Onyx is an American hardcore hip hop group from New York City, formed in 1988 by Fredro Starr, Suavé (also known as Sonny Seeza) and the late Big DS.
[5] They have been quoted as describing their style as loud screaming, aggression, fighting with each other, stage diving, throwing water, rapping with grimy voices, and bald head fashion.
[13] In 1989, Onyx signed Jeffrey Harris as their manager, who helped them secure a contract with the label Profile Records.
When the deadline came, Seeza and Big DS couldn't make it to the studio to record the demo,[18] so Jeffrey Harris, the manager of Onyx, asked Fredro to come to the studio with his cousin, Kirk Jones, who at the time was doing a solo career under the name Trop.
The album proved to be successful, receiving a platinum certification from the RIAA and peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200, the group's highest debut at that point.
Their breakout single, "Slam", was aired on MTV and BET, causing the song to reach #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
[21] Through its record label, the band produced music by Gang Green, All City,[22] Panama P.I., and Choclatt.
Written by Karl Bollers and drawn by Larry Lee, the comic depicted a post-apocalyptic New York City where Onyx forms an underground rebellion.
On May 22, 2003, former Onyx member Big DS died in a hospital in Queens, New York at the age of 31 after receiving chemotherapy for lymphatic cancer.
[30][31][32] Onyx released a sixteen-track collection of previously unreleased songs Cold Case Files through Iceman Music Group on August 19, 2008.
The collection features underground singles, lost studio recordings from the group's first three albums, and appearances from Method Man, deceased Onyx affiliate X1, and Gang Green.
[36] On October 31, 2012, after having returned from an overseas tour, Onyx released the first track of their upcoming album CUZO on YouTube.
The album features guest appearances from Sean Price, Papoose, Cormega, Reks, Snak the Ripper, and ASAP Ferg.
It featured guest appearances by Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, Myster DL, Ras Kass, and Ill Bill.
In 2015, Onyx released Against All Authorities, a six-track EP protesting police brutality in the United States.
Later that year, Def Jam released an eleven-track compilation of Onyx's classic songs called ICON.
[42] The album features appearances by Sick Flo, Snak the Ripper, Dopey Rotten, and DJ Nelson.
[45] In July 2019, Onyx announced the release of a new compilation of unreleased songs called Lost Treasures.
[56] The album was featured on a Russian late-night talk show Evening Urgant hosted by Ivan Urgant on Channel One, where Onyx performed their most famous hit "Slam",[57][58][59][60] as well as on the Bulgarian show Шоуто на Николаос Цитиридис on bTV, where members of the group gave an interview and performed the song "Kill Da Mic".
The album features rappers Mad Lion, Cappadonna, Panama P.I., Planet Asia, SickFlo and Snak the Ripper.
Music for the album was produced by Chilean beatmakers Crack Brodas (DJ Audas and El Bruto CHR).
Cypress Hill ran through their classics "When The Shit Goes Down", "Hand On The Pump", "How Could I Just Kill A Man", "Insane In The Brain", and more, while Onyx countered with their noteworthy hits including "Throw Ya Gunz", "Last Dayz", "Shut 'Em Down", and "Slam" among others.
The album's music was produced by Dom Dirtee, Pauly Cicero, Alcapella, Fredro Starr, Lord Nez, Sticky Fingaz & Quab.
[89] On July 9, a music video was released in which director Luca De Massis transformed Onyx into computer-generated puppets and sent them traveling around New York City.