Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Perform “Tha Crossroads” at the 1996 MTV VMAs

On this day, Sept. 4, in hip-hop history...

1996: While the hip-hop world was still mourning the loss of N.W.A frontman Eazy-E, his Cleveland protégés, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, were rising to fame. At the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City, Bone Thugs performed their hit single and Eazy-E tribute, "Tha Crossroads."

As one of only three hip-hop performances of the night, Bizzy, Flesh, Krayzie, and Layzie dressed in white suits, had a live horse-drawn carriage onstage and gave such a heartfelt rendition of the single, audience members were singing along with ease. Amid heavy rock acts like Smashing Pumpkins and KISS, it was considered by viewers at home one of the best performances of the night

Bone Thugs were also nominated for a moon man in the category of Best Rap Video for "Tha Crossroads" that night but lost out to "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio featuring L.V.

Check out the 1990s era performance below.

See Photos of Rappers’ Fashion Choices in 1997