MTV News Online

After less than a month in release, the Layzie Bone-produced Mo Thugs III: The Mothership continues to dominate the Billboard Independent Albums chart — fulfilling Layzie Bone's desire to bring his thug sound back to the streets.

The album is the latest in a series of spin-offs from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, following 1997's Mo Thugs: Family Scriptures and 1998's Mo Thugs Chapter II: Family Reunion.

The newest edition finds Layzie Bone collaborating with several up-and-coming artists, including the Desperidos, who hook up with Layzie Bone on the first single, "Did He Really Wanna?," and whose Ken Dawg appeared on the Family Reunion LP.

Layzie Bone said the single was based on some true-life experiences.

"It's just basically letting people know that everybody's out there doing stupid things," Layzie Bone said, "killing folks, robbing folks, doing things that really aren't prosperous for them. We're just really checking people, like, 'Did you think about that? Was it really worth it?' It's all kinds of situations people can get into, but did it get you some money? Was it worth your troubles and all that?

"I've been in situations where I had court cases, had to do time, and to me, it wasn't worth it," he continued. "So it's real-life, actual stuff, [and] we're kicking it with everybody. I can't see it being double-sided. [There's] two sides to everything. It's good, it's bad; it's God, it's devils. It can be opposite and negative."

In addition to working with the Mo Thugs project, his own solo album and a Desperidos record, Layzie Bone also is preparing for some shows with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, although it looks as if the group will be touring without Flesh-N-Bone, who faces an Aug. 22 sentencing on weapons and assault charges.

"Flesh, that's my brother, and he's facing some time right now," Layzie Bone said. "Bottom line, we're just going to pray for the best and hope that he gets off as easy as he can, but right now he's facing some serious time. But you know, we're gonna appeal things and keep going forward."

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are set to play Sunday at the San Jose (Calif.) Arena, as well as Aug. 10 at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif.

— David Basham, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes