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).