Over the next few months, we’ll be spotlighting features from our e-zines from the last 25 years. T M H Entertainment, T M Hxone and Urban Bridgez.
As the longest running website for R&B online, since 1999 – We’ve been able to conduct some amazing interviews with R&B Royalty, as well Hip Hop Legends.
Today we spotlight one of our absolute favorites, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. We pride ourselves on showcasing the best musicians in urban music and these guys have solidified their place in history as hit making recording artists.
Over the last decade, the groups team has invited UB in to interview the guys numerous times, including once on their tour bus in Minneapolis at the famous First Ave.
UB founder Aries and his guests were also treated on a separate occasion, to be on stage with Bone for their entire set. A once in a lifetime experience!
In 1991 a group of 4 young street hardened boys by the name of B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e used their musical talents to obtain one way bus tickets to make their way out from the rough city of Cleveland, Ohio.
They headed out to Los Angeles and were determined to perform for the top record labels at the time. They constantly called in to prove themselves. Their efforts paid off when they rapped over the phone to legendary N.W.A. member, Eazy E, who owned Ruthless Records. They displayed their melodic rapid fire lyrics with group harmony.
After a group new name to Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, the boys kept their aliases Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Bizzy Bone, and Wish Bone and were immediately signed to Ruthless.
All other projects were shifted to the back burner, and the 1994 EP “Creepin On Ah Come Up” shook the rap world and made Bone the highest-selling rap group of the year in 1994. The set featured the singles “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” and “Fo Tha Love Of Money,” which guested Eazy.
The debut reached #2 R&B/No. 12 Pop and was certified double platinum, shortly after release.
Ernie Singleton, President of Ruthless stated, “Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are the hottest rap/hip-hop group in the world today. When you can sell two million albums off one single, it’s a pretty good indication of what the consumer is feeling. People are in awe of Bone’s success. That success is due to a couple of key elements which began with a great album. The synergy of the promotion, sales, publicity and video teams led to a brilliantly executed marketing campaign. And, our distribution team was right on point carrying out an incredibly effective campaign.”
“Everyone was counting Eazy out,” Bizzy Bone recalled. “Then he found us, a new group with a new flavor: four brothers in braids and sagging jeans harmonizing.” Eazy was always looking for other artists, he wanted Ruthless to be a Motown; to be around for a long time. And not just stay with hip-hop. He was definitely starting to listen to different types of music.
“We feel like we are the outcast within the music industry. We’re looked at as outcast, but it’s all good. We know what we’ve brought to the table and we changed the whole thing, that’s undeniable! And no matter how much they try to ignore the fact, it’s going to be known because we’re still here. And we’re still a force to reckon with!” – Krayzie to UB.
Eazy‘s upfront honesty was evident even when he announced to the world that he had AIDS. He was unaware of the disease’s horrific presence, attributing the breathing difficulties he was having to an asthma condition. His condition was already terminal when he was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. It was too late to do anything to prolong his life, but almost immediately he went public, via a letter to his fans.
In a hip-hop world where many felt AIDS didn’t affect them, his announcement was a serious wake up call. He wasn’t gay; he wasn’t an intravenous drug user. The message was that he was a brother from da block, and he still got AIDS.
Eazy-E‘s untimely death from AIDS in 1995, however, precluded him from pursuing his vision or seeing Billboard name Ruthless the #1 independent label in 1996 and 1997. Or watching Ruthless act pick up its first Grammy Award when Bone Thugs-n-Harmony was awarded Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1996 for #1 R&B /pop single “Tha Crossroads” from second Ruthless album “E. 1999 Eternal.”
“E. 1999 Eternal” entered the Pop and R&B Album charts at #1 and sold more than five million copies in the US alone. The album spun off two hit singles “1st Of Tha Month” (#12 R&B) and “East 1999” (#39 R&B).
The third single “Tha Crossroads” marked the group’s biggest release, debuting at #1 on the Hot 100 Singles chart and remaining on the Hot R&B Singles chart for 102 weeks. “Tha Crossroads,” video was inspired by and dedicated to the late Eazy-E.
“Tha Crossroads” was a double platinum smash and held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks (seven weeks at #1 R&B) and tied the Beatles’ 32-year-old record for the fastest-rising Hot 100 single (1964’s “Can’t Buy Me Love”). In the 1996 Grammy Awards, “Tha Crossroads” won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
Bone‘s crossover success continued with its inclusion on soundtrack “Set It Off” with the smooth “Dayz Of Our Lives“, which samples the classic Herb Albert tune “Making Love In the Rain.”
In August 1997, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony dropped their landmark double disc set, “The Art Of War.” Certified 4X-platinum, “The Art Of War” topped both the Pop and R&B Album charts.
