Onyx

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

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.

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.