If you grew up in the 90s, you remember the sound. That melodic, stutter-step flow that felt like a warm breeze coming off Lake Erie. When Bone Thugs-N-Harmony dropped E. 1999 Eternal in 1995, hip-hop was largely split between the grit of New York and the G-funk of LA. Then came Cleveland. Specifically, then came the anthem of the neighborhood. The bone thugs 1st of tha month lyrics aren't just lines in a song; they are a sociological snapshot of a specific time, place, and economic reality that resonated far beyond the corner of St. Clair and 99th.
It’s crazy to think about.
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Most people hear the "Wake up, wake up, wake up" refrain and think of a party. But look closer. The song is actually a gritty, nuanced depiction of survival. It captures that momentary sigh of relief when the mail arrives. Honestly, it’s one of the most honest depictions of poverty ever to hit the Billboard charts.
The Reality Behind the Harmony
You’ve got to understand the context of 1995 Cleveland to get why these lyrics landed so hard. Krayzie, Layzie, Bizzy, and Wish (with Flesh-n-Bone) weren't just rapping about generic hood stuff. They were talking about the "welfare man." For a lot of families in the mid-90s, the first of the month was the only day the fridge was full. It was the day the tension broke, even if only for twenty-four hours.
Bizzy Bone’s verse starts with a frantic energy that mirrors the anxiety of being broke. He talks about "hustling since the last of the month" and finally seeing that check. It’s a celebration, sure, but it’s a celebration born out of necessity. The contrast between the smooth, angelic production by DJ U-Neek and the reality of "selling them rocks" is what gives the track its soul. It shouldn't work. A song about government assistance and street survival shouldn't sound like a lullaby, but that was the Bone Thugs magic.
They managed to make the struggle sound beautiful.
Decoding the bone thugs 1st of tha month lyrics
The song starts with a literal wake-up call. "Wake up, wake up, wake up, it's the first of the month!" It’s an alarm clock for the soul. Krayzie Bone jumps in with a flow that was revolutionary at the time. Before Bone, everyone was rapping on the beat. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony rapped inside the beat, using their voices as percussion instruments.
When Krayzie says, "Hey, my n****s we having a celebration, love to stay high," he isn't just talking about partying. He’s talking about escapism. When you're living in a cycle of "the last of the month" (when the money runs out) and "the first of the month" (when it returns), getting high is often the only way to deal with the monotony of the grind.
The Welfare Narrative
One of the most specific references in the bone thugs 1st of tha month lyrics involves the "General Assistance" checks. In the 90s, welfare reform was a massive political talking point. Bill Clinton would sign the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act just a year after this song came out. Bone Thugs were reporting from the front lines of that system.
They mention the "mailman" with a reverence usually reserved for religious figures. Because in that neighborhood, the mailman was the provider. Layzie Bone’s verse brings in the community aspect. He talks about "hitting the block" and seeing everyone out. It captures that specific neighborhood energy where, for one day, nobody has to worry about how they're going to eat.
Why the Flow Changed Everything
Let’s talk about the "Cleveland Style." Before Eazy-E discovered these guys, the Midwest was a hip-hop desert. Bone brought a melodic sensibility that paved the way for everyone from Nelly to Drake to Young Thug.
The lyrics use internal rhymes and rapid-fire triplets.
- "Gotta get paid, gotta get paid..."
- "Follow me, roll, stroll..."
- "Searching for the mailbox..."
The repetition isn't lazy writing; it’s rhythmic reinforcement. It mimics the cyclical nature of the life they were describing. You wait, you get paid, you spend, you hustle, you wait again. The song itself is a loop, just like the poverty trap. It’s brilliant in its simplicity.
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The Misconceptions About the Song
People often write off "1st of tha Month" as just another "weed song." While it definitely celebrates cannabis culture—this is Bone Thugs, after all—labeling it just that misses the point. It’s a "relief" song. It’s about the brief window of time where the pressure of the world lets up.
