Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Band

Photo: Kmilo from NY/TX · CC BY 2.0
Active 1991-present
Origin Cleveland, Ohio
Albums 10
Tracks 159
Most frequent collaborator DJ U-Neek · 84 tracks
Genres Hip HopGangsta RapChopperR&B
Songwriter
80%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 127 of 159 tracks

Did Bone Thugs-n-Harmony write their own songs?

Yes, though the credits rarely say which of them did what. Members are credited on 127 of the group's 159 studio tracks, and almost every one of those credits reads "Bone" or "BTNH" rather than naming a person. Thirty tracks, spread across the 1993 debut and The Art of War: World War III, carry no writing credit at all.

By the Numbers

10
Studio Albums
159
Tracks Credited
80%
Self-Written
16 million
Records Sold
35
Years Active
220
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 127 / 159 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 159 tracks: how many Bone Thugs-n-Harmony wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony has a writing credit80%
2%
78%
20%
Sole author3tracks2%
Co-written124tracks78%
Outside writers32tracks20%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 159 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)80%
Composer (music)80%
Producer9%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 159 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Krayzie Bone 1991-present
79%
79%
9%
100%
Layzie Bone 1991-present
70%
70%
7%
100%
Wish Bone 1991-present
70%
70%
7%
100%
Bizzy Bone 1992-present
79%
79%
7%
100%
Flesh-n-Bone 1991-2000; 2008-present
71%
71%
7%
100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 80%
0%
100%
100%
100%
94%
100%
100%
85%
0%
100%
1993Faces of Death
1995E. 1999 Eternal
1997The Art of War
2000BTNHResurrection
2002Thug World Order
2006Thug Stories
2007Strength & Loyalty
2010Uni5: The World's Enemy
2013The Art of War: World War III
2017New Waves
Early · 100% written
Mid · 95% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
1990s
Faces of Death, E. 1999 Eternal +1 more
98%
2000s
BTNHResurrection, Thug World Order +2 more
93%
2010s
Uni5: The World's Enemy, The Art of War: World War III +1 more

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Bone Thugs-n-Harmony sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Aaliyah0%
EXO8%
Xscape17%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
Mýa78%
Snoop Dogg89%
80%Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

1st of tha Month
E. 1999 Eternal
Written by Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, DJ U-Neek, Michael J. Powell, Anthony Henderson, Steven Howse, Charles Scruggs Jr., Bryon Anthony McCane II, Stanley Howse, Michael Powell
Co-wrote
East 1999
E. 1999 Eternal
Written by Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, DJ U-Neek, Tony-C, Anthony Henderson, Steven Howse, Charles Scruggs Jr., Bryon Anthony McCane II, Stanley Howse
Co-wrote
Look into My Eyes
The Art of War
Written by Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, DJ U-Neek, Anthony Henderson, Steven Howse, Charles Scruggs Jr., Bryon Anthony McCane II, Stanley Howse
Co-wrote
If I Could Teach the World
The Art of War
Written by Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, DJ U-Neek, Anthony Henderson, Steven Howse, Charles Scruggs Jr., Bryon Anthony McCane II, Stanley Howse
Co-wrote
Resurrection (Paper, Paper)
BTNHResurrection
Written by Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Jimmy "JT" Thomas, Anthony Henderson, Steven Howse, Charles Scruggs Jr., Bryon Anthony McCane II, Stanley Howse
Co-wrote
Home
Thug World Order
Written by Phil Collins, Krayzie Bone, DJ U-Neek, Anthony Henderson, Tim Middleton
Co-wrote
I Tried
Strength & Loyalty
Written by Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Giorgio Tuinfort, Akon, Steven Howse, Anthony Henderson, Charles Scruggs Jr., Bryon Anthony McCane II, Stanley Howse, Aliaune Thiam
Co-wrote
Meet Me in the Sky
Uni5: The World's Enemy
Written by Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, L. T. Hutton, Steven Howse, Anthony Henderson, Charles Scruggs Jr., Bryon Anthony McCane II, Stanley Howse
Co-wrote
Rebirth
Uni5: The World's Enemy
Written by Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Jason Boyd, Steven Howse, Anthony Henderson, Charles Scruggs Jr., Bryon Anthony McCane II, Stanley Howse
Co-wrote
See Me Shine
Uni5: The World's Enemy
Written by Excel Beats, Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Steven Howse, Anthony Henderson, Charles Scruggs Jr., Bryon Anthony McCane II, Stanley Howse
Co-wrote
Gone
Uni5: The World's Enemy
Written by Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, L. Douglas, Ricco Barrino, Steven Howse, Anthony Henderson, Charles Scruggs Jr., Bryon Anthony McCane II, Stanley Howse, K. Washington
Co-wrote
Fantasy
New Waves
Written by Krayzie Bone, Bizzy Bone, Jesse Rankins, Cimo Fränkel, Rik Anemma, Vincent van den Ende, Anthony Henderson, Bryon Anthony McCane II
Co-wrote
If Heaven Had a Cellphone
New Waves
Written by Krayzie Bone, Bizzy Bone, Durrell Babbs, Jeremy Ryan Hanlon, Brockett Aspniwall Parsons, Vincent van den Ende, Anthony Henderson, Bryon Anthony McCane II
Co-wrote
Coming Home
New Waves
Written by Krayzie Bone, Bizzy Bone, Stephen Marley, Damizza, Clifford Golio, Vincent van den Ende, Anthony Henderson, Bryon Anthony McCane II, Damion Young
Co-wrote

