors surrounded the speculation that the group had split. This was further dampened by the enrollment of each member in his solo projects. Just when their fans were about to give up their hopes, the group reformed in late 1999 with full line up and released "BTNHResurrection" in 2000. Three 'mess-ups' happened here when the album received poor promotion, Flesh-N-Bone went to jail and Bizzy Bone's absence became worse. The group's tour only counted on three remaining members and the album only received 2x platinum, a considerably low number compared to their previous records. This declining sale went on with the group's fifth studio album "Thug World Order". RIAA certified the album Platinum despite the comeback of their explicit lyrics that tickled the law enforcement mockers. The group meanwhile started to despise Bizzy's airy dedication and kicked him out of the group after he performed drunk during a concert. Bizzy later re-joined the lots for 2003 tour but then failed to impress the others and got an official dismissal in 2005. The group proceeded with four members from then on and also departed from Ruthless.

One greatest hits and two Bizzy firing after, the group hit the studio again in 2005 and produced "Thug Stories" the next year. Still gathering a mass of loyal fans, the album was credited Gold but they were not satisfied with that. As soon as completing the tour, the group minus Bizzy and Flesh-N-Bone went back to the studio and signed a deal with Interscope. 2007 album "Strength & Loyalty" was self-explanatory on how the trio kept sticking to each other throughout the bumpy journey. Upon its release on May 1, 2007 the album debuted at #2 and the first single from the album "I Tried" was made a film under the same title that tells of what might happen to the careers of Layzie, Krayzie and Wish if they hadn't met Eazy-E. The film was directed by Rich Newey and was completed for May 2007 release. They were quick to have another release titled 'T.H.U.G.S.' in November 2007. The compilation is comprised of materials that didn't make it to 'BTNHResurrection' and 'Thug World Order'.