Kings of the West with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Too $hort, and more

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, from Cleveland, Ohio, are iconic in hip hop, known for their rapid-fire flow and melodic style. They gained fame with hits like "Tha Crossroads" and collaborated with legends like Eazy-E, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., and Akon. Their albums, including *E. 1999 Eternal* and *The Art of War*, went multi-platinum.

Too $hort, born Todd Shaw in L.A., is a pioneering West Coast rapper known for explicit lyrics and sparse instrumentals. He released his breakthrough album, "Born to Mack," in 1988, earning gold certification. Collaborating with legends like 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., and Jay-Z, Too $hort's hits include "The Ghetto" and "Blow the Whistle." He's achieved multiple platinum albums and continues influencing hip-hop with projects like his 2020 collaboration with E-40.

Bay Area rapper E-40, born in Vallejo, known for inventive slang, achieved national fame with "In a Major Way" (1995) and hits like "Tell Me When to Go." He has collaborated with 2Pac, Lil Jon, T-Pain, and Mount Westmore (with Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, Ice Cube). His entrepreneurial spirit revitalized the hyphy scene, with albums frequently hitting the top charts and reaching gold status.

Born Alvin Nathaniel Joiner in Detroit, MI, Xzibit rose from underground rapper to renowned West Coast MC in the late '90s. Known for hits like "Paparazzi" and "What U See Is What U Get," he worked with notable artists such as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem. His album "Restless" went platinum. He later gained fame as the host of MTV's "Pimp My Ride" while also pursuing acting, appearing in films like "8 Mile" and "XXX: State of the Union." Despite facing financial troubles, Xzibit made a musical return with "Napalm" in 2012.