Onyx (band)

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Onyx
Origin	Queens, New York City
Years active	1989–Present
Genres	Hip hop
Labels	Def Jam Records
Members	Sticky Fingaz Fredro Starr Sonee Seeza Big DS

Onyx is a hardcore rap group from Queens, New York. Originally formed in 1989 by Fredro Starr, Sonee Seeza and Big DS, the group later added Sticky Fingaz (Starr's cousin) in 1991.

Contents 1 History 2 Discography 3 Notes 4 External link

History

In 1991 Onyx was going to present a demo to Jam Master Jay at Def Jam, but Big DS and Sonee Seeza (then only known as Suave) were in Connecticut at the time, so Fredro Starr called up his cousin Sticky Fingaz (who was always rhyming while working in a barber shop). Once Sticky Fingaz joined the group, the group released the Throw Ya Gunz EP in 1992. After the track Onyx inked a deal with Def Jam and were promised an album. In 1993, Onyx released their Bacdafucup LP. The album met with great commercial success, including heavy airplay on radio and MTV for the single "Slam". The track "Slam" was the #5 single of the entire year and the album went on to quickly sell 2 million copies. Onyx also had higher scaled recognition, winning Soul Train's rap album of the year award. Their hardcore image was not tarnished, especially by their raunchy live performances, Sticky's arrest for assault on a flight, and being denied access to perform a half time show at a football game when the NAACP deemed them a disgrace to blacks.

A lot changed with Onyx in the next two years. Big DS was no longer in the group, and was rumored to be either in jail or kicked out of the group. Many people thought that Onyx had faded into obscurity, that was not the case. In 1995 Onyx released their sophomore album All We Got Iz Us, which was much less commercially successful. Many of their fans declare that this was their best work ever. The album did not have any radio friendly tracks and the album's lead single "Last Dayz" peaked at #89 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Selling 500,000 copies Onyx did not look at it as a commercial failure, but as an underground success.

Another gap in albums occurred. Onyx fans were still somewhat satisfied in a different way. Films. Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Starr can be seen in some movies such as Clockers (1995), Sunset Park (1996), and Dead Presidents (1995). Both rappers would continue to star in movies and even television.

Onyx returned in 1998 with their third album Shut 'Em Down, which featured appearances from DMX, The Lost Boyz, Raekwon, Method Man, Big Pun, Noreaga and a then-unknown 50 Cent. This album was accepted on both levels of success. The underground scene loved the B-sides to the album, whereas the radio listeners liked songs such as "React" and the self titled "Shut 'em Down" Featuring DMX. After Shut 'Em Down, Onyx split from their label Def Jam and temporarily split up for solo releases. They reunited in 2002 with Bacdafucup Part II released on Koch Records, then followed in 2003 with Triggernometry released on D3 Entertainment. Both were met with mediocre reviews and sales.

In other news, there has been a low-level beef between Onyx member Fredo Starr and 50 cent. According to the Rap News Network (http://www.rapnewsdirect.com/0-202-258067-00.html?tag=artistnav), 50 cent is stated to have started a confrontation with Fredo Starr at the 2003 Vibe Awards. In a 2003 interview Fredo Starr stated, “50 Cent basically started shit with me, started a scuffle, and a bodyguard broke us up. He's a punk. He's disrespectful to Jam Master Jay ever since he passed. Fuck him. I'm doin shit with some ex G-Unit members now. 50 ain’t shit". Furthermore in a source magazine interview, Fredo Starr stated that 50 cent had been disrespectful towards the Onyx rap group even though Onyx had given him his first breakthrough on a song called "React" from the 1998 album, Shut 'Em Down.

In the summer of 2006 Fredro released a project known as Yung Onyx.

A new Onyx album, titled The Black Rock, was rumored for a 2006 release but did not surface, but may appear in spring 2007.

Discography

Album cover	Album information
Image:Onyx.jpg	Bacdafucup Released: 1993 Certification:2x Platinum Billboard 200 chart position: #17 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #8 Singles: "Throw Ya Gunz"/"Blac Vagina Finda", "Bacdafucup", "Slam"/"Da Nex Niguz", "Shifftee"/"Bichasniguz"
Image:Allwegotizus.jpg	All We Got Iz Us Released: October 24, 1995 Certification: Gold Billboard 200 chart position: #22 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #2 Singles: "Last Dayz"/"All We Got Iz Us", "Live Niguz"/"Walk in New York"
Image:Shut em down (album).jpg	Shut 'Em Down Released: June 2, 1998 Billboard 200 chart position: #10 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #3 Singles: "Shut 'Em Down"/"Raze It Up", "The Worst", "React"/"Broke Willies"/"Shut 'Em Down (Remix)"
Image:Backdafucup part II.jpg	Bacdafucup Part II Released: July 9, 2002 Billboard 200 chart position: #46 R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #11 Singles: "Slam Harder"/"Hold Up", "Big Trucks"/"Bring 'Em Out Dead"
Image:Triggernometry.jpg	Triggernometry Released: August 12, 2003 Billboard 200 chart position: - R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #66 Singles:

Notes

• It only took 1 month for Bacdafucup to go platinum
• They left Def Jam after their album released due to difficulties between the group and record label.
• Their official website Onyxdomain.com will release an official uncensored DVD compilation featuring rare and unrealeased material including hours of footage of studio sessions.
• Sticky Fingaz has a crooked eye which he mentions sometimes in his songs. He says it's from being abused by his father when he was a kid.
• Collaborated with hardcore band Biohazard on the Judgment Night OST.
• The Instrumental of their song Last Dayz from All We Got Iz Us was used in one of the freestyle battles in 8 Mile.

External link

• Official website
• Yung Onyx Offcial websitede:Onyx (Band)

et:Onyx es:Onyx (grupo musical)

Wikipedia information about Onyx (band) This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Onyx (band)". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.