Bone Thugs-N-Harmony discuss Thug World Order and group unity

They put a new sound into the rap game, walked past the musical crossroads, died and were resurrected on wax. So what does life after death have in store for Bone Thugs-N-Harmony members Bizzy, Layzie, Wish and Krayzie?

"When you get some sh-- that's good and you see it try to do something different, people can't handle that," Wish said about everyone pursuing solo projects in addition to their group effort. "Rumors get out. But for us, it's all about the music, period. We're always going to come together and do the music. We got to."

Bizzy said that the rest of his group members are now cool with him, too, and the collective maintain they've never broken up despite the reports of friction between them the past few years.

Layzie said that even though they haven't put out an LP in a couple of years, it didn't take long for those little light bulbs in their heads to illuminate with ideas.

"It's just like riding a bike," Layzie said. "Once you learn how to do it, you never forget it. We're Bone Thugs-N-Harmony — when we come together at any time, any place, our chemistry is already on. We love each other for one. Two, the respect [is there], and three, we love making music. The chemistry is always gonna be there if we was doing solos for two or three years apiece. Making Bone albums, in two seconds the chemistry is on with just eye contact."

After blazing through the monster hits “1st Of Tha Month” and “Tha Crossroads,” as well as the brand-new anthem “Cleveland Rocks,” they stop the music and quiet the crowd. Krayzie has something important to say.

“We ain’t ever ****in’ break up,” he growls into his microphone, pacing the stage. “**** what you heard.”

By February 2000, when Bone released the solid-as-a-rock BTNHResurrection, the group had entered into a contractual disagreement with its label, Ruthless Records. As a result, they hardly promoted the album. And while it still went platinum, the lack of the usual media blitz started public’s tongues wagging.

Group unity was delivered a further blow when, on September 22, 2000, Layzie’s brother and fifth thug, Flesh-N-Bone, was sentenced to 11 years behind bars at the LA Men’s County Jail for assault charges involving an AK-47. Bone had definitely seen better days.

The time spent recording has been good for the group, as well. They look healthy and relaxed. By all accounts, the vibe in the studio was lovely. “It kinda reminded me of back in the days when E was here a lil’ bit,” Says Wish. “Kinda like the beginning all over again. Just havin’ fun and really in there just gettin’ down.”

Bone is a family. If you understand that then you can comprehend how strong they really are. They were strong when they first broke into the rap biz, pioneering an undorthodox style some were simply not ready for. They stood tall through years of struggling, the death of their comrades, the imprisonment of their kin. They proved unbreakable when the pressure of the music industry came down on them. They deserve more respect and recognition than they get.

Still, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony got quite a lot. They got loyal fans who reward them with Tupac-like record sales (they move, on average, 1,500 units a week of their back catalogue.) They got numerous awards and industry records (in 1995, the Grammy winning “Tha Crossroads” tied the Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love” as the fastest rising no. 1 single ever). And they got youth on their side (they are all still under the age of 30).

So it appears that Bone have got their best years ahead of them. As Krayzie Bone noted over a year ago, “The kind of style that we got, we probably can go on until we die, probably. ‘Cause I don’t really see our style playin’ out because our style cover everything: you got rappin’, harmonies, singing, R&B, you got everything.”

Evidently, the best thing that Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony got is each other.

Bone Thugs said they're coming with a more political slant this go round, and in addition to the title track, they have songs called "Take Charge," "Bad Weed Blues," "Not My Baby" and "Cleveland Rocks" with their hometown homeboy Avant. Snoop Dogg's artist Mr. Kane also sings on the LP. Thug World Order is due out this summer.