Note: During our various upgrades over the years certain interviews have been "misplaced." We are now adding them back to our archives. This interview was first published on August 19, 2001.
StreetHop.com We know the album Thug On Da Line is dropping August 28th, what can we expect from it as far as production and guest appearances?
Krayzie: As far as producers I worked with a few star producers, The Neptunes, Irv Gotti, I Got Damizza who worked with Mariah Carey, I Got LT who produced for Tha Eastsidaz and Snoop, I also got a little dude I'm working with who signed to Thug Line names LD, he did production on the site "Everybody Wanna Be Thugs", he up and coming.
As far as guest appearances I got Chate' on the first single "Hard Time hustler", I did a collaboration with Tiffany, the old pop singer from back in the day. I got a song with Kalis, she's on the track that the Neptunes produced. Got a song with Boss [the old female rapper] we're negotiating right now to try to sign her [Boss] to Thug Line. and my Thug Line artists.
StreetHop.com: What separates this release from your previous solo album, Thug Mentality?
Krayzie: First its a single cd, I got less guest appearances, the production has improved. And has far as the vocals, the lyrics have matured since the last time [Thug Mentality].
StreetHop.com: What can we expect from Thug Line Records in 2002?
Krayzie: The first release on the label after my album is gonna be a female that I'm working with who is featured on eight songs on my album. Her name is Lareese, she's a female rapper and sings as well. And then I have a group that's coming out called Tha Night Riders, they're a rap group that also alternative, its a mix between the two. They're real crazy like on some Marilyn Mason shit but its rap so its real crazy.
StreetHop.com: Rumor has it you and Bizzy Bone had some small beef but recently worked it out. Any truth to that rumor?
Krayzie: We all had problems with each other and it had to do with us not being happy with our record company. But as you know Bone Thugs N Harmony is no longer on Ruthless Records anymore, we're released off Ruthless Records so that kinda brought us back together instantly. We've been talking to each other everyday, Bizzy Bone and myself are actually working on a album together, its off the hook.
StreetHop.com: I know you worked with 2pac on the song Thug Luv, how did you guys hook up?
Krayzie: The first time we met Pac it was at a hotel out in Cali, we ran into him, he was coming out and we were going in and he just stopped and told us he was feeling us and we were feeling him and said that we needed to hook up. A couple months went by and we went in the studio [with 2pac] and we knocked it out [Thug Luv].
StreetHop.com: Any idea what your second single from "Thug On Da Line" will be?
Krayzie: Its gonna be a song called "Yall Dont Know Me", its produced by L.T Hutton. Its basically just talkin' about how everybody know of the group Bone thugs N Harmony, but they don't know me.
StreetHop.com: What your thoughts on the recent release of Suge Knight from prison? Will his release effect the rap game?
Krayzie: Hopefully, knowing Suge Knight he's [Suge] always got something up his sleeve. you can never count a man like that out of the game. Hopefully he brings some life back into the game, and bring morals and back people respect the game.
StreetHop.com: Can you comment on the situation between you guys and Ruthless Records I know a lawsuit has been filed, can you fill us on what going on?
Krayzie: Yea there is a lawsuit, what it all boils down to is their [Ruthless Records] are upset because we chose to exercise our option which was the 7 year rule out in California. We've been signed to Ruthless Records for 7 years so we a right to terminate the contract. So their argument is we had the option to terminate the contract but we're doing it for our own selfish reasons, but why wouldn't we? we're not getting paid over here [Ruthless], so why wouldn't we wanna leave?
StreetHop.com: When can we expect a new album from Bone Thugs?
Krayzie: Right now we're working on the album, we have about 20 songs recorded together right now. Unique has been the main producer . Since we're not signed to anyone right now we're getting ready to leak 2 songs independently so we can get those out there, get everyone buzzing, and let everyone know that Bone thugs is back together if you wanna call it that, but we never broke up. We reunited and now we're gonna mash even stronger now.
StreetHop.com: Anything you wanna tell the fans listening in? Does Thug Line Records have an official site you'd like them to hit up?
Krayzie: Yeah, they [fans] can check out the thug Line Records website, its www.thugline1.com. Its [the site] is being worked on now and they'll be able to go there and find out everything that's going on with me myself, Bone Thugs N Harmony as well, and Thug Line Records.
StreetHop.com We know the album Thug On Da Line is dropping August 28th, what can we expect from it as far as production and guest appearances?
Krayzie: As far as producers I worked with a few star producers, The Neptunes, Irv Gotti, I Got Damizza who worked with Mariah Carey, I Got LT who produced for Tha Eastsidaz and Snoop, I also got a little dude I'm working with who signed to Thug Line names LD, he did production on the site "Everybody Wanna Be Thugs", he up and coming.
As far as guest appearances I got Chate' on the first single "Hard Time hustler", I did a collaboration with Tiffany, the old pop singer from back in the day. I got a song with Kalis, she's on the track that the Neptunes produced. Got a song with Boss [the old female rapper] we're negotiating right now to try to sign her [Boss] to Thug Line. and my Thug Line artists.
StreetHop.com: What separates this release from your previous solo album, Thug Mentality?
Krayzie: First its a single cd, I got less guest appearances, the production has improved. And has far as the vocals, the lyrics have matured since the last time [Thug Mentality].
StreetHop.com: What can we expect from Thug Line Records in 2002?
Krayzie: The first release on the label after my album is gonna be a female that I'm working with who is featured on eight songs on my album. Her name is Lareese, she's a female rapper and sings as well. And then I have a group that's coming out called Tha Night Riders, they're a rap group that also alternative, its a mix between the two. They're real crazy like on some Marilyn Mason shit but its rap so its real crazy.
StreetHop.com: Rumor has it you and Bizzy Bone had some small beef but recently worked it out. Any truth to that rumor?
Krayzie: We all had problems with each other and it had to do with us not being happy with our record company. But as you know Bone Thugs N Harmony is no longer on Ruthless Records anymore, we're released off Ruthless Records so that kinda brought us back together instantly. We've been talking to each other everyday, Bizzy Bone and myself are actually working on a album together, its off the hook.
StreetHop.com: I know you worked with 2pac on the song Thug Luv, how did you guys hook up?
Krayzie: The first time we met Pac it was at a hotel out in Cali, we ran into him, he was coming out and we were going in and he just stopped and told us he was feeling us and we were feeling him and said that we needed to hook up. A couple months went by and we went in the studio [with 2pac] and we knocked it out [Thug Luv].
StreetHop.com: Any idea what your second single from "Thug On Da Line" will be?
Krayzie: Its gonna be a song called "Yall Dont Know Me", its produced by L.T Hutton. Its basically just talkin' about how everybody know of the group Bone thugs N Harmony, but they don't know me.
StreetHop.com: What your thoughts on the recent release of Suge Knight from prison? Will his release effect the rap game?
Krayzie: Hopefully, knowing Suge Knight he's [Suge] always got something up his sleeve. you can never count a man like that out of the game. Hopefully he brings some life back into the game, and bring morals and back people respect the game.
StreetHop.com: Can you comment on the situation between you guys and Ruthless Records I know a lawsuit has been filed, can you fill us on what going on?
Krayzie: Yea there is a lawsuit, what it all boils down to is their [Ruthless Records] are upset because we chose to exercise our option which was the 7 year rule out in California. We've been signed to Ruthless Records for 7 years so we a right to terminate the contract. So their argument is we had the option to terminate the contract but we're doing it for our own selfish reasons, but why wouldn't we? we're not getting paid over here [Ruthless], so why wouldn't we wanna leave?
StreetHop.com: When can we expect a new album from Bone Thugs?
Krayzie: Right now we're working on the album, we have about 20 songs recorded together right now. Unique has been the main producer . Since we're not signed to anyone right now we're getting ready to leak 2 songs independently so we can get those out there, get everyone buzzing, and let everyone know that Bone thugs is back together if you wanna call it that, but we never broke up. We reunited and now we're gonna mash even stronger now.
StreetHop.com: Anything you wanna tell the fans listening in? Does Thug Line Records have an official site you'd like them to hit up?
Krayzie: Yeah, they [fans] can check out the thug Line Records website, its www.thugline1.com. Its [the site] is being worked on now and they'll be able to go there and find out everything that's going on with me myself, Bone Thugs N Harmony as well, and Thug Line Records.
