The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame sponsored a Cleveland City Council initiative on Sunday afternoon where Cleveland natives Bone Thugs-n-Harmony were bestowed the third annual “Musical Keynote to the City” award.
City Council has previously awarded KISS and, posthumously, Eric Carmen and the Raspberries during last year’s event. Carmen died in early 2024, and he and his group were awarded the “keynote” last August.
“The Music Keynote to the City award is presented annually to artists with deep ties to Cleveland who have left an indelible mark on the world of music. This recognition not only honors Bone Thugs-N-Harmony for their extraordinary contributions to music,” said Councilman Brian Kazy, “but it also celebrates the pride they have brought to Cleveland as true hometown icons.”
Representing the group were Charles Scruggs (“Wish Bone”), Anthony Henderson (“Krazie Bone”), and Stanley Howse (Flesh-n-Bone”).
City Council president Blaine Griffin was on hand to bestow the award to the Cleveland-born rappers after Rock Hall Vice President of Education Jason Handley gave a brief introduction detailing the outfit’s history.
Before the rappers came out to accept the award, councilwoman Stephanie Howse-Jones, a cousin of the band members, gave a fond recollection of her family members and giving a shoutout to East 99th St. And St. Clair.
The three men came out, accepted the award, and then gave a rousing mini-concert for about a half hour, giving thanks and praising their mentor, Eazy-E, as well as Tupac, Biggie Smalls, and others.
The outfit will be back here in later this fall, performing a concert at the Agora on November 29th.
