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.
Crept and We Came
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stalkin gat-foo's, walkin' jack moves,
Ready to pap you if we have to, daily,
Stalkin gat-foo's, walkin' jack moves,
Ready to pap you if we have to daily,
Stalkin gat-foo's, walkin' jack moves,
Ready to pap you if we have to daily,
Krayzie: (Bailin' for safety, we make it and chill)
Ready to pap you if we have to daily,
Krayzie: (Bailin' for safety, we make it and chill)
Bizzy Bone:
Ready be off and in a coffin' and.. uh.. follow his grave,
follow me murderous gauge, follow me murderous ways,
Steadily pumpin' as me killas kill ya, Pop more a silencer,
Pop pop, outta the window we roll, Let the Ripsta' reel 'em off,
and better off this way, tossed of in a coffin and bagged,
Slang on tha darkside man... Bang on tha darkside man,
Land of the thuggish ruggish city, will it reveal?
well I went back to my land with a 12 gauge Mossberg Pump, big shells,
The bloody murda murda comin to serve ya, runnin' with gangstas that suppose
and I rip the road that's how we roll
Krayzie:
Cuz it's on and I crept and I came up, remember that killa,
That nigga named LeathaFace, now if you thug nigga pick up you pump,
and buck it, put a bitch up in a gutter, fuck it,
Nigga we judged and we fucked and we shuttin' this rap thang down,
Neva takin' no shorts or no losses man,
No way how no foul thang now,
I steadily thinkin' and then if I changed my daily thang,
Nigga don't hand with them phony busta niggas,
Only roll with thugstas, killas, Pick up me gun and me stick and me stuck,
And me muda them everytime now, Bodies be dumped off in dumpstas,
execution double nine style, hey, say give it to the niggas who steady
be slangin that llello, bank-roll,
When the po-po roll that's when you lay low,
When the po-po roll that's when you lay low,
When the po-po roll that's when you lay low,
Layzie Bone:
Nigga shoulda seen the Bone done cmae and touched down,
Came up with that thang and me creepin' up outta me hometown,
Me hate to be leavin' the glock glock nine, But I'm livin' so low down,
Bone gotta roll out, We livin' like Trues, Give up to tha bang,
Always stay down for my thang, and I still remain the same,
Nigga gon' change I'ma hood I claim, Nigga done jumped in the game,
And straigh up confusion cause niggas be shady, Nigga still gotta watch his
back daily, Even mo' lately, but they can't break Lil' Layzie, So a nigga
stay phat cause I gotta get paid, The buddah it run me forever me blaze,
Thuggin' in my murderous ways, Crazin' a gauge let the buckshots spray,
We shoot to this day, No short or no losses was meant nigga not played,
(Bottom line niggas) and Cleveland in yo' face, And nigga we rollin' with
the Ruthless in the nine, For the pain for the gain, For the love of money,
Fuck the fame, We peeped game, we crept and we came...
Bizzy Bone (Hook):
Stalkin' gat-foo's, walkin' jack moves,
Ready to pap you if we have to, daily,
Krayzie: (Bailin' for safety, we make it and chill)
Stalkin' gat-foo's, walkin' jack moves,
Ready to pap you if we have to, daily,
Krayzie: (Bailin' for safety, we make it and chill)
Wish Bone:
Bone crept and we came with tha gang bang,
Told you get down for them thangs man,
But Bone still kick it with tha same Trues,
Thuggin' on the glock glock, ain't shit changed,
Buck 'em, fuck 'em, put 'em in the ground, way down, lay down
Busta, nigga don't be tryin' no dumb shit, Bone be pumpin' them daily slugs at ya.
Creepin' up outta the hood, rolled to the West Coast with this rap shit,
Nigga made good, Thinkin' on the nine-nine, reachin' for my nine, reachin
for yo' shit, wish you would... Pumpin' them slugs, put 'em in a body bag,
Nigga down fo' yo' cash, nigga that's yo life, Nigga it's like that,
When my shit clap, One to the temple.. straight to the mind,
Bailin' down the Claire gettin' much love, needin' mo' bud,
Gotta sell me some dum dum smoke, Me meaning that yum yum dope,
And it ain't shit to swang some thangs, Puttin' my gauge in your throat..
