BTNH Worldwide

Last updated
BTNH Worldwide
Founded2008
Founder Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Distributor(s)
Genre Rap
Country of origin US
Location Cleveland, Ohio

BTNH Worldwide is an independent record label started by hip hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Composed of Krayzie Bone , Flesh-N-Bone , Layzie Bone , Bizzy Bone and Wish Bone , BTNH Worldwide was created because of freedom of album concept not being handled adequately by previous record labels such as Ruthless Records and Interscope Records. BTNH Worldwide is the home for Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and affiliates such as Mo Thugs artist, Mo Thugs West artist and The Life Ent. The new record label has "a brand new platform coming to show what kind of hit-makers they Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are." BTNH Worldwide is a label built to bring the harmonizing sound Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are known for. Without any label politics, they are allowed to expand on their music and make decisions of their own to satisfy the fans. The move to Warner Brothers has not proved fruitful as due to marketing reasons the five members' chosen track list for Uni5: The World's Enemy was later changed to suit the distributor's failed attempt at re-establishing the group in the mainstream.

Contents

History

A reunion was first noted when Layzie Bone & Bizzy Bone came out with Part III of the Bone Brother Series, entitled "Bone Brothers III: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony 4 Life". After being kicked out of Bone Thugs in 2003, Bizzy Bone had no involvement in the group's 2007 project, Strength & Loyalty. The February 2008 release of Bone Brothers III gave the first sign to the fans of an upcoming reunion, with Flesh-n-Bone's prison sentence almost over. Krayzie Bone would later reveal him, Wish Bone Layzie Bone and Bizzy Bone had a good conversation at the back of one of their concerts, in which Bizzy Bone came through to host. Flesh-N-Bone was released July 13, 2008 confirming the reunion as all 5 members were back together for the first time in a decade. The 5 have since headed to the studio to deliver to the fans with the Uni-Five.

Departure from Full Surface Records and Interscope

After the full reunion, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony had announced the return of the rap group. They went straight to work, right after Flesh-n-Bone was released. This drove Interscope off, because they wanted to announce the reunion, although Bone Thugs had done it themselves to their fan-base. With the lack of respect they got now with the reunion and from the 2007 era of Strength & Loyalty, in which they weren't allowed to choose their own songs for the album, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony chose to leave the record labels, in which they were previously signed too. This departure allowed the 5 to create their own label, BTNH Worldwide. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony members can still be seen wearing the Full Surface necklace at shows, but they are not a part of the label, but just representing it. There has been no word from Swizz Beatz (CEO of Full Surface Records) or Jimmy Iovine (Founder of Interscope) of the departure, but Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are fully independent and signed to their own label.

Reunion & Warner Bros. Distribution

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony presented their first show as a 5-man team for the first time in nearly a decade on November 31, 2008, at the Club Nokia located in Los Angeles, California. After many opening acts from affiliates, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony came out to perform classics from 1994 such as Thuggish Ruggish Bone to their recent hits to I Tried and such. It was a sold-out show, but was a history in the making for hip-hop. The DVD of the show is soon to be released and pre-orders are being taken through Bizzy Bone's official site or a fan-based site, thawasteland.com. After heavy demand, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony went back as a five-man group to cities near the West Coast to fulfil concerts for their fans. [1]

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony have recently linked a deal with Warner Brothers for a distribution link. Being one of the professional labels, Warner Bros. will handle the distribution, promotion and such for BTNH Worldwide. According to Krayzie Bone, "this will allow us to make the music we want". Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's new deal has earned them their new home under Warner Bros. which manages music such as Metallica and other successful artists. However, Warner Bros. failed to promote and distribute their latest album, "Uni5: The Worlds Enemy" to its proper capability, producing a low budget project. As of July 21, 2010, according to Bone Thugs-n-Harmony main producer, DJ U-Neek, the group is no longer a part of Warner Bros. Music Group due to the failure of promotion/marketing of the "Uni5: The Worlds Enemy" album. [2] [3]

