You don’t have to go to “The Crossroads” to find Bone Thugs N-Harmony, not this week. All you really have to do is find your way to Diamonds in The Highlands and you will be able to catch one of the greatest hip-hop groups to come out of the 1990’s. And not only will they be there performing live on-stage, they will also be playing their classic album “E. 1999 Eternal” from beginning to end – a true hip-hop classic that features hits such as “Crossroads” and “First of the Month.”
The group blew onto the scene – each member with his own kitschy stage name (Bizzy Bone, Wish Bone, Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Flesh-n-Bone). They made an instant impact with fans combining break neck speed rapping, with a very specific since of rhythm and harmony that had previously been absent from mainstream rap.
In 1994, their debut EP, “Creep on ah Come Up,” made at statement – something new and fresh was on the horizon. Songs like “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” and “Foe tha Love of $,” and produced by Eazy-E and DJ Yella, the group had the nod of pioneers to steer the next generation of rappers into a whole new direction.
And that vision became clear when the band released their first full length album, “E. 1999 Eternal” in the summer of the following year. The album highlights their lyrical tongue twisting, indelible harmonies, and kept the content gritty – spewing the language and poetry of the streets like they were some sort of Section-8 version of Allen Ginsberg.
This year being the twentieth anniversary of their landmark album, the original line-up is on tour playing the whole thing from beginning to end – and Louisville is the next stop on that tour when they perform at Diamonds on August 13th. The show begins at 7:00 PM and tickets are still available for $30. Elephant Room, Derby City Music, and Boombox Poets will also be on the bill.
Photo provided by Bone Thugs N Harmony's management.
