Rap Atlas: Cleveland — Eight Acts from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony to Doe Boy
From Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’s melodic, rapid rapping in Glenville to Kid Cudi’s inward-looking records and Doe Boy’s work with Freebandz, this guide follows eight Cleveland-connected acts through the city and records you can hear.
The geographic focus is Cleveland, Ohio. Group formation is distinguished from individual birthplace or upbringing. Bone’s group entry overlaps with the individual entries for Krayzie and Layzie; this is not a count of eight separate groups.
Places and artists
| Regional connection | Acts |
|---|---|
| Glenville formation | Bone Thugs-n-Harmony |
| Cleveland ties; members of the group above | Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone |
| Cleveland ties; no specific neighborhood assigned here | Chip tha Ripper / King Chip, Doe Boy, Kid Cudi, Machine Gun Kelly, Ray Cash |
Eight acts and where to start listening
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Teenage friends and relatives came together in Glenville, releasing Faces of Death as B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e in 1993. XXL’s 2010 feature traces the group behind the combination of melody and rapid-fire rapping. After traveling to California in search of a deal, they returned to Cleveland and met Eazy-E backstage at his show, as The Ringer recounts.
Their Ruthless EP Creepin on Ah Come Up dates to 1994. E. 1999 Eternal followed in 1995, and “Tha Crossroads” won a Grammy in 1997 (Recording Academy).
Start with E. 1999 Eternal, then follow the individual work of Krayzie Bone and Layzie Bone below.
Chip tha Ripper / King Chip
XXL’s 2018 profile describes King Chip, formerly known as Chip tha Ripper, as Cleveland-bred. The title “44108” is his hometown ZIP code (Complex, 2013). A 2014 deluxe edition is available as 44108 (Deluxe).
Reviewing the earlier Tell Ya Friends (2012), XXL emphasizes his unhurried flow and his ability to hold his own alongside Bun B and Krayzie Bone, while criticizing the slow tempos and 22-track length.
Start with 44108 (Deluxe).
Doe Boy
In Billboard’s 2020 interview, Doe Boy credits his hometown with making him resilient. Complex reported in 2012 that the 18-year-old Cleveland rapper had signed to Future’s Freebandz.
Billboard singles out his forceful delivery and agile wordplay while tracing his 2019 project and subsequent collaborations. That project, Streetz Need Me 2, includes Young Thug, Gunna and YG.
Start with Streetz Need Me 2 and listen for that forceful voice and wordplay across the guest collaborations.
Kid Cudi
Rolling Stone’s 2024 review identifies Kid Cudi as Cleveland-born and traces his inward-looking music back to the 2008 single “Day N’ Nite.” His 2009 Complex interview also discusses growing up in Ohio and leaving Cleveland.
Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009) is his debut studio album. Reviewing Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon, Pitchfork in 2014 criticizes his singing while recognizing his ear for atmosphere and tone. His guest appearance on “All of the Lights” won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 2012 Grammys (Recording Academy).
Start with Man on the Moon: The End of Day, the studio-album starting point that followed his 2008 single.
Krayzie Bone
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony member Krayzie Bone is identified as a Cleveland native by XXL’s 2008 review and Complex’s 2023 report. On the solo release The Fixtape Vol. 1: Smoke on This (2008), he turns familiar beats and melodies into different songs. XXL finds both successes and failures in that approach.
His guest appearance on Chamillionaire’s “Ridin’” won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2007 Grammys (Recording Academy). It offers a way to hear the voice from Bone in another musical partnership.
Start with “Ridin’” on The Sound of Revenge. For a solo release, follow it with The Fixtape Vol. 1: Smoke on This.
Layzie Bone
Layzie Bone is a founding member of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. XXL’s formation history and Complex’s 2025 report on his interview document his role in the group’s beginnings. His recollections in Complex reach back to the Band-Aid Boys and Bone Enterprise names.
His individual releases include Thug by Nature (2001, Ruthless), credited to L-Burna aka Layzie Bone.
Start with Thug by Nature alongside E. 1999 Eternal to explore his individual and group work.
Machine Gun Kelly
Rolling Stone’s 2017 profile describes Machine Gun Kelly as Cleveland-raised and follows both his rapid rapping and his guitar-playing, live-band performances. Around the success of “Bad Things” with Camila Cabello, Bloom also gave singing a larger role.
His 2012 rap album, Lace Up, received Gold certification on August 15, 2017, in the RIAA’s official report. The later Mainstream Sellout earned a Best Rock Album nomination at the 2023 Grammys (Recording Academy).
Start with Lace Up for the rap-album route through this guide.
Ray Cash
XXL’s 2006 profile identifies Ray Cash as a Cleveland native who grew up in the city; that biographical attribution rests on one outlet. In its June interview, he discusses local cars and music in his own words.
His debut C.O.D. – Cash On Delivery (2006) includes “Sex Appeal” and “Bumpin’ My Music,” featuring Scarface. The latter credit appears in both the official catalog and the June interview. XXL’s album review highlights the densely written “Payback” and judges the album a solid debut.
Start with C.O.D. – Cash On Delivery —begin with the Scarface collaboration “Bumpin’ My Music,” then move to the densely written “Payback.”
Timeline: selected releases and milestones
- 1993 — B.O.N.E. Enterpri$e — Faces of Death
- 1994 — Bone Thugs-n-Harmony — Creepin on Ah Come Up
- 1995 — Bone Thugs-n-Harmony — E. 1999 Eternal
- 1997 — Tha Crossroads — Grammy win
- 2001 — L-Burna aka Layzie Bone — Thug by Nature
- 2006 — Ray Cash — C.O.D. – Cash On Delivery
- 2007 — Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone, Ridin’ — Grammy win
- 2009 — Kid Cudi — Man on the Moon: The End of Day
- 2012 — Machine Gun Kelly — Lace Up
- 2014 — King Chip — 44108 (Deluxe)
- 2019 — Doe Boy — Streetz Need Me 2
- 2023 — Machine Gun Kelly — Mainstream Sellout, Best Rock Album nomination
Sources and official releases are linked in the artist cards. Release years and ceremony years are identified separately.
Scope and sources
Acts appear alphabetically, without ranking. Inclusion combines an official streaming release with national or specialist coverage or an official award record. Birthplace, upbringing and a reported hometown are kept distinct; each claim stays within what its linked source supports. Layzie Bone instead qualifies through Criterion 2, his historical role as a founding member documented in multiple sources.
This is a selected guide, not an exhaustive roster or awards history. Group and individual award totals are not added together. Rap Atlas does not sell placement, and advertising does not determine inclusion or order. Corrections supported by sources are checked and applied to both language editions and the regional record; anonymous submissions are welcome.
The research baseline is September 12–15, 2026. On September 21, the Eazy-E meeting account, Ray Cash guest credit, individual Layzie/Krayzie releases, King Chip and Doe Boy listening links, Rolling Stone’s Cudi/MGK coverage and Billboard’s Doe Boy interview were rechecked. Catalog dates can differ from first release dates; the guide distinguishes years and editions where relevant.
Frequently asked questions
- Why separate Bone and its members?
- The group catalog, Krayzie’s guest and solo work, and Layzie’s individual releases offer different listening routes. The entries are not additive headcounts or award totals.
- Which album should I begin with?
- Try E. 1999 Eternal for the group, Man on the Moon: The End of Day for Cudi, or Streetz Need Me 2 for Doe Boy. Each card includes a listening link.
- Are other artists or places missing?
- Yes. This is an eight-act selection, not a complete city history or roster. Readers can submit additions with sources through the correction link.
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