E. 1999 Eternal

E. 1999 Eternal, the second album from Cleveland's Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, dropped on July 25, 1995, via Ruthless Records and Relativity Records. Released just four months after the death of Eazy-E, the group's mentor and the album's executive producer, the record serves as a tribute to him, with the hit single "Tha Crossroads" and the album itself dedicated to his memory. Building on the unexpected success of their breakout track "Thuggish Ruggish Bone," the project showcases the group's signature melodic flow, blending rapid-fire rapping with harmonious singing over dark, synth-driven beats. The title references the intersection of East 99th Street and St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland's east side, where the group formed, and the then-future year 1999.

The album sold 307,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and holding the spot for two weeks. It went on to become the group's best-selling release, moving four million copies in the U.S. Critics praised its innovative sound, and it earned a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 1996 Grammys, losing to Naughty by Nature's Poverty's Paradise. In 2015, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony marked the album's 20th anniversary by performing it in full for the first time on tour. [edit]