Wu-Tang Clan and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Impress in Nostalgic Blossom Hip-Hop Concert: Review

When Wu-Tang Clan gets inducted into Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame later this year, it’ll be a momentous occasion for the 34-year-old hip-hop collective.

“What made it happen,” band member RZA said from the Blossom Music Center stage on Wednesday night, “is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame figured out what we knew all along: Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothing to f*** with!"

The group’s 10 rappers proved their collective might right away at the humid Cleveland show, gradually stepping onstage during a mix of songs that featured each member's distinct flow. Behind them, an impressive live band kept the songs moving and stayed mostly out of sight behind video screens.

Founding members RZA, GZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killa were joined by Cappadonna, who became a member of the group in 2007, and Young Dirty Bastard, who stood in for his father, original band member Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who died in 2004.

Here, Wu-Tang Clan was as whole as it could be. Its ongoing “The Final Chamber” farewell tour serves to showcase the hip-hop group’s widespread influence, cemented since the crew formed in New York City more than three decades ago. Plus, don’t forget the members’ successful solo careers.

Wu-Tang classics like “C.R.E.A.M.,” “Triumph” and “Bring Da Ruckus” framed individual highlights of the band’s members, like Raekwon’s “Ice Cream,” Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “Got Your Money” and Method Man’s “Bring The Pain” at the Blossom concert. But even when musicians performed their solo tunes, the distinct Wu-Tang “W” logo remained ever-present on the stage’s display screens throughout the evening — a symbol of the connective tissue that binds these stalwarts of ‘90s hip-hop. It was mirrored back by audience members' W-shaped hand signs throughout the evening.

As tends to be the case for farewell tours, “The Final Chamber” has been extended a couple of times. And the extra dates are deserved. So is the group’s Rock Hall induction in just a few short months. And so is its forthcoming co-op video game, Wu-Tang: Rise of the Deceiver, and its 2025 Quentin Tarantino-led movie, One Spoon of Chocolate.

Opening band Bone Thugs-N-Harmony had accomplishments aplenty to celebrate on Wednesday, too — including, notably, the band getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this summer. 

Four out of five members of the Cleveland hip-hop group performed during the first set of the night. (Missing from the tour is Bizzy Bone, who has stated on social media that he’s focused on a solo album release on Sept. 12.)

Prior to Wednesday night, Layzie Bone hadn’t been on the roster, either. But he appeared in Cuyahoga Falls, joining Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone and Flesh-N-Bone onstage for a nostalgic set of favorites, including Cleveland-centric songs like “E. 1999,” “1st of Tha Month” and “Tha Crossroads,” performed over backing tracks for the crowd of eager hometown fans.

Together, Bone Thugs and Wu-Tang Clan remain two of the most essential hip-hop groups of the ‘90s. Together, they’re getting their flowers this year.

And, for Wu-Tang, at least, that includes having one long, good tour of farewell concerts; one long, big goodbye.

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