Not even 8 months after his release from serving a 10-year sentence bid, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony member Stanley Howse, better known as Flesh-n-Bone, found himself in prison again on April 3, 2009. Flesh-n-Bone was stopped by a Santa Clarita Sheriff after seeing reports of a defective tail light. The sheriff claimed to the media, he had found Flesh in possession of a gun and narcotics. Flesh was taken into custody without bail and was set for trial the following Monday. More evidence came clear during the Monday trial, proving Stanley's innocence. The police department had lied to the media of the gun in the possession of Flesh. Stanley's parole order allows police to search his house at any time. The search was caught on film by the police department, but was only filmed before and after the search. The gun was inside a locked suitcase inside Stanley's house, in which the police used a saw to open, which is considered illegal. The gun belongs to Flesh-n-Bone's wife, Isbela Howse, who is a fellow Chicago Police Officer. She had locked it there, while on leave. Flesh-n-Bone obtained a Medical Marijuana Card after his release, which is not hard to get in the state of California. After another trial was held and the District Attorney's office had dismissed the case due to lack of evidence and reasonable encounters with Flesh-n-Bone's accusations.[ citation needed ]

On March 28, 2010, Flesh-n-Bone was once again arrested during a hometown concert in Cleveland, Ohio. He was arrested on two outstanding warrants, stemming from domestic abuse and gun charges in 1999 in the Ohio state. This arrest interrupted the Cleveland concert, as fans had to see the concert cut short due to the shut down and arrest. Approximately 100 police officers were on scene to arrest Flesh-n-Bone and maintain the concert and the fans. He was released on a $10,000 bail, and eventually paying a $150.00 fine. [4]

Flesh-n-Bone was on probation until late 2010/early 2011, after serving a 10-year sentence.

Roster of BTNH Worldwide

Artists

Managed Producers/DJs

Labels

Mo Thugs Records

ThugLine Records

7th Sign Records (Defunct)

TheLife Entertainment

F.B.G. (Flesh-N-Bone Global)

Harmony Howse Entertainment

Releases

The roster first release from their new record label is their reunion album "Uni5: The Worlds Enemy", an album that marks the return of Bizzy Bone and the release of Flesh-n-Bone after serving a 10-year prison term. Distribution and promotion will be handled by Warner Bros. [5]

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony albums

Bone Brothers albums

In recent interviews, there were hints of more albums to come through BTNH Worldwide, either through group work, solo or affiliate wise. No release date have been set for the project. Mentions go to the following:

Solo albums

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony affiliate albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bone Thugs-n-Harmony</span> American hip hop group

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony is an American hip hop group composed of rappers Bizzy Bone, Wish Bone, Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Flesh-n-Bone. Formed in 1991 in Cleveland, Ohio, the group signed to fellow American rapper Eazy-E's Ruthless Records in late 1993, on which they debuted with their EP Creepin on ah Come Up the next year. The EP included their breakout hit single "Thuggish Ruggish Bone". In 1995, the group released its second album E. 1999 Eternal, which included hits "1st of tha Month" and "East 1999". Their hit song "Tha Crossroads", a tribute to then-recently deceased mentor Eazy-E, won a Grammy Award in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Layzie Bone</span> American rapper

Steven Howse, known professionally as Layzie Bone, is a rapper known primarily for being a member of the group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. He has also gone by the names L-Burna and The #1 Assassin. He is the younger brother of fellow group member Flesh-N-Bone and cousin of group member Wish Bone. Layzie is also a member of the rap group Bone Brothers and CEO of the record label Harmony Howse Entertainment.

<i>BTNHResurrection</i> 2000 studio album by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

BTNHResurrection is the fourth studio album by hip hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. The album was released on February 29, 2000, on Ruthless. It reached Platinum status within a month, but sales declined afterwards. Flesh-n-Bone was heavily featured on this album, appearing in 14 of the 15 tracks which was rarely seen on previous albums due to him not being signed to Ruthless with the rest of the group. This was Flesh-n-Bone's last appearance on a Bone Thugs-n-Harmony album for 10 years because he was convicted for assault with a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon in June 2000. Pleading guilty, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison, and was released in July 2008, re-appearing on the group's album as a performer on Uni5: The World's Enemy in 2010 unlike his appearance on the last track A Thug Soldier Conversation with DJ Uneek on the Thug World Order album when Flesh was incarcerated.

