Layzie Bone
A foundational voice in Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, delivering the rapid, melodic flow that defined the group's haunting Cleveland sound.
Born 1974 (age 52)·American rapper·Birthday: September 23·Generation X
Biography
As Layzie Bone, Steven Howse provided the gritty, grounded core to Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's otherworldly harmonies. Growing up in Cleveland's tough streets, he, alongside his brother Flesh-N-Bone and cousins, forged a sound that was entirely unique: a blend of frenetic, double-time rapping with sung, harmonic hooks that felt both street-tough and spiritually yearning. Layzie's voice, often the first heard on their monumental hit "Tha Crossroads," carries a distinctive, slightly raspy urgency that anchors the group's ethereal style. While the collective's success was astronomical, Layzie also pursued a relentless solo and collaborative output, running his own label and forming the Bone Brothers with his sibling. His career embodies the DIY hustle of hip-hop, maintaining a direct connection with fans and ensuring the Bone Thugs legacy extends far beyond their 90s peak.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Layzie was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Layzie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Layzie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As a member of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, won a Grammy Award in 1997 for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Tha Crossroads."
- The group's album 'E. 1999 Eternal' was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA.
- He released the solo album 'Thug by Nature' in 2001, which reached the Billboard 200 chart.
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's "Tha Crossroads" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1996.
Did You Know?
His stage name was originally 'L-Burna' before he settled on Layzie Bone.
He is the younger brother of fellow Bone Thugs-n-Harmony member Flesh-N-Bone.
He is the CEO of his own independent record label, Harmony Howse Entertainment.
He is a member of the spin-off group Bone Brothers with his brother Flesh-N-Bone.
“We just did what we felt. We didn't know we was making history, we was just making music.”
