by Adrian MacNair, Black Press
When it comes to the rap game, the group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are genuine old school OGs who have collaborated with the industry’s most legendary superstars, like Eazy-E, 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G.
Originally formed in 1991 in Cleveland, Ohio, with rappers Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone, it was N.W.A’s Eazy-E who signed the group to Ruthless Records in 1993 and launched their careers.
Wish and Krayzie were just 18 and 20 years old, respectively, when Bone Thugs debuted their EP Creepin on ah Come Up, which included the single Thuggish Ruggish Bone that reached second on the 1994 rap charts. Now, nearly two decades later, Wish and Krayzie have split from the group to work on a solo album with their label The Life Entertainment. The split in April of last year was big news in the hip-hop world, leading to the question of whether Bone Thugs was finished.
“What everybody thinks is we broke up, we hate each other, but that’s just not the case,” says Wish Bone, explaining that members have “grown up” since 1991 and have their own lives.
But, he adds, there’s a deal on the table for Krayzie and Wish to come back and do a 10th Bone album.
Thinking back, Wish says he always knew Bone Thugs had a special sound and was just waiting for the “right ears” to come along and hear it. As it turns out, those ears belonged to Eazy-E, who died in 1995 while on top of the rap world.
He says Eazy will always be an influence for Bone Thugs because he opened the door to mainstream hip-hop.
“Not just for us, but the rap game period, because without Eazy-E you wouldn’t have ‘gangsta rap’ or people really speaking their feelings or dressing how they want to dress and not being told to look a certain way.”
Bone Thugs’ is coming to Mission’s Clarke Theatre on Monday, Jan. 23. Tickets are $30 and are available by calling 604-768-9877 or at Mac & Mango in Sevenoaks. Doors open at 8 p.m.