Although I do not completely agree with his assertion, I have felt that live hip hop and rap is often very disappointing – and sometimes downright terrible and embarrassing – when compared to recorded tracks on an album. 

BTNH currently consists of (L-R) Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, and Layzie Bone, posing here on the waterfront of hometown Cleveland, OH.

Rappers have a definite tendency to place looking and acting tough with their on-stage entourage ahead of great quality live music, and pumping up bass to look hard instead of connecting with an audience through lyrics.

Of course, I am not representative of most hip hop audiences, and am likely to sound like a typically naive or snobby white boy. However, I do consider myself a Bone Thugs fan, and have always been enamored with their fast-paced, tonally stimulating style and interesting lyrics. I realized, however, that this form of rap is hurt more by the live format, which emphasizes the bass and beat over lyrical flow and melody. A lot of Bone Thugs' sound is especially high pitched and dynamic, which is more easily drowned out than a deeper, monotone flow like 50 Cent or P. Diddy. 

The Cleveland-based group currently consists of Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, and Wish Bone; former member Bizzy Bone is no longer with the group after a multitude of creative differences, and Flesh-n-Bone is serving his eighth year of an 11-year prison sentence after threatening his neighbor with an AK-47. The band's latest albums are mid-2007 release Strength & Loyalty, which won an American Music Award for Favorite Band/Group (Rap/Hip-Hop) and T.H.U.G.S., which features previously unreleased singles. Their current nationwide tour runs through mid-June.

Bone Thugs' 2007 release, Strength & Loyalty, debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Album (Rap/Hip-Hop).

The trio performed a selection of their greatest hits from over the years, including "Thuggish Ruggish Bone" and "Tha Crossroads." The distinctive aura of these two hits from the 90's was a bit lost in the overriding blare of the beat – from our standpoint, not far from stage, it was slightly  difficult to make out any melody or defining features of the songs (of course, the enthusiastic screaming audience was a contributing factor as well).  I had also always unconditionally associated "Tha Crossroads" with the soft, smooth, and spiritual music video, so my expectations were a bit off course. Nonetheless, I maintain that it sounds better recorded.

The last two songs of the set were more impressive, and more harmonically inclined. "Home" (featuring Phil Collins, who they deemed the honorary "Chrome Bone") and the melancholy "I Tried" (featuring Akon) both sounded great, and all three rappers' flow perfectly complemented the catchy choruses. It was a good way to end the night.

Unfortunately, perhaps due to Bizzy Bone's absence, the group did not perform hits such as "Resurrection (Paper, Paper)" and "Change the World," two of my favorites from their 2000 BTNHResurrection album (before things again turned sour with Bizzy).

In addition to music, Bone Thugs rendered a fairly typical rap group stage presence – smoking joints thrown on stage by the crowd, and giving shoutouts to numerous rap artists we lost along the way, such as 2 Pac, Notorious B.I.G., and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes.

The concert was enjoyable and something new for me, and I still am a fan of Bone Thugs' music. Would I be inclined to see them again live, or pay money for a rap concert in the near future? Probably not, but my outlook is obviously not indicative of the majority. For those who enjoy loud bass and a driving beat, and who appreciate the talent of Krayzie, Layzie, and Wish, a Bone Thugs-n-Harmony concert is well above average as live rap goes.

Crash Mansion LA, which recently celebrated its official grand opening, is located at 1024 S. Grand Ave, Los Angeles 90015. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's nationwide tour continues through June 14th, 2008.

Photos courtesy of www.starbulletin.com and www.sunetesubsol.net

LINKS: 

http://www.crashmansionla.com/

http://www.bonethugsnharmony.com/

http://www.myspace.com/bonethugsnharmony

http://www.myspace.com/crashmansionlosangeles