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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.

FLESH-N-BONE : DISCOGRAPHY
   
1996 T.H.U.G.S. (Trues Humbly United Gatherin' Souls
1996 T.H.U.G.S. [Clean]
2000 5th Dog Let Loose
2000 5th Dog Let Loose [Clean]
   
SINGLES
   
1997 Nothin' But Da Bone In Me
   
SOUNDTRACKS & APPEARANCES
   
1997 Mo Thug Family Scriptures
1998 Rush Hour
1998 Rush Hour [Clean]
1998 Small Soldiers
2001 Off Da Hook 2001

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