Perhaps the group's most important contribution to rap is their speedy, harmonizing flow. While fast rapping has always had a niche in the culture, Bone certainly brought the style to the forefront. In addition, the group's ability to harmonize whilst flowing at top speeds is truly remarkable. Not before nor since has a rapper or rap group sung an a cappella tune without loss of street cred.
Their albums have varied in subject material, with 1994's Creepin on Ah Come Up being heavily influenced by the G-Funk gangsta rap era. E. 1999 Eternal, the group's most successful album, focused primarily on violent criminal activity, but also showed Bone exploring themes of spirituality, and the introduction of the group's trademark "weed songs"-- songs devoted entirely to smoking weed. The group's 1997 album, the Art of War, saw Bone further explore a wide variety of subjects and styles, with even more focus on God and family and an overall more ambient, mellow sound. The group still found time for violent lyrics, though, with a large portion of the album dedicated to what they labeled "clones" who claimed Bone had stolen their quick-tongued rapping style and vice-versa. 2002's Thug World Order album saw a drastic change in subject matter and tone for the group. The lyrics were almost completely void of any violence.
Although 1996 was definitely the peak of their popular appeal, Bone still has a fairly large cult following. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are the only rap artists ever to have collaborated with late rappers Eazy-E, 2Pac, Big Punisher and The Notorious B.I.G.. Their latest release, Thug Stories, was released September 19, 2006.
Bone Thugs released their new album Strength and Loyalty on May 8, 2007 with production by Swizz Beatz, Kanye West, Lil' Jon, Three 6 Mafia, Big Boi of Outkast, Play-N-Skillz, Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland and Dr. Dre. It will be featuring guest appearances by Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Rowland, The Game, Lil Eazy-E ,Mariah Carey, Akon, Chamillionaire, Twista, Busta Rhymes, Stevie Wonder, Eve, Cassidy, Lil' Recka and DMX. According to the group they have recorded nearly 70 tracks and are in the process of deciding which tracks will appear on the album. Although producer DJ-Uneek helped to launch the band to stardom, he does not appear on the album; rather, handling the majority of the producton is Chicago native LT Hutton, with whom the band has worked on prior recordings. According to Bone, the album will feature all-new vocals from imprisoned member Flesh-N-Bone.
The first single, "Just Vibe", has been released on the radio in Southern California. Bizzy Bone will not be on the album. Bone says that this album will be their best ever. Swizz Beatz will handle most of the production, as the group signed in 2005 to Swizz Beatz' Full Surface Records, and in 2006 to Interscope Records.
As of 2006 to the present, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, especially Krayzie Bone, have continued their strong track record of collaborations and appearances on compilation albums. Krayzie appeare d on Duets: The Final Chapter by The Notorious B.I.G, the soundtrack from the Antonio Banderas movie Take the Lead and on DJ Khaled's new album Listennn... The Album (all of these appearances were credited as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony on the track listings to show the loyalty of the group). Bone Thugs appeared with Lil Eazy-E on the soundtrack to The Game's debut acting movie Waist Deep, and on The Source Presents Fat Tape Vol. 1. The most successful was Krayzie Bone's appearance on Chamillionaire's #1 single Ridin'. Krayzie Bone is featured on the new 2Pac album Pac's Life on the song "Untouchable (Swizz Beatz Remix)," credited as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
Budsmokers Only
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some niggas be passin' that weed on
To them thugsta niggas from Cleve-lawn
Gotta smoke 'til it's all gone
Now what a bone cause a nigga be creep on
Call all my thugstas, all them niggas drink
Call all my thugstas, all them niggas smoke weed
Gotta get some hydro
Gotta toke like a loc with a little bit of smoke in my throat
Can't let a me high go
I'ma broke Mo Thug got the bud and it get up up on me, inhale
Just split up a blunt and me roll up a fat one, make it POD'ed
They label me killer, drug dealer and burn up nigga crazy weed and
