Early Life
Bone Crusher was born Wayne Hardnett Jr. on August 23, 1971, in Atlanta, Georgia. He initially gained attention as part of the rap collective Lyrical Giants alongside Donald “Baby D” Jenkins and Bizar. After being discovered by Jermaine Dupri, he signed to So So Def/Arista and quickly rose to national prominence.
Career Highlights
“AttenCHUN!” was released on April 29, 2003, driven by the breakout success of “Never Scared.” His follow-up album, “Release the Beast,” arrived in 2006 and featured the single “Southern Gorillas,” followed by the album “Free” in 2007. While these projects didn’t replicate his initial chart success, Bone Crusher remained active with mixtapes like “Bad to the Bone” and “Planet Crusher” and collaborated with artists such as Mariah Carey, T-Pain, and Young Jeezy.
Media & Acting
Bone Crusher broadened his reach with appearances on the VH1 reality show “Celebrity Fit Club,” and he was featured as a playable character in the video game “Def Jam: Fight for NY.” His acting credits include roles in the films “ATL” and “Trois 3: The Escort.” Bone Crusher also had a memorable appearance on Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Who Is America?”. In season 1, episode 3, during a segment hosted by Sacha Baron Cohen’s character Dr. Nira Cain-N’Degeocello. The segment, titled “Heal the Divide,” brought together Bone Crusher and former South Carolina state legislator Chip Limehouse for a satirical attempt at a racial reconciliation discussion. Throughout the segment, Cohen’s character made a series of bizarre and provocative statements—suggesting, for example, that it was offensive to call African-Americans “Black,” or that anal sex doesn’t count as homosexuality. He also attempted to dissect hip-hop culture in absurd ways, prompting visible discomfort from Limehouse and eye-rolls from Bone Crusher. At one point, the segment turned into a mock rap performance in which Bone Crusher participated, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor throughout the deliberately awkward and surreal exchange. His ability to remain grounded while the politician squirmed under Cohen’s provocations made him one of the more memorable guests of the show.
