Chapter 35: Samoa

Two decades ago, a tight-knit group of Samoan-American brothers put a shotgun to the back of West Coast rap and introduced themselves. Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. had arrived, claiming their territory next to a dense crop of budding superstars including Cypress Hill, Ice T and N.W.A. Like so much powerful music, Boo-Yaa grew out of a potent blend of rich culture and stifling adversity. Having escaped the vicious Los Angeles street-scene they once perpetuated, the T.R.I.B.E. continues to build on an already prolific and multifarious career.

The Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. never forgot their roots as they rose above the ills of the street. Whether locked away in prison or touring the world, Samoa has always been in the Devoux brothers’ blood. Though the islands are situated thousands of miles from California, the distance has never prohibited Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. from experiencing a robust exchange of cultures. In fact, most Samoans carry a strong traditional identity no matter what they’re doing or how far away from home they travel.

In Chapter 35 of the Frank Book, Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. gives a guided tour of all that is Samoan. Beginning with the earliest history of a secluded island cluster, Boo-Yaa and Frank will go on to explore Samoan culture in all of its forms and locations, covering famous Samoan battles, athletes, myths, outlaws, customs, and much more.