Blaze up a blunt, gotta have that hydro
Need me a hit of the tweed, make me drop to my knees
And I gotta give love to the green leaves
Steadily spendin' that cheese, feelin' at ease
Thuggin' on off in the cut now, when I'm checkin' on how this shit sound
In the Range smoked out with my nigga Tay
Smokin' that tweed 'til we fall in the grave
Make up the dummy to make up me money, weed run me
And headed for broke, smokin' the bong
Hit that bong wrong, make a me cough and choke
To the real OT's loc strong BONE
I gotta C note to toke on, so choke on
And holdin' the smoke 'til it's gone, real long and stay blown
Wanna get you fucked up, wanna get you fucked up
(Hey now)
Wanna get you fucked up, wanna get you fucked up
(Pass me some reefer)
Wanna get you fucked up, wanna get you fucked up
(Hey now)
Wanna get you fucked up, wanna get you fucked up
(Pass me some reefer)
It's the inventor of the green leaves, gotta get p's
Cuz I love this type shit, and it's never gonna quit
Doctor told me better stop but man fuck that bitch
Me never gone stop me smoke
Try to tell me, K to your throat
Gosta run me on, fucking with BONE
Loving this weed smoke
Thuggin' with me trues, swiggin' on brews
Steadily losing me balance
Take a puff to the dome, trippin' on flesh bone
Showin' off me tail and
Smokin' 'til a me die, nigga gotta get high if he wanna come ride
Come with me smoke on a blunt and get nice
Nigga tellin' weed fiends it's fire
Feelin' on tilt man, quarter o to the brain
Smokin' like blunt after blunt my niggas insane
Other niggas can't hang, it's a BONE thing
How a nigga like me smoke and maintain and remain
Number one here I come with the tweed in my chest
Nigga got his weed to the curb, split up and serve
But fuck it gotta have them green herbs
You got a bag of tweed well blaze it with me fool
And don't be stingy and please no pinners make it swollen
Cause if I had me some weed you know I'd smoke it with you
Come come get with a me, me and my niggas blunts be rollin'
Budsmokers only, budsmokers only, only [Repeat: x5]
Take a hit of the reefer keep chokin' [Repeat: x4]
The song "Budsmokers Only" by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is a tribute to marijuana and those who indulge in its consumption as the title itself suggests. Throughout the lyrics, the rappers emphasize their loyalty to smoking weed by stating that only bud smokers are welcome to hang out with them. The song also talks about how smoking weed is a way for them to relax and ease their minds. Furthermore, they talk about encountering different effects of marijuana, such as coughing and choking from taking a hit too strong. They urge listeners not to be stingy and share a bag of weed with them, enjoying the high together.
Line by Line Meaning
Budsmokers only, budsmokers only, only
The song is dedicated to people who smoke marijuana and is urging them to come together.
Some niggas be passin' that weed on
Some people are sharing their weed with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
To them thugsta niggas from Cleve-lawn
The weed is being passed on to Bone Thugs-N-Harmony members from Cleveland.
Gotta smoke 'til it's all gone
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony members are smoking the weed until it is finished.
Now what a bone cause a nigga be creep on
They are enjoying the high and are getting relaxed and a bit drowsy.
Call all my thugstas, all them niggas drink
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony members are also calling their friends who drink.
Call all my thugstas, all them niggas smoke weed
They are asking their friends who also smoke marijuana to join them.
Gotta get some hydro
They need to get high-quality marijuana.
Gotta toke like a loc with a little bit of smoke in my throat
They want to smoke the weed like experts.
Can't let a me high go
They cannot afford to lose their high.
I'ma broke Mo Thug got the bud and it get up up on me, inhale
Despite being broke, they still have marijuana and will smoke it.
Just split up a blunt and me roll up a fat one, make it POD'ed
They are rolling a fat blunt and making it perfect for smoking.
They label me killer, drug dealer and burn up nigga crazy weed and
Some people call them a killer, drug dealer, and a crazy marijuana smoker.
Blaze up a blunt, gotta have that hydro
They need to smoke a blunt with high-quality marijuana.
Need me a hit of the tweed, make me drop to my knees
They need a hit of the marijuana that is strong enough to make them weak.
