LIHU‘E — It’s Sunday and the thuggish, ruggish Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are in the house, performing on Kaua‘i for the first time and accompanied by the North Shore group, Ghosst Ridazz. Presented by BAMP Project and Guerilla Union, this 21-and-over event,
LIHU‘E — It’s Sunday and the thuggish, ruggish Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are in the house, performing on Kaua‘i for the first time and accompanied by the North Shore group, Ghosst Ridazz.
Presented by BAMP Project and Guerilla Union, this 21-and-over event, featuring all five original Bone Thug members — Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, Flesh-n-Bone Krayzie Bone and Bizzy Bone — kicks off at 7 p.m. today at Kilohana Pavilion in Lihu‘e and concludes the Point Panic Music Festival 12.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is an American hip-hop group from Cleveland, Ohio, best known for their fast-paced, aggressive rapping style and harmonizing vocals, states the group’s website.
“After all these years, Bone Thugs have not missed a beat,” Jamie Adler, the band’s agent, said. “When all five guys touch the stage the energy is magic.”
The group’s youngest member Bryon McCane — better known by his stage name Bizzy Bone — told The Garden Island in an exclusive interview that the guys are excited to be here and promised a stellar performance for Hawai‘i fans, who he says have always had the group’s back.
“Everybody’s a buzz right now, getting in shape, everybody’s happy,” he said. “We owe it to them (the fans) … it’s going to be great to get out there and say ‘Thank you.’”
Over the years, the group has had its share of hardships, with Flesh-n-Bone being imprisoned for nearly 10 years and group members Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone officially leaving the group in April 2011 due to internal conflicts.
Bizzy says all that is now behind them.
“We’re really just getting our feet back strong … we know people want to hear us right now,” Bizzy said. “It’s gradual … everybody learning about each other as adults. We’re not kids anymore.”
In August, Bone Thugs reunited for its 20-year anniversary during the Rock the Bells tour series, which Bizzy described as a “big success.”
Tonight, Bizzy says the crowd is in for a little bit of everything Bone Thugs has to offer, including tracks the band put out with late rappers 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Eazy-E and Big Pun.
“It’s going to be some old stuff, some newer stuff,” Bizzy said. “It’s just like a trip in hip-hop, everything that they (the fans) love about hip-hop.”
“This is a big deal for every show they are playing,” BAMP Project owner Philip Pendelton wrote in an email. “All five original members performing together this tour, (with) an Easy-E Tribute mixed into their set.”
Pendelton added that Bone Thugs is receiving five-star reviews on all performances of 2012.
In 1997, the group was awarded a Grammy for Best Rap Performance with their song “Tha Crossroads” from their E. 1999 Eternal album. Since its conception in 1993, the group has been honored with numerous other awards, have sold more than 30 million records worldwide and are the originators of “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” Harmonization.
The editors of About.com ranked Bone Thugs No. 12 on their list of the “25 Best Rap Groups of All Time,” and MTV called them “the most melodic hip-hop group of all time.”
Bizzy offered a final message to the fans of Kaua‘i — to get ready for “a hell of a time.”
“We’re coming over there with a reasonable price so people can enjoy themselves … coming over to have some fun,” he said. “We want to make it more than a one-time thing.”
Tonight’s rain-or-shine event begins at 7 p.m., with the doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at www.groovetickets.com or at the following locations; Deja Vu Surf, Pono Market, Rainbow Gas and Mini Mart, City Liquor, Progressive Expressions, Healthy Hut and Hanalei Surf.
Kilohana Pavilion is located near Kilohana plantation by Kaua‘i Community College. Use the Kilohana entrance and park by where the road turns toward Island School.
• Chris D’Angelo, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 241) or lifestyle@thegardenisland.com.
