Japanese rapper Ryo Muranaka’s June 22 trip to Cleveland to meet his rap “heroes” Bone Thugs-N-Harmony went horribly wrong after he was robbed and lost his luggage.
He was eventually found by local activists while struggling with no money.
Muranaka told Cleveland’s Fox 8 that he had sold his possessions back in Japan and purchased a one-way ticket to travel 6,000 miles to meet the legendary Cleveland rap group and give them his CD. He admitted it was risky.
“I thought I could get in the U.S. in exchange for my CD,” Muranaka told Fox 8 through an interpreter app on his phone. “No. No plan. One-way ticket.”
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Local activists James Norton and Kwas Bibbs found Muranaka struggling in Cleveland with no money and his luggage stolen.
His temporary admission into the U.S. had also expired, putting him at risk of being arrested by immigration officials.
On hearing about Muranaka’s struggles, Bone Thugs rapper Layzie Bone briefly put him up at a hotel, while Krayzie Bone saluted Muranaka’s “determination and passion,” but insisted there’s a lesson to be learned from Muranaka’s experience.
“I commend him for his determination and passion for what he’s trying to do because I can relate,” Krayzie said. “I’m quite sure he heard our story and how we pursued Eazy-E and this is what inspired him.”