Bone Thugs scored a platinum single, “Look Into My Eyes” (#4 Pop/#4 R&B) and it was also featured in the hit movie Batman & Robin.
The album also produced a certified-gold follow-up, “If I Could Teach The World.” Other “Art Of War” highlights included a remake of the Whodini classic “Friends,” in which Bone-thugs paid tribute to those who have remained close and loyal to them and “Family Tree Bone,” a remarkably personal account of the highs and lows in the life of each Bone member.
2000‘s “BTNHResurrection” displayed an accomplished variety of Bone skills and styles. After solo albums by Bizzy Bone (the gold “Heaven’z Movie”) and Krayzie Bone (Thug Mentality), and their Mo Thugs label all-Cleveland compilation Mo Thugs Family Scriptures, Bone were ready to reunite and give their fans a dose of the whole crew.
The album was followed by “Thug World Order” in 2002, and “Thug Stories” in 2006. In 2007, they signed with lnterscope Records and worked with Swizz Beatz to create “Strength & Loyalty.”
In 2010 with much fan input, the group released “Uni5: The World’s Enemy,” which featured a recently released from prison, Flesh-n-Bone.
These days the Bone Boys can still be seen and heard on various social media platforms, engaging with fans by continuing to tell stories with their fast melodic rap style and straight discussions.
Eazy E passing away did not stop the group from still selling millions around the world but little did they know that they would be fast tracked to legendary status and affecting the whole music industry into following their style.
Last August in their home of Cleveland, a street was renamed at the intersection of East 99th Street and St. Clair Avenue to “Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Way.”
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have sold more than 15 million records. They recorded with The Notorious B.I.G. They recorded with 2Pac. They won a Grammy.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony redirected hip-hop’s sonic direction.
UB‘s interview with the group on their tour bus, took place in March 2010.
Flesh was very excited about kicking off the tour! He stated “We’re not sure how Minnesota ended up first on the list, but we’re happy about it and we’re going to give what we always do, 100% of high energy while we’re on stage!”
The guys had just released their single “Meet Me In The Sky,” which immediately took us back to “Crossroads” and in a good way. However as Layzie & Krayzie explained, it’s not another “Crossroads!” Krayzie said “The song is really about everybody hating on us down here (on earth) and we’re saying we’ll meet you in the sky!”
Layzie chimed in “More so with “Crossroads” it was about loosing loved ones.” Krayzie continued “We’re not trippin on the haters & that’s what the song is about really. Alot of people tell us it reminds them of “Crossroads,” because of the melody and like with any song people can really put their own interpretation to it which is cool!”
Wish Bone wanted Bone fans to know, “the group sends much love to their fans and get ready for when they come to your city, because they’re gonna set the mutha fucka off!”
Founder Aries recorded their performance of “Tha Crossroads,” in 2014 at The Myth in St Paul, MN.
UB Interviewed Krayzie Bone in 2005 and in 2009 – Some of Our Favorite Quotes;
UrbanBridgez.com: What do you think about the current state of hip-hop?
Krayzie: Man, it’s cool. It’s alot more opportunities out there. Alot of chances for people to come in and express themselves. It’s “survival of the game” now. People are not scared of hip-hop like they used to be, a couple of years ago. I think hip-hop is moving at a rapid speed and getting more and more respect as we go.UrbanBridgez.com: A few years ago, you guys did a song with Phil Collins. How did that collaboration come about?
Krayzie: I was just in the studio one day and I was always playing Phil Collins. And I took one of his songs and I just sampled his voice. I let the dudes hear it and they were like “we need to use this song and put it out.” And see if we can use Phil Collins. It took awhile to clear the song and he finally agreed to be in the video. It worked out really well. We had to go to Switzerland to shoot the video, of course, cause he was busy working on his projects and we flew out to him. It just all worked out.UrbanBridgez.com: What’s the major difference between being on an independent label and a major one?
Krayzie: You get a little bit more freedom instead of getting lost in the shuffle. With an independent label, they tend to keep their eyes on the project. They work it longer and harder than a major label would. If you come out on a major label and sometimes if you don’t do what they expect you to do (in the first week), they’re like “okay we’ll move onto the next project.” Whereas, an independent label, if they’re not satisfied with the numbers, they might change up the whole marketing strategy and put more money into it and just keep working on it until they get the results they’re looking for.UrbanBridgez.com: If you guys could do a Best Of Both Worlds-type album with an R&B artist, who would you pick?