Discography 10 albums

The 1994 release Creepin on ah Come Up, which carries "Thuggish Ruggish Bone" and "Foe tha Love of $", is an EP rather than a studio album and sits outside this catalogue.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony159 tracks
DU84DJ U-Neek, 84 tracks W18Wundermine, 18 tracks TM13Tim Middleton, 13 tracks VV13Vincent van den Ende, 13 tracks A13Avedon, 13 tracks DB10Diego Blak, 10 tracks KF10Kris Ford, 10 tracks RR10Ralph Rock, 10 tracks BJ10Bobby Jones, 10 tracks T9Tony-C, 9 tracks KM6Kenny McCloud, 6 tracks J"6Jimmy "JT" Thomas, 6 tracks KG5Kyle Guisande, 5 tracks DG5Devin Guisande, 5 tracks K5Kyle, 5 tracks D5Devin, 5 tracks BB3Big B, 3 tracks MC3Mike Chesser, 3 tracks AG3Adam Gibbs, 3 tracks TP3The Platinum Brothers, 3 tracks F3Felecia, 3 tracks RK3Ryan Kushner, 3 tracks KN3Kush N Kato, 3 tracks LT3L. T. Hutton, 3 tracks T"3T. "DJ U-Neek" Middleton, 3 tracks D3Damizza, 3 tracks M2Maje$ty, 2 tracks CF2Cedric Feaster Jr., 2 tracks DH2Darren Hubbard, 2 tracks DV2Darren Vegas, 2 tracks LH2LT Hutton, 2 tracks L2LaReece, 2 tracks KW2Kingsley Ward, 2 tracks MM2Mally Mall, 2 tracks AC2Avery Chambliss, 2 tracks JA2Joseph Alexander, 2 tracks TI2The Individualz, 2 tracks SB2Swizz Beatz, 2 tracks KD2Kasseem Dean, 2 tracks OW2Orlando Watson, 2 tracks BR2Bradford Ray, 2 tracks PB2Pretty Boy, 2 tracks BY2Bradd Young, 2 tracks GT2Giorgio Tuinfort, 2 tracks A2Akon, 2 tracks AT2Aliaune Thiam, 2 tracks on Akon's page TW2Tanieya Weathington, 2 tracks P2Por'cha, 2 tracks CG2Clifford Golio, 2 tracks DY2Damion Young, 2 tracks JR2Jesse Rankins, 2 tracks DA2Diego Ave, 2 tracks TH1Tony Hester, 1 track MJ1Michael J. Powell, 1 track MP1Michael Powell, 1 track PH1Poetic Hustla'z, 1 track GS1Graveyard Shift, 1 track TT1Tony Tone, 1 track T1Tombstone, 1 track MH1Mo! Hart, 1 track BN1Boogie Nikke, 1 track S&1Sin & Sage, 1 track OF1only found in explicit version, 1 track AC1Antoinette Colandreo, 1 track MM1Marilyn McLeod, 1 track PS1Pam Sawyer, 1 track BJ1Barry J. Eastmond, 1 track KM1K. McCord, 1 track 212Pac, 1 track on Tupac Shakur's page SB1Souljah Boy, 1 track T1Tre, 1 track LB1Larry Blackmon, 1 track LB1Laid Back, 1 track TS1Tim Stahl, 1 track JT1Jimmy Thomas, 1 track DD1David's Daughters, 1 track BP1Brian Parker, 1 track MH1Michael Hawkins, 1 track LH1Leroy Hutson, 1 track BK1Bert Keyes, 1 track SR1Sylvia Robinson, 1 track JG1Jerry Goodman, 1 track RW1Rico Wade, 1 track RM1Ray Murray, 1 track SB1Sleepy Brown, 1 track BF1Bob Feldman, 1 track JG1Jerry Goldstein, 1 track RG1Richard Gottehrer, 1 track GG1Gerald Goldstein, 1 track ON1Organized Noize, 1 track PC1Phil Collins, 1 track AC1Armando Colon, 1 track FL1Felecia Lindsey, 1 track L1Lakeside, 1 track SS1Stephen Shockley, 1 track 313LW, 1 track B1Bosko, 1 track E1Eazy-E, 1 track AC1Alvin Clark, 1 track A"1Alvin "Stone" Clark, 1 track JF1Jeff Fortson, 1 track DJ1Def Jef, 1 track SG1Soul G, 1 track S1Self, 1 track DR1Dutch Robinson, 1 track TG1Timmy Gatling, 1 track GG1Gene Griffin, 1 track AH1Aaron Hall, 1 track TR1Teddy Riley, 1 track on Blackstreet's page AH1Aaron Hall III, 1 track LH1L.T. Hutton, 1 track IH1Ian Hunter, 1 track A1Avant, 1 track KM1Kenneth McCloud, 1 track GG1Gary Greenberg, 1 track G"1Gary "G-Whiz" Greenberg, 1 track SP1Steve Pageot, 1 track SE1Steven Estiverne, 1 track BK1Bryan Kato, 1 track GL1Guy Long, 1 track MT1Marlowe Taylor, 1 track DM1DJ Mauly T, 1 track BR1Big Rush, 1 track KW1Korre Williams, 1 track DD1Des Dyer, 1 track CS1Clive Scott, 1 track LB1Lindsey Buckingham, 1 track on Fleetwood Mac's page MF1Mick Fleetwood, 1 track on Fleetwood Mac's page CM1Christine McVie, 1 track on Fleetwood Mac's page JM1John McVie, 1 track on Fleetwood Mac's page SN1Stevie Nicks, 1 track on Fleetwood Mac's page MF1Michael Fleetwood, 1 track AM1Anne McVie, 1 track SN1Stephanie Nicks, 1 track JD1Jermaine Dupri, 1 track MC1Mariah Carey, 1 track DB1Da Brat, 1 track L1LRoc, 1 track SH1Shawntae Harris, 1 track on Da Brat's page JP1James Phillips, 1 track T1Twista, 1 track ND1Neo da Matrix, 1 track JF1John Footman, 1 track TM1Terry McFaddin, 1 track FW1Frank Wilson, 1 track CM1Carl Mitchell, 1 track QA1Quaadir Atkinson, 1 track GB1Glenn Burleigh, 1 track YA1Yolanda Adams, 1 track W1will.i.am, 1 track on Black Eyed Peas's page

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 214. DU DJ U-Neek · W Wundermine · TM Tim Middleton · VV Vincent van den Ende · A Avedon · DB Diego Blak

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Members are credited on 127 of the group's 159 studio tracks, but the credit is almost always to "Bone" or "BTNH" rather than to a person, so the records read as five writers or none. The 30 tracks with nothing at all sit on the two albums nobody documented: the 1993 debut and The Art of War: World War III. DJ U-Neek writes on 62 tracks and produced most of the run from 1995 to 2010, which makes him the sixth member on paper.

Quick Facts

  • Self-writtenMembers are credited on 127 of the group's 159 studio tracks
  • How they creditAlmost every track is written by "Bone" or "BTNH", not by a named member
  • Undocumented30 tracks carry no published writing credit at all
  • Sixth memberDJ U-Neek, credited as a writer on 62 tracks
  • Career salesOver 16 million records
  • Biggest song"Tha Crossroads" spent eight consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100

Creative Fingerprint

Five names or no names: a group that credits itself as one writer.

The Story

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony formed in Cleveland in 1991 and signed to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records in late 1993. They built the chopper style of rapping and the singing-and-rapping delivery that most of hip-hop borrowed afterwards. Ten studio albums have followed and they have sold over 16 million records.

Awards & Recognition

Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, "Tha Crossroads" (1997)
American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist (1998)
American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Band, Duo or Group (2007)
Soul Train Music Award for Best Video of the Year, "Tha Crossroads" (1997)

Frequently Asked Questions Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Did Bone Thugs-n-Harmony write their own songs?
Yes, though the credits rarely say which of them did what. Members are credited on 127 of the group's 159 studio tracks, and almost every one of those credits reads "Bone" or "BTNH" rather than naming a person. Thirty tracks, spread across the 1993 debut and The Art of War: World War III, carry no writing credit at all.
Who wrote "Tha Crossroads"?
The album article credits it to Bone and DJ U-Neek. It spent eight consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the group a Grammy in 1997.
Who is DJ U-Neek?
Tim Middleton, the producer who built the group's sound. He is credited as a writer on 62 of their tracks and produced most of the records from E. 1999 Eternal onward.
How many albums have they released?
Ten studio albums: Faces of Death (1993), E. 1999 Eternal (1995), The Art of War (1997), BTNHResurrection (2000), Thug World Order (2002), Thug Stories (2006), Strength & Loyalty (2007), Uni5: The World's Enemy (2010), The Art of War: World War III (2013) and New Waves (2017).
Which album sold the most?
E. 1999 Eternal and The Art of War are both certified 4x platinum by the RIAA. No sales figure for either is published on the cited pages.
Who is in the group?
Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone and Flesh-n-Bone. Layzie and Flesh-n-Bone are brothers, Steven and Stanley Howse.
Did they win a Grammy?
One, for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Tha Crossroads" in 1997. E. 1999 Eternal and "1st of tha Month" were both nominated the year before.
Why does Faces of Death have no credits?
It came out in 1993 under the group's earlier name, B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e, on a tiny label. The article lists titles and running times only and no Discogs release fills the gap.
What was their connection to Eazy-E?
He signed them to Ruthless Records in late 1993 after they travelled to Los Angeles to find him. "Tha Crossroads" was written as a tribute to him after his death in 1995.
Is New Waves the whole group?
Not really. It is billed to Bone Thugs rather than Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, and Krayzie Bone and Bizzy Bone carry all 14 tracks between them.

Sources

Wikipedia: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Wikipedia: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony discography Wikipedia: Bizzy Bone Wikipedia: Krayzie Bone Wikipedia: Layzie Bone Wikipedia: Flesh-n-Bone Wikipedia: Wish Bone