Bizzy Bone:
Stalkin' gat-foo's, walkin' jack moves,
Ready to pap you if we have to, daily
Krayzie: (Bailin' for safety, we make it and chill)
Flesh N Bone:
Ah nigga stay down for my thang bang,
Sendin' me bullets up in the brains, ah the bustas,
Hustlas so nigga never trust us, we the muthafuckin' thugstas,
Strugglas 12- gauge pumpstas, takin' no short or no losses,
Nigga the fifth dog, no tame swang (Gotta get mark)
Insane, so many hoes done took a loss,
Nigga get tossed by the boss,
And I'm off the hook when I put it down Bone,
Wanna fuck with a thug, ya wrong,
All around they lay when I spray that chrome,
Bullets they fly, niggas they die,
I'm comin' up willin' to ride, got mine,
East ninety nine off in a tha crime,
Where the thugstas find they time to grind,
Droppin' a dime, packin' a nine, and ready to bang,
Pullin' them triggas to blow out yo' brain,
Bone gonna gain man man we crept and we came,
Crept and we came..
Crept and we came..
Crept and we came...
Krayzie Bone:
Bailin' for safety we make it and chill...
Bailin' for safety we make it and chill...
Bailin' for safety we make it and chill...
Bizzy Bone:
Stalkin' gat-foo's, walkin' jack moves,
Ready to pap you if we have to, daily,
Stalkin' gat-foo's, walkin' jack moves,
Ready to pap you if we have to, daily,
Stalkin' gat-foo's, walkin' jack moves,
Ready to pap you if we have to, daily,
Stalkin' gat-foo's, walkin' jack moves,
Ready to pap you if we have to, daily,
Krayzie:
Bailin' for safety, we make it and chill,
Bailin' for safety, we make it and chill,
Bailin' for safety, we make it and chill...
The lyrics of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's song Crept and We Came depict the gangsta lifestyle and the constant threat of violence and danger that comes with it. The chorus repeatedly references the group's willingness to use their weapons ("stalkin gat-foo's, walkin' jack moves, ready to pap you if we have to daily"), while each verse tells a story of their experiences with violence and the measures they take to stay safe.
Bizzy Bone's verse describes his willingness to kill and his comfort in using his firearm ("Steadily pumpin' as me killas kill ya, Pop more a silencer"). Krayzie Bone references a fellow gang member named LeathaFace and the need to constantly stay on-guard to protect oneself and one's crew. Layzie Bone talks about his loyalty to his gang and his willingness to take out anyone who threatens them, while Wish Bone touches on how the group has adapted to their success in the music industry without losing their roots in the streets.
Overall, the lyrics of Crept and We Came provide a glimpse into the dangerous world of gang violence and the measures taken by those involved to stay alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Stalkin gat-foo's, walkin' jack moves,
We are quietly and dangerously walking around with guns, ready to use them if necessary.
Ready to pap you if we have to, daily,
We are always prepared to shoot if we need to protect ourselves.
Ready be off and in a coffin' and.. uh.. follow his grave,
We are unafraid of death and are willing to kill if necessary.
follow me murderous gauge, follow me murderous ways,
We are leading the charge in killing and violence.
Slang on tha darkside man... Bang on tha darkside man,
We are the tough guys in our neighborhood and not to be messed with.
Cuz it's on and I crept and I came up, remember that killa,
We are always ready for action and remember the people we have killed.
Neva takin' no shorts or no losses man,
We refuse to lose or back down.
only roll with thugstas, killas,
We only associate with other violent criminals.
When the po-po roll that's when you lay low,
When the police arrive, you need to hide from them.
Nigga shoulda seen the Bone done cmae and touched down,
People should have seen us coming and known what we are capable of.
Nigga done jumped in the game… and straigh up confusion cause niggas be shady,
New rivals in our gang are causing confusion and suspicion.
We peeped game, we crept and we came...
We have observed our rivals and attacked when necessary.
Told you get down for them thangs man…
We warned you to step away from the situation.
Buck 'em, fuck 'em, put 'em in the ground, way down, lay down
We will shoot and kill without remorse.
Ready to pap you if we have to, daily
We are always armed and dangerous, prepared to defend ourselves at all times.
Nigga the fifth dog, no tame swang… Insane
We are crazy and unpredictable, willing to take any violent action necessary.
Crept and we came...
We approached the situation quietly and have now attacked.
Bailin' for safety we make it and chill…
After the violent encounter, we escaped to a safe place to relax.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind