Flesh-N-Bone
Name: Stan Howse
A.K.A.: The 5th Dawg
Solo albums: T.H.U.G.S., 5th Dog Let Loose
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio
Brothers and Sisters: 2 Sisters and Brother LAYZIE and cousin
WISH
Flesh is currently serving time for threating a friend with an
Ak-47.
BIOGRAPHY :: FLESH-N-BONE
Most of us have two sides to our personality; a Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde
syndrome of sorts. Growing up on the streets of America can give
conflicting messages; one of a newfound hope in the younger generation
and one of a dying society with a complete lack of concern for those
within it. FLESH-N-BONE proves this to be true with his searing Mo
Thugs/Def Jam Records debut entitled "Trues Humbly United Gatherin'
Souls (T.H.U.G.S.),". T.H.U.G.S. is a deeply spiritual and conceptual
album that will truly inspire it's listeners. This works for
Flesh-N-Bone because he's experienced drama on the streets, been through
the struggle for survival and lived by the philosophy "by any means
necessary". His stories are all real, honest, rough and enlightening.
All of these contradicting elements make T.H.U.G.S. one of the most
dramatic hip-hop releases of 1996.
Flesh-N-Bone finds inspiration from his roots, the tough and
all-too-real St. Clair section of Cleveland. Inner city, USA has never
had the truth told so daringly about its faults and the hope that lies
ahead. Gathering the likes of producers Krayzie Bone, Tony C, Bobby
Jones, Damon Elliot, and Rhythm D, Flesh-N-Bone gives voice to a
complete album that captures the trailblazing singsong rap style made
famous by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. "A lot of different elements can be
found on my album. I can come from the lighter side giving you the
harmony and thick tracks, or can sound eerie using various instrumental
sounds, whines with deep melodic beats. Regardless of how I'm coming,
bringing my own flava and harmonies, I'll always be a Bone
Thugs-N-Harmony style man, that will never leave me."
The use
of the word "Thugs" is no coincidence. Flesh-N-Bone is a member of famed
Cleveland-based supergroup BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY. Brother to Layzie Bone,
and cousin of Wish Bone, Flesh-N-Bone is a singular extension of the
brilliance coming out of St. Clair & East 99th. The history of Bone
Thugs-N-Harmony is well-known, but bears repeating.. Seeing the squalor,
poverty and rampant drug culture that held the community in its grip,
the members of Bone Thugs & Harmony delved into that netherworld of
hopelessness.
So
Flesh-N-Bone, Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone and Bizzy Bone took
matters into their own hands to make something of themselves. Seeing the
massive success of mentor Eazy E, Ruthless Records and N.W.A., Bone
Thugs-N-Harmony put all their funds together, purchased bus tickets to
Los Angeles and auditioned on the spot for Eazy E. So enamored was E
over the fresh, new sound, that he signed the group to a contract after
only a second audition in their hometown. This signing was followed by a
4 times platinum EP, Creepin' On Ah Come Up, featuring their landmark
single, "Thuggish, Ruggish Bone," followed by their smash 5 million plus
(and still climbing) follow-up E. 1999 Eternal. This album yielded a
triple platinum and national chart-topping single, "Tha Crossroads,"
that topped the charts for 8 consecutive weeks and shot the group into
the superstar stratosphere they all knew they could achieve.
"Bone
Thugs-N-Harmony consists of a five-man squad. I've always been a central
part of the group, but have always had a solo album inside of me. Since
day one, the group knew that Flesh-N-Bone would do a solo jam. I wanted
to do a solo album because it puts me where I'm supposed to be, to let
people know who Flesh-N-Bone is, so about a year ago, we put that into
effect. It took years of rhyming to get where we're at. The style is on
a level of its own."
As the
first act on Mo Thugs/Def Jam Records, Flesh-N-Bone unleashes an
impressive and assured tour de force, led by the first single, "World So
Cruel." Flesh-N-Bone describes the songs as "The bottom line. We live in
a dirty and cruel world that can get real nasty. The song stresses that
we need to stay together, stick up for one another." Flesh-N-Bone is
assisted by hip hop pioneer Reverend Run of Run-DMC fame, who adds his
own commentary on the state of society. The result is a conscious
melodic song that infects the listener leaving them whistling the chorus
after hearing it only once.
An
all-star cast of the hip-hop nation's finest contribute their particular
flava to the T.H.U.G.S. mix, including brother Layzie Bone on "Northcoast,"
Krayzie Bone on "Playa Hater," Run DMC's Reverend Run on "Reverend Run
Sermon," the soulful vocals of Ms. Chaz on the title cut and "World So
Cruel," Fat Joe on "No Mercy," BG Knocc Out on "Coming 2 Serve You," and
future Mo Thugs artists Afta Maff on "Empty The Clip" and "Live Soil."
"We
didn't have a bit of trouble recording T.H.U.G.S.," Flesh-N-Bone
relates. "We went into Private Island Trax (in Los Angeles) in early
June and came out in late July with a complete album. I appreciate the
hip-hop community, and I'm glad I'm able to contribute to it. It makes
me happy about being here, being alive doin' what I'm doin." With the
release of T.H.U.G.S., the Mo Thugs project and continuous recording &
touring with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Flesh-N-Bone makes this "cruel world"
a little easier to handle.
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FLESH-N-BONE : DISCOGRAPHY |
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1996 |
T.H.U.G.S. (Trues
Humbly United Gatherin' Souls |
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1996 |
T.H.U.G.S. [Clean] |
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2000 |
5th Dog Let Loose |
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2000 |
5th Dog Let Loose
[Clean] |
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SINGLES |
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1997 |
Nothin' But Da Bone In
Me |
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SOUNDTRACKS & APPEARANCES |
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1997 |
Mo Thug Family
Scriptures |
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1998 |
Rush Hour |
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1998 |
Rush Hour [Clean] |
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1998 |
Small Soldiers |
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2001 |
Off Da Hook 2001 |
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