There’s a specific line where they talk about "staying underground" until the "po-po" pass by. It’s a reminder that even on a day of celebration, the threat of the system is always lurking. This isn't a song about getting rich; it's a song about being "okay" for a minute. That nuance is why the bone thugs 1st of tha month lyrics have survived three decades of hip-hop evolution.
The Production Masterclass of DJ U-Neek
You can't discuss the lyrics without the beat. DJ U-Neek used a sample from Chapter 8’s "I Believe in Your Love," but he slowed it down and layered it with these heavy, thumping kicks. The result is a dreamlike atmosphere. It sounds like the haze of a Cleveland summer morning.
The production allows the vocal harmonies to sit on top of the track like a choir. When they harmonize on "It's the first of the month," it sounds almost spiritual. This juxtaposition of "street" content and "heavenly" sound is what caught Eazy-E’s ear when they auditioned for him over the phone and later backstage at a show.
How to Appreciate the Song Today
If you’re listening to this in 2026, the world looks a lot different. The way people receive assistance has changed—it's mostly electronic transfers now, so the "waiting for the mailman" trope is a piece of history. But the feeling of the "hustle" is still universal.
To really get the most out of the bone thugs 1st of tha month lyrics, you have to listen to it as a period piece. It’s a diary entry from a group of five guys who had nothing and used their voices to build an empire.
- Listen for the harmonies: Pay attention to how Bizzy’s high-pitched staccato plays against Krayzie’s smooth delivery.
- Notice the slang: Terms like "double-glock" and "swollen" are specific to that era of Cleveland rap.
- Check the tempo: The song is surprisingly slow, which makes the fast rapping feel even more impressive.
The Cultural Legacy of 1st of tha Month
The song was nominated for a Grammy in 1996 for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. It didn't win (it lost to "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" by Method Man and Mary J. Blige), but its impact was arguably deeper. It proved that "thug" music could be melodic. It proved that regional stories from "the flyover states" mattered.
Today, you still hear the song every single time the calendar turns over. It has become a permanent part of the digital zeitgeist. Memes, social media posts, and radio throwbacks ensure that Bone Thugs remain relevant to a generation that wasn't even born when the CD was released.
Actionable Steps for Hip-Hop Heads
If you want to dive deeper into the world of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony beyond just the surface level of "1st of tha Month," there are a few things you should do to get the full picture.
First, go back and listen to the Creepin on ah Come Up EP. It’s much darker and more aggressive than E. 1999 Eternal. It provides the "before" picture to the success they found later. You'll hear the raw hunger in their voices that explains why they were so desperate for that first of the month to arrive.
Second, watch the music video again. It’s directed by Michael Martin and it perfectly captures the aesthetic of mid-90s Ohio. The oversized Dickies, the clouded rooms, the sense of community on the porch—it’s a visual companion to the lyrics that shouldn't be ignored.
Finally, look up the individual solo projects, especially Krayzie Bone's Thug Mentality 1999. It shows how the group's lyrical themes evolved when they weren't all sharing the same track.
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The bone thugs 1st of tha month lyrics are more than just a catchy hook. They are a testament to the power of storytelling. They took a mundane, often stigmatized event—waiting for a government check—and turned it into a moment of universal human connection. That is why, thirty years later, we are still waking up, waking up, waking up.
Understanding the Impact
To truly grasp the weight of these lyrics, compare them to the rap landscape of the time. While the Notorious B.I.G. was rapping about "Mo Money Mo Problems" and expensive Versace shirts, Bone Thugs were rapping about the relief of finally being able to afford "a fifth of 151." It was the "blue-collar" version of hip-hop. It wasn't about the glamour of the drug trade; it was about the reality of the poverty that leads people to it. This honesty is what built one of the most loyal fanbases in music history.
Even today, when you hear that opening synth line, you feel a sense of nostalgia. Not just for the 90s, but for a time when music felt like it was coming directly from the street corner to your ears. Bone Thugs didn't just write a song; they captured a heartbeat.