Thugs -N- Harmony

"We're not against rap, we're not against rappers, but we are against those thugs." These were the first and now familiar words that set up Bones Thugs-N-Harmony's first platinum single 'Thuggish Ruggish Bone' and made this song the most requested video last year on the music channel The Box. Their multi-platinum 1994 EP, Creepin' On Ah Come Up was just a teasing introduction for the public, but ensured Bones Thugs-N-Harmony a place in the hip hop hall of fame and placed Cleveland on the hip hop map. They rely on a ouija board to decide whether they will live the rest of the day Bone Thugs-N-Harmony or Bone (Buddahed Out Niggas Everyday) are Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, Flesh-N-Bone and Bizzy Bone. All hail from St Claire Avenue and East 99th Street, Cleveland. Bone are a mystical and spiritual rap act who rely on a ouija board to decide whether they will live the rest of the day. But all their mystical powers could not have predicted just how huge they were going to become. As hip hop once again breaks down musical barriers, acts who remain 'true' to hip hop beliefs are the real winners. Bones are original in that they incorporate harmonies and fast rhymes above heavy bass, pounding drums and chilling keyboards. Vocally sounding like a harder version of Boyz II Men meets NWA without the bitches. As Krayzie explained, "We have a different kind of harmony. Something that thugs do." Their rhymes are straight gangsta - executing enemies, addictions to drink and the weed. But if this was all they were capable of, they would be just another gangsta group and they're certainly more than that. Their EP was like an autobiography with the hidden message that between the looting and murders was not only despair (you can be killed in a minute) but hope (stick at something long enough and you'll be rewarded). We have a different kind of harmony. Something that thugs do Their debut album E. 1999 Eternal continues the story. It still has the killings - we're talking eliminating your family - and they're still getting high and putting their trust in God. But E. 1999 Eternal works for a variety of reasons; the delivery of all the members, bouncing in and out with rapid rhymes and harmonies; while the creative production of U-Neek fills your head with eerie and chilly sounds that haunt you courtesy of pianos, percussion, drums, violins, thunder and howling winds. It's almost 70 minutes of pleasure with 16 tracks giving props to Cleveland, the thumbs up to gangstas and the thumbs down to gangstas on the track 'Crossroad'. The gangsta mentality is questioned for killing homies, ". . . not scared to die but so much to live for. . . and I gotta give hate to you gangstas out there fakin' the funk, acting like you got a problem but you're just too damn drunk, nigger put down your forties, pick up your fists and act like men." they incorporate harmonies and fast rhymes above heavy bass, pounding drums and chilling keyboards Their social awaremess comes through on '1st of tha Month', which celebrates the arrival of the dole cheque. The accompanying video shows the Bones looking through a crystal ball, surrounded with candles, skulls and burning heads, at the way society frowns upon those on welfare. But they also know that whatever your situation, there's fun to be had. It is the song 'Crept and We Came' that reveals how times have changed for the Bones. "We're creepin on up out of my home town. Me hate to be leaving the glock glock now. . . and I still remain the same, never gone change in my hood, I claim. . . nigga still got to watch his back daily even more lately but they can't break little Layzie. . . " Whilst another member spits out, "Cleveland in your face. . . for the love of money fuck the fame." The Bones are acknowledging their success and their determination to stay the same, but slowly closing the door on their gangsta ways. It really fucked us up. We all miss that nigga a whole lot. We're gonna always stay ruthless because that's what he was The five members, whose ages critics guess to be anything from 16 to 21, are all fathers. They also carry the gangsta credentials of robbing stores and people. But it was their talents for rapping and singing that shone through, rightly telling reporters that when their material came out people would know alright. They also knew there was only one man who could give their musical careers the boost it needed - the late businessman and gangsta rapper Eric 'Eazy-E' Wright. It was Eazy who payed their bus fares and left them cash to join him in L.A. Which led Layzie to remark, "We're little Eazy-E's. . . we follow his footsteps." Their debut album, which in its second week hit the number one spot in the American charts, is dedicated to him and the 11,523 days he spent on this planet. put down your forties, pick up your fists and act like men Whatever their ages, they display a maturity that some rappers would kill for, plus they have been groomed by Eazy-E, who delayed the release of his own album to concentrate on the Bones. They will always be indebted to him. As Krayzie said on the death of their mentor, "It really fucked us up. We all miss that nigga a whole lot. We're gonna always stay ruthless because that's what he was." Words by Funmi Majekodunmi Fly Magazine