And I gotta give love to the green leaves
They love smoking marijuana and always respect the plant.
Steadily spendin' that cheese, feelin' at ease
They are happy and calm when spending money on marijuana.
Thuggin' on off in the cut now, when I'm checkin' on how this shit sound
They are relaxing and vibing while listening to music.
In the Range smoked out with my nigga Tay
They are smoking marijuana in the Range Rover with their friend Tay.
Smokin' that tweed 'til we fall in the grave
They will continue to smoke marijuana until they die.
Make up the dummy to make up me money, weed run me
They will make money by delivering marijuana to people.
And headed for broke, smokin' the bong
They won't save money and instead smoke marijuana from a bong.
Hit that bong wrong, make a me cough and choke
If they don't smoke properly, they could cough and choke on the marijuana smoke.
To the real OT's loc strong BONE
They are dedicated to their group, BONE, and their fans, OT's locs.
I gotta C note to toke on, so choke on
They have a hundred-dollar bill to buy high-quality marijuana and are smoking it until their throat hurts.
And holding the smoke 'til it's gone, real long and stay blown
They are holding the marijuana smoke in their lungs for a long time and continue to get high.
Wanna get you fucked up, wanna get you fucked up
They want to get people high and intoxicated.
Pass me some reefer
They are asking their friends to pass them marijuana.
It's the inventor of the green leaves, gotta get p's
They feel like they have innovated marijuana smoking and need to get paid for it.
Cuz I love this type shit, and it's never gonna quit
They love smoking marijuana and will never quit it.
Doctor told me better stop but man fuck that bitch
Despite medical advice, they will continue to smoke marijuana.
Me never gone stop me smoke
They will never stop smoking marijuana.
Try to tell me, K to your throat
People may tell them that smoking marijuana is unhealthy.
Gosta run me on, fucking with BONE
People keep running their mouth, talking trash about their group, BONE.
Loving this weed smoke
They love smoking marijuana.
Thuggin' with me trues, swiggin' on brews
They are hanging out with their true friends and drinking beer.
Steadily losing me balance
They are so high that they are losing their balance.
Take a puff to the dome, trippin' on flesh bone
They are smoking marijuana and hallucinating.
Showin' off me tail and
They are flaunting their marijuana smoking skills.
Smokin' 'til a me die, nigga gotta get high if he wanna come ride
They won't stop smoking marijuana until they die, and they want people to join them.
Come with me smoke on a blunt and get nice
They are inviting people to come and smoke marijuana with them.
Nigga tellin' weed fiends it's fire
They are telling people that the marijuana is great.
Feelin' on tilt man, quarter o to the brain
The high is extremely strong.
Smokin' like blunt after blunt my niggas insane
They and their friends continue to smoke marijuana blunts; they are crazy.
Other niggas can't hang, it's a BONE thing
Other people can't handle smoking marijuana like BONE does.
How a nigga like me smoke and maintain and remain
They can smoke marijuana and still function properly.
Number one here I come with the tweed in my chest
They will always be the best marijuana smokers.
Nigga got his weed to the curb, split up and serve
They got rid of their marijuana and broke it up to sell to others.
But fuck it gotta have them green herbs
Despite selling marijuana, they still need to smoke it.
You got a bag of tweed well blaze it with me fool
They are asking someone who has marijuana to smoke it with them.
And don't be stingy and please no pinners make it swollen
They don't want the person to be greedy with the marijuana and please make it thick.
Cause if I had me some weed you know I'd smoke it with you
They will always smoke marijuana if it's available; they will never turn it down.
Come come get with a me, me and my niggas blunts be rollin'
They are asking someone to join them and roll marijuana blunts.
Take a hit of the reefer keep chokin'
They want the person to take a hit of marijuana and keep inhaling to get a good high.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTHONY HENDERSON, BRYON MC CANE, CHARLES SCRUGGS, CHARLES STEPNEY, MAURICE WHITE, PHILIP BAILEY, PHILIP JAMES BAILEY, Bryon McCane, Shawn Mcfadden, Stanley Howse, Steven Howse
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind