Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Announce April Release Date for 'Strength And Loyalty'
By Sam Frank
Date: 3/7/2007 6:14 pm

Multi-platinum recording artists Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have announced a release date of Apr. 17 for Strength and Loyalty, their first studio album under Swizz Beatz' Full Surface.Interscope imprint.

For their major-label return, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony members, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, and Krayzie Bone, have enlisted Swizz Beatz, Jermaine Dupri, will.I.am, and Neo Da Matrix for production while artists such as The Game, Twista, Bow Wow, and Akon will appear as guests.

“Man, I just feel fortunate to be able to put together something of this quality. We’ve been working on it for some time now, and everyone involved has been focused on making a classic. I think that’s what we’ve done,” Layzie Bone said.

During the recording of Strength and Loyalty, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony members simultaneously worked on various side projects.

Layzie Bone, cousin to Wish Bone, had a brief stint on The Insane Clown Posse’s label Psychopathic Records, while Krayzie Bone received a Grammy nomination for his appearance on Chamillionaire’s 2006 hit single, “Ridin.”

“Being a part of Chamillionaire’s smash “Ridin” was incredible, I’m excited to keep the momentum going with the Strength and Loyalty Bone project,” Krayzie Bone added.

The lead single off of Strength and Loyalty will be the track “I Tried,” featuring Akon.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony reenlisted the help of singer Mariah Carey, for the Jermaine Dupri produced second single "Little Love."

The group previously collaborated with Carey on her 1997 smash single "Breakdown."

The album also contains the song “Order My Steps,” which marks the debut of Grammy award winning gospel artist Yolanda Adams on a mainstream Hip-Hop album.

In addition, Strength and Loyalty contains an unreleased verse from affiliated Bone member Flesh-N-Bone, who is currently incarcerated.

Natives of Cleveland, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony were originally discovered by Eazy-E and signed to his label Ruthless Records.

The group is one of the biggest selling rap group of all time, with over 30 millions albums sold based off of hit albums like Creepin on ah Come Up (1994), E. 1999 Eternal (1995) and The Art of War (1997).