<i>The Art of War</i> (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony album) 1997 studio album by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

The Art of War is the third studio album by hip hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony which was released on July 29, 1997. The album sold 394,000 units in its first week of release. The album was certified quadruple Platinum by the RIAA in June 1998. It was the first double-album from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. The album included the platinum-single "Look into My Eyes", and the gold-single "If I Could Teach the World". The whole album is produced by DJ U-Neek.

<i>Bone Brothers</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Bone Brothers

Bone Brothers is the self-titled debut studio album by American hip hop duo Bone Brothers, composed of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony members Bizzy Bone and Layzie Bone. It was released on February 22, 2005 via Koch Records. Production was handled by Dwayne "Deenucka" Johnson, Self and Mauly T, with Bizzy Bone, Steve Lobel and Layzie Bone serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Kareem, Outlawz, Treach, and several Mo Thugs members, such as Krayzie Bone, Felicia, Skant Bone, Stew Bone and Wish Bone. The album saw its release after the dismissal of Bizzy Bone from the group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Mo Thugs is an American hip hop collective formed and led by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Together, the Mo Thugs collective have released five studio albums with the first being in 1995 and the latest in 2023. Their logo, a pyramid with a fist above it, is symbolic of their achievements; The pyramid stands for longevity, and the fist stands for victory.

<i>Strength & Loyalty</i> 2007 studio album by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Strength & Loyalty, originally titled The Bone Thugs Story, is the seventh studio album by American hip hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, released on May 8, 2007. It was Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's first major album after an absence of nearly five years. The album contains guest appearances by Akon, Autumn Rowe, Bow Wow, Felecia, Fleetwood Mac (sampled), Mariah Carey, Swizz Beatz, The Game, Twista, will.i.am, and Yolanda Adams. Producers include Akon, DJ Toomp, Jermaine Dupri, Mally Mall, Neo Da Matrix, Pretty Boy & Bradd Young, Street Radio, Swizz Beatz, The Individuals, Ty Fyffe, and will.i.am. The executive producer of the album was Swizz Beatz. Bizzy Bone was not featured on the album. Then imprisoned member Flesh-n-Bone was only featured on a track entitled "Into The Future" which did not make the album and also due to his incarceration did not make the album cover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East 1999</span> 1995 single by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

"East 1999" is Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's second single released in 1995 from their album E. 1999 Eternal. This is one of five songs on the album to feature member Flesh-n-Bone who wasn't signed to Ruthless with the rest of the group.

<i>Family Scriptures</i> 1996 studio album by Mo Thugs

Family Scriptures is the debut studio album by American hip hop collective Mo Thugs. It was released on November 5, 1996 via Mo Thugs/Relativity Records. Recording sessions took place at Private Island Trax in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Krayzie Bone, who also served as executive producer together with Layzie Bone, Archie Blaine, Bobby Jones and Paul "Tombstone" O'Neil, with co-producers Gates and Sin. It features contributions from Flesh-n-Bone, II Tru, Ken Dawg, Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Poetic Hustla'z, Souljah Boy, The Graveyard Shift, and Tré.

<i>Thug Stories</i> 2006 studio album by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Thug Stories is the sixth studio album by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, released September 19, 2006 on Koch Records. It marked the first time Bone recorded as a trio for a full album, as Bizzy Bone was still ejected from the group. Upon release, the album sold 40,000 units in its first week, eventually peaking at number 25 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Independent Album Charts. Thug Stories was the group's first major label LP length release since 2002's Thug World Order Ruthless Records. As of April 11, 2007, it has sold 92,465 copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bizzy Bone discography</span>

Bizzy Bone's discography includes 21 studio albums, 8 compilation albums and 7 singles. American rapper Bizzy Bone has released albums under 11 different record labels during his career and has been signed to major labels Virgin Records and Warner Bros. Records. He is currently signed to record label 7th Sign. Bizzy Bone has had 8 albums chart on the Billboard 200 chart. His debut album, Heaven'z Movie, released in 1998, peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in the United States. Bizzy Bone has also released 31 music videos and 10 collaboration albums. He has made collaboration albums with artists including Layzie Bone and Bad Azz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bone Brothers</span> American hip hop group