Krayzie: I’d probably pick somebody like a Jill Scott or Floetry. Somebody like that. Somebody that I think is real down-to-earth. Kinda like talk about the same issues we talk about, real day-to-day issues and real-life drama. Real stuff.UrbanBridgez.com: You guys do realize this is the Bone Thugs album the fans have been waiting for since forever right, with all 5 of you guys?
Krayzie Bone (Bone Thugs): Oh yeah, most definitely man. We know it’s been known and anticipated, we’ve been anticipating it ourselves. That’s why we got back together to finally make it happen.UrbanBridgez.com: What’s your thoughts on the drama concerning “See Me Shine” with some fans being very upset the leaked version with Jay Rush isn’t the final version?
Krayzie Bone (Bone Thugs): Yeah, it was real crazy how that happened, but man we’re living in that new age where things leak and those things happen. We’re just glad it wasn’t the final mix, so when everybody does hear the final mix and how it’s really mixed down it will be an even better song.UrbanBridgez.com: Tell me about when you guys first went in to the studio to record the new album and what kind of emotions you were feeling finally being back together?
Krayzie Bone (Bone Thugs): Man it was crazy, it was alot going on. Then when Flesh-N-Bone came home from prison. We went and picked him up and went straight to the studio. We recorded a song that day. The vibe was there, but as we went on we still had to get to know each other again. You know, like bond hang out and kick it, reminisce and stuff just to get the vibe back going strong!UrbanBridgez.com: What can Bone Thug fans expect from this album when they listen to it?
Krayzie Bone (Bone Thugs): They can expect really what they’ve been expecting you know. Like the fast flow, the harmonies, the new growth and the lyrical vocab. It’s really like, some really good put together songs. The concept for the album overall is just like amazing.UrbanBridgez.com: Who are some of the people you guys worked with on the new album UNI-5…The World’s Enemy?
Krayzie Bone (Bone Thugs): Right now as far as producers, we went back and got DJ Unique, LT Hutton and we got some upcoming producers on there as well. We don’t really have anymore big producers. As far as guest appearances, as of right now we don’t really have anybody on it. But we are looking to get a couple of people on a couple of songs we got. We think that will be good, but it’s not official as of yet.UrbanBridgez.com: Do you guys feel you get the credit you deserve within the Hip-Hop community, I don’t!
Krayzie Bone (Bone Thugs): Not really man and that’s something we talk about all the time. That’s why we chose to name this album “The Worlds Enemy,” because we feel like we don’t. We feel like we are the outcast within the music industry. We’re looked at as outcast, but it’s all good. We know what we’ve brought to the table and we changed the whole thing, that’s undeniable! And no matter how much they try to ignore the fact, it’s going to be known because we’re still here. And we’re still a force to reckon with!UrbanBridgez.com: Let’s go back for a minute and talk about some of your many major accomplishments, like your Grammy for Crossroads. When you guys were in the studio recording that song, did any of you have any idea the kind of impact that song might have on people, the way it did?
Krayzie Bone (Bone Thugs): Oh no, man we just really made the song because we had family members and friends close to us, all of a sudden started dying or being killed. It was just really crazy, then Eazy E died. So we were just in the studio basically and just making a song dedicated to them. We wasn’t in there thinking like, yeah this is going to be a hit. We just went in and knocked the song out and went on to the next song. We didn’t know or think it was going to be that big, it was real heartfelt you know. Again because we had lost alot of people, but we wasn’t in there like plotting to make it another hit for us.UrbanBridgez.com: You guys have had the pleasure to work with some of the greatest in Hip-Hop, who are no longer here. And the only artist to ever work with Eazy, Tupac, Pun & BIG while they were here. Tell us about working with them?
Krayzie Bone (Bone Thugs): It was just really cool to get the chance to work with them all, like in the studio. They were all real cool people, they were artists. It was like a real blessing for us to get that opportunity, we’re real thankful. We are the only group that can even really say that, you know. Out of alot of artists, solo artists can’t even say that.UrbanBridgez.com: What’s been the best and worst part about being in this music business?
Krayzie Bone (Bone Thugs): The best would be, just coming up and reaching your goal. Reaping the rewards from it, that’s the best part. Just being able to do what you love to do and get paid from it. You know from what you really love doing and there aren’t that many people who get to do what they actually want to do in life and make a living out of it. So that’s a really good thing! The bad thing, I would say it’s just like a job. There’s a bad thing about everybody’s job, niggas don’t like to work sometime. You know, we be tired with all the traveling and being away from our family. That can take a toll on you. And having your business out there, because you’re a celebrity. They make everything so major for other peoples lives, like the media. Like they could see me going to the smoke shop and them niggas make a big deal out of that shit you know. But other than that type of stuff, everything is cool man.
