In preparations for their Rock The Bells tour reunion, Cleveland, Ohio multi-platinum group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is speaking a lot about their mentor. While performing, Bone will be joined by an original digitally projected version of Eazy-E, who rapped with them on “Foe The Love Of $.” The quintet released their debut EP, Creepin’ On Ah Come Up under Eazy-E’s tutelage on the Compton, California native’s Ruthless Records imprint. While Eazy would tragically die a year later after complications from the AIDS virus, the group remained a flagship act on his label until the early ’00s. Their breakthrough 1995 hit “Crossroads,” and especially its video single, was dedicated in part to their mentor.
Speaking with TMZ.com, the reunited members of Bone Thugs expressed disappointment that Eazy-E’s legacy is not better preserved by fans. “[Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G.] died being known as gangsta heroes,” Krayzie Bone told the celebrity news site. “[Eazy-E] died from a disease, so many look at that differently.” Eazy-E is believed to have contracted the AIDS virus through unprotected sex shortly before his death. Some affiliates of the N.W.A. founders, including B.G. Knocc Out, have publicly disputed reports regarding Eazy’s cause of death.
Bizzy Bone, who will be back with his band-mates after numerous hiatuses over the last decade, added, “Some people seem like they are afraid to commemorate him due to how he died. But Bone never once has, nor will, stop commemorating him.”
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After some financial and label disputes in the past, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is working with Eazy’s estate and widow, Tomica Wright on the authorized performance. Earlier this month, Kurupt told HipHopDX that Tha Dogg Pound is working on a collaborative album with their foes-turned-friends, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
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