The single “I Tried” from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony featuring Akon was the first single from their latest album “Strength & Loyalty” and debuted at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has so far reached all the way into the top 10. Now, the single is about to be co-branded with a DVD movie of the same name and stars Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone and Wish Bone set to release on September 25, 2007. The film is a compelling “What If…” story of what their lives could’ve been like if they never caught that bus to L.A.? What if they never got out of Cleveland? What if they took the bus to L.A. but never got to meet Eazy-E?

HipHopClub.biz talks to Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone about their new film and they share with us their feelings about the new album. Bone Thugs also talks to us about working with a new label, laying down a legacy that is everlasting and collaborating with four classic rappers in history that can never be done again.

St. Louis Ben Grimm: Could you tell us about your new movie “I Tried”?

Wish Bone: The movie “I Tried” first of all it’s our first real acting debut. We’re the stars of the movie or whatever you wanna call it. The movie is about basically what would’ve happened if we still caught the bus to L.A. but never met Eazy-E, maybe what our lives would’ve went like. That’s where fiction comes in but it’s got a little truth to it as far as us getting to L.A. and how we really went on our mission to become who we are today. “What if” we didn’t meet Eazy -E.

St. Louis Ben Grimm: Everybody knows that there would never be a Midwest without Bone Thugs. How does it feel to have such a tremendous legacy in hip hop right now?

Wish Bone: It definitely feels like we’re blessed, you know what I’m sayin? We appreciate the blessing but at the same time we put in a lot of hard work and we never stopped working, ever since Eazy-E let us put our foot in the door. For our work to be appreciated like that it feels real good.

Krayzie Bone: Definitely! Fa’sho.

St. Louis Ben Grimm: Your latest album “Strength & Loyalty” debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200. Does the title of the album have any similarities with the film?

Krayzie Bone: Not really. It’s kind of like a whole different concept of the album. The movie is not like a true story all the way through. It’s like truth mixed with a little fiction so with the album it’s like all the way real.

Wish Bone: The reason we titled the album “Strength & Loyalty” is because we’ve been through a lot to still be in the game. You know, through our ups and downs but we stayed strong, you know what I’m sayin? Through it no matter what. And the loyalty is all about us being loyal to our fans because we know we had those since we came in the game. People love us and love our music, we love each other and we love what we’re blessed to do. So that sums up “Strength & Loyalty”.

St. Louis Ben Grimm: Cool, cool. Would you ever consider doing movies again and if so what genre would you prefer?

Wish Bone: Man, we definitely want to get into the acting thing because basically we want to expand ourselves, we ain’t one-sided. We want to expand ourselves and our careers but it really wouldn’t matter what we do. The acting thing is real fun and it’s a good thing to do. So I think any role or position they put us in, I think we can pull it off. So we’re open to any and all roles.

Krayzie Bone: Fa real.

St. Louis Ben Grimm: What is it like to be the only group ever to collaborate with Big Punisher, 2Pac, Eazy-E and Notorius B.I.G. while they were still alive?

Wish Bone: Man, that really speaks for itself because for one it can never be done again. For two, we were very, very blessed to work with each and every one of them. It’s a blessing that we could keep their legacy going and still be current in the game even though those were situations and collabos we did back in the day. Like, when we do shows now, little kids still sing those songs. So, it’s felt and it’s a blessing that we had something to do with that or was a part of it. God bless each and every one of them too.

St. Louis Ben Grimm: Krayzie, you got anything to add to that?

Krayzie Bone: Man, just what he said. You know, it’s a blessing that we got to work with those talented artists before they passed away. You know what I’m sayin? It’s just good to know that we were ever to accomplish that in our careers. It’s a blessing.

St. Louis Ben Grimm: How does it feel to finally be with a new label?

Krayzie Bone: Man, it’s cool! You know what I’m sayin? It’s real different than what we was use to. People that’s actually, like pushing the album and doing what’s supposed to be done to make an album like it should. It’s real good to be in that position to where we don’t have to worry about if the albums going to be promoted or if the label is doing the right thing, it’s just crazy.

Wish Bone: And for them to be able to push the buttons for us to work with so many different producers and artists that otherwise wouldn’t touch certain situations because everybody wants to either get paid or it’s business. So for Interscope to machine and be pushing them buttons it’s a blessing for us. We couldn’t wait to expand, working with different producers and artists. It was a real good thing.

St. Louis Ben Grimm: Okay, cool. So is there anything else that you would like the HipHopClub readers to know?

Wish Bone: We want them to know that we love each and every one of them. We got to apologize for the intermission between albums, you know it’s all politics. We ain’t mean to be gone that long and have to come back to them like that. But thanks for supporting us for the past 13 years and basically the Bone is back!

St. Louis Ben Grimm: That’s what’s up! I know you got something to say, Krayzie.

Krayzie Bone: Man, we just want to send our love to Swizz Beats. You know what I’m sayin? Everybody else, Full Surface and just like he said we’re back doing our thang man. Don’t count us out the game because we still got a whole lot left in us. A whole lot of hits, platinums. Fa real, you gotta believe that.

–By Marrio (St. Louis Ben Grimm) Gardner

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