Shut 'Em Down is the third studio album by American hip hop group Onyx, released on June 2, 1998, by JMJ Records and Def Jam.

The album features guest appearances from Onyx's affiliate X1, DMX, a then-unknown 50 Cent, Still Livin from Gang Green, All City, Mr. Cheeks, Wu-Tang Clan, N.O.R.E., Big Pun and others.

The album features guest spots from Onyx's affiliate X1, DMX, Chocolate, Clay The Raider (also known as Scarred 4 Life), 50 Cent, Bonifucco, Still Livin' from Gang Green, Sunshine, Bubba Smith, All City's J. Mega and Greg Valentine, Mr. Cheeks, Killa Sin, Method Man, Raekwon, N.O.R.E.

The contents of this CD differed significantly from the final version of the album: "Broke Willies" was originally called "Stones", "Rob & Vic" was originally called "Love Of Money" (and had a completely different beat), the song "I Don't Wanna Die" was later removed (since R. Kelly did not give permission for using his chorus), there was a X1 verse in the song "Ghetto Starz", "Overshine" was not a hidden track, in the song "Black Dust" the line from Sonny Seeza's verse was cut, "The Worst" was named "Onyx vs. Wu-Tang".

Sticky Fingaz told Ol' Dirty Bastard of his plan to take over the stage to promote Onyx's new album "Shut 'Em Down" at that evening the Grammys were going to take place.

[10]"...This time I need to promote 'Shut 'Em Down' album... Me and my DJ LS One, we ain't even have tickets to the Grammys... we just walked through security, talking to each other like we supposed to be here...

Yo, I'm about to go shut this shit down, basically go onstage and promote the motherfucking album' and I told the nigga my plan, he's like, 'Alright!

Shawn Colvin's trip to the podium to pick up her award for Song of the Year was interrupted by the Wu-Tang Clan's Ol' Dirty Bastard who stole the mic to praise his group, and his new clothes, after Wu-Tang lost the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.

urged the crowd to "Please calm down," and launched into a confusing speech thusly:[11][12]"...I went and bought me an outfit today that cost me a lot of money, because I figured that Wu-Tang was gonna win.

The second promo CD was released as a bonus disc of Onyx's album "Shut 'Em Down" on June 2, 1998.

[2] In 1999, Def Jam released a series of 8 CDs titled "The Unstoppable Def Jam Sampler": Redman, Foxy Brown, Public Enemy, DMX, ONYX, LL Cool J, Method Man, EPMD.

On the discs "Method Man" and "EPMD" there was a freestyle called "See You In Hell" by Onyx, recorded for DJ Clue's mixtape in 1997.

On each disc, 4 artists of the Def Jam label were shown in the form of comic book characters.

On the first CD there was a freestyle called "See You In Hell" by Onyx, recorded for DJ Clue's mixtape in 1997.

"I flipped out, pulling plaques off the wall, throwing shit around, mad", he remembers.Four singles were released from this album: "The Worst", "Shut 'Em Down", "React", "Broke Willies".

The first single, "The Worst" featuring Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man, Raekwon and their affiliate Killa Sin was released, December 23, 1997.

The video was filmed in Chinatown, Manhattan, New York City (Ipoh Garden Malaysian Chinese) in December 1997 and was released on "The BOX" on March 14, 1998.

[22] In the interview on "White Label Radio", Fredro Starr told a story about how Onyx recorded the title track.

[23] The video was directed by Gregory Dark and was filmed in Downtown Los Angeles in December 1997 and was released on "The BOX" in February 1998.

The Queens, N.Y., natives give R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" a macabre reworking, offering a somewhat controlled version of their seemingly endless rage.

In February 1998, in an interview for MTV over the phone line, Fredro Starr told about the meaning of the song "Raze It Up":[29]"...'Raise It Up' is about representing wherever you at, representing this real hip-hop shit, so wherever you are on the other end, you can hear it and know we know what's going on".In 2012, the original full version of the song "Take That" was found.

[30] In 2005, "Shut 'Em Down (Remix)" was featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.

In 2012, the Mongolian hip-hop group Ice Top recorded a cover version of the song "Shut 'Em Down Remix" by Onyx called "Shartai" and then filmed a video for this track.

In 1998, Onyx was at the club "The Tunnel" on Sunday May 31, 1998, where they come to present their new album "Shut 'Em Down" which was released after 2 days on Tuesday, June 2, 1998.

But their usual cutthroat lyric barrages are now balanced by a few mellow tracks, such as “Ghetto Starz” (which features the radio-friendly Lost Boyz rapping over Queen’s thumping 1980 “Another One Bites the Dust”).

Onyx even transform the O'Jays’ 1973 “For the Love of Money” into a self-help message rap-albeit one filled with graphic violence.

"[39] Soren Baker of The Source gave the album three and a half stars out of five, saying "Their third opus, Shut 'Em Down, arrives with a sound and attitude that lies somewhere between their first two projects.

The excitement of “Raze It Up” and the gut-busting title track (which features yet another blazing performance from DМХ) will appeal to those thirsting for the rougher side of things.

Evidently, after watching most of their peers win with club songs, the bald-headed wonders decided to follow suit.

Onyx's 'Shut 'Еm Down' will probably not overtake the current commercial stance of the rap game, but, for the most part, it serves as an appealing reminder of why this Q-borough crew blew up in the first place.