The last few months have proved to be quite the roller-coaster ride for veteran rap outfit Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. After reuniting for its forthcoming Ruthless/Epic album, “Thug World Order,” due Tuesday (Oct. 29), the Cleveland natives were soon at odds. In the midst of headlining the Grey Goose Vodka music tour, the group ousted member Bizzy Bone for being drunk onstage and passing out, only to recently welcome him back into the fold.
“There are three members in the group right now — Krayzie, Layzie, and Wish,” group member Krayzie Bone tells Billboard for the Nov. 2 issue. “Bizzy is doing his own thing. He’s still down with us, and it isn’t a personal beef; it’s just business. He really couldn’t come to terms with everything we were trying to do at the time, so we decided to let him go and do whatever it is he’s trying to do. What that is we don’t know, but he has the time to do it now.”
Despite the friction, Krayzie maintains that Bizzy will remain a member of the group. “Once a Bone, always a Bone,” he says. “He’s still on the album; he just won’t be touring with us. We’re still going to work this album like we have to.” In September 2000, group member Stanley Howse (aka Flesh-N-Bone) was sentenced to 10 years in prison for assault with an AK-47 rifle and possessing a gun, which is illegal for an ex-convict.
Ironically, Bone Thugs’ current single, “Get Up & Get It,” features labelmates 3LW, another group whose lineup has changed recently with the exit of member Naturi Naughton. The cut peaked at No. 63 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart and No. 25 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart.
The Grey Goose tour hits Las Vegas tonight (Oct. 25) and wraps Nov. 9 in Honolulu.