Bone Brothers is an American hip-hop duo composed of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony members Layzie Bone and Bizzy Bone. The first Bone Brothers album was released in 2005. Bizzy Bone had parted ways from the group in 2003 over personal differences and business decisions. Bizzy Bone had always remained friendly with the group and collaborated on songs such as Lil Eazy's This Ain't A Game and Krayzie Bone's Getchu Twisted Remix. The Bone Brother's track Hip-Hop Baby contains four of the five members in the music video. In 2009 the whole group came together to record tracks for Uni5: The World's Enemy during the wake of Flesh-n-Bone's return from prison. Bone Brothers is an album series and not a name for Layzie Bone and Bizzy Bone collaboration albums. Albums like Still Creepin On Ah Come Up are excluded from the series. It is also conceivable of any pair or more Bone Thugs-N-Harmony members making a Bone Brothers album in the future.

Real Talk Ent. is an American privately held record label that was started in 2003. It is led by CEO/President Derrick "Sac" Johnson and is focused primarily on recording and releasing new albums with Gold and Platinum selling Rap and R&B artists.

<i>Bone Brothers 3</i> 2008 studio album by Bone Brothers

Bone Brothers III is the third album by Layzie Bone and Bizzy Bone. It is the third of the Bone Brothers albums, the first one being released in 2005 entitled Bone Brothers and the second being released in 2007 entitled Bone Brothers 2. The album was released in early 2008 under the little-known Siccness.net on the February 5, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghetto Cowboy</span> 1998 single by Mo Thugs Family featuring Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

"Ghetto Cowboy" is the lead single by American hip hop collective Mo Thugs taken from their second studio album Chapter II: Family Reunion, released in 1998 via Mo Thugs/Relativity Records. It features contributions from Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, Powder P, Thug Queen and Layzie Bone's wife Felecia. Produced by Krayzie Bone with co-production by Romeo Antonio, it contains replayed elements from Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler".

<i>Trials & Tribulations</i> (Poetic Hustlaz album) 1997 studio album by Poetic Hustlaz

Trials & Tribulations is the first and only studio album by American hip hop group Poetic Hustla'z. It was released on November 11, 1997 via Mo Thugs/Relativity Records. Production was handled by Romeo Antonio, Touch Tone, Poetic Hustla'z, and Krayzie Bone, who also served as executive producer together with Layzie Bone. It features guest appearances from Flesh-n-Bone, Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Potion and Wish Bone. The album peaked at number 96 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<i>Uni5: The Worlds Enemy</i> 2010 studio album by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Uni5: The World's Enemy is the eighth studio album by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony released on May 4, 2010 on BTNH Worldwide, Asylum Records, Reprise Records and Warner Bros. Records. The mixtape, The Fixtape Vol. 3: Special Delivery features cuts from this album.

<i>A New Breed of Female</i> 1997 studio album by II Tru

A New Breed of Female is the only studio album by American hip hop group II Tru. It was released on September 9, 1997 via Mo Thugs/Relativity Records. Recording sessions took place at Private Island Trax in Los Angeles. Production was primarily handled by Archie Blaine, as well as Krayzie Bone, who served as executive producer together with Layzie Bone. It features guest appearances from fellow Mo Thugs members Ken Dawg, Tombstone and Sin of the Graveyard Shift, Flesh-n-Bone, Layzie Bone and Krayzie Bone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RBC Records</span> Record label

RBC Records is an American online independent record label and management company founded by partners Brian Shafton and Bob Grossi. It provides artists and independent labels with a full-service "virtual label" alternative to signing with a major label. RBC provides distribution, sales, marketing, online publicity, radio promotion, video promotion, product management, and creative services consulting to artists and management. The company announced in 2013 that it would start producing and distributing films under the name RBC Films.

<i>The Art of War: World War III</i> 2013 studio album by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

The Art of War: World War III is the ninth studio album by hip hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. It was released on December 10, 2013, on Seven Arts Music and BTNH Worldwide. The album serves as the sequel to their quadruple platinum double album, The Art of War.

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