A Conversation with Krayzie Bone and Phaedra Butler on Emotion, Legacy, and Feelings

This conversation brings together two artists who approach music not as entertainment, but as emotional architecture. Krayzie Bone, a foundational voice whose harmonics helped pioneer Hip-Hop’s DNA, and Phaedra Butler, a vocalist from Cambridge, Massachusetts, whose clarity of tone is matched by clarity of truth. Together, they created the”Feelings” remix. We talk about craft, cost, and the courage it takes to make emotion audible.

Hana G: Krayzie, your vocal blueprint has influenced countless artists across the last three decades. When you approached “Feelings,” were you consciously revisiting that legacy sound, or exploring a new creative space?
Krayzie Bone: I don’t really approach music with a plan. Whatever the vibe is, that’s where I go. I let the record tell me what it needs.

Hana G: Bone Thugs built harmonies on trauma, urgency, and spirit. Where does “Feelings” sit emotionally in your catalog? Is it confession, release, or reinvention?
Krayzie Bone: It’s a little bit of all of that. It comes from a more grown place. There’s definitely an element of confession in the concept.

Hana G: You’ve been open about survival, health, and spiritual resilience. Did returning to the studio change you internally, not just vocally?
Krayzie Bone: Recording has always changed me. Throughout my career, it’s helped me grow and expand, both creatively and personally.

Hana G: When your voice returned to the mic after recovery, what did you feel first? Gratitude, fear, or ownership?
Krayzie Bone: Gratitude. I felt blessed to come through that and still be able to perform, still be able to jump right back into it. God was definitely looking out.

Hana G: Hip-Hop today is hyper-digital and often emotionally restrained. Do you think this generation knows how to feel in real time, or was “Feelings” written as a corrective?
Krayzie Bone: “Feelings” represents what the industry is missing, not just in Hip-Hop, but in R&B too. A lot of R&B singers are talking about the same things rappers are talking about now, and that’s not how it used to be. When you wanted love songs or serious relationship music, you went to R&B artists. Music has changed. I miss the versatility. Even in Hip-Hop, you don’t hear the struggle anymore. Everyone comes out already rich, already driving Rolls Royces. The music reflects that. It doesn’t reflect struggle, and that takes away from the magic of classic Hip-Hop.

Hana G: Phaedra, you come from Cambridge, a city of intellect and art, but not often spotlighted in Hip-Hop vocals. How did that environment shape your tone, songwriting, and how you navigate industry spaces?
Phaedra: I grew up in a household where we played all kinds of music. Long before I met Kray and the rest of the brothers, I gravitated toward their sound because they sang in their rap. They were always my favorite group. I’ve been shaped by all my experiences – musically and in life – and by listening to a wide range of genres.

Hana G: Collaborating with someone whose catalog is already canonized, where did you find confidence instead of intimidation?
Phaedra: I’ve always been confident in what I do. I’ve worked with Kray for about 10 years behind the scenes. He had a studio in Anaheim, where he’d record during the day and leave it to me at night. I would write hooks and leave them on the board. He’d come in the next day, pick what resonated, and cut it. That process really helped build my confidence – especially in writing hooks and working at that level in Hip-Hop.

Hana G: What do you want “Feelings” to open for you as an artist?
Phaedra: I want opportunities to be in rooms and spaces where people can experience what I have to offer – musically, creatively, and as a performer. I believe I have a real story that other women can relate to. My hope is that it opens doors to new audiences, new connections, and allows people to really see who Phaedra is.

Hana G: Who reached out first, and what made this collaboration feel spiritually aligned rather than just musically convenient?
Phaedra: I wrote the record initially. While recording it, I just knew Kray would be perfect. I called him and said, “I have this record I think you’re going to love, and if you do, I need you to give me sixteen.” I sent it to him, and he called me right away and said he loved it. He sent it back a few days later, as always. That made me really excited.

Hana G: Was the record rooted in heartbreak, or pure sonic intuition?
Phaedra: Definitely life and heartbreak. I had just gone through a breakup with someone I’d been with for a long time and wasn’t sure where my life was headed. I started branching out, making new connections, and that spark – those moments – became the foundation for the song. It was written directly from real life experience.

Hana G: Describe the studio energy. Was this layered remotely or face-to-face, and did the room dictate the tone of the record?
Phaedra: We do look for spaces that allow creativity, but what really did it for me wasn’t the room. It was the music. It had a pure R&B feel, but I could hear Hip-Hop and adult contemporary in it too. It touched multiple genres and immediately resonated with me. I knew the subject matter, the melodies, and the lyrics were heading in the right direction.

Hana G: Why make a record that asks listeners to sit with emotion instead of escaping it?
Krayzie Bone: What I love about the song is that there’s no auto-tune. It’s real R&B, authentic vocalism mixed with real Hip-Hop. That’s what gives the song feeling. It comes from real people, written by real people, about real emotions that people go through every day.

Hana G: Do you see “Feelings” as a single or a movement?
Krayzie Bone: I see it as inspiration. It shows aspiring artists that it’s okay to talk about different things. You don’t have to follow trends. It’s okay to be different.

Hana G: Who produced the record?
Phaedra: The producer is American Antagonist from Boston. He works with a company called “Artist Live.” Kray and I have known him for a long time. He’s a writer, producer, rapper and engineer. We call him “100%” because he does everything. He’s incredibly talented.

Hana G: Where is the single available?
Phaedra: “Feelings” is streaming on all platforms. I’m also currently working on new material.

Hana G: Where can people find you Instagram?
Krayzie Bone: @_bone
Phaedra: @therealphaedra

Together or individually, both artists continue to build and let their work speak where words leave off. Press play for the remix for Phaedra’s “Feelings” featuring Krazie Bone.

By